Migdal Tsedek National Park – Photographed Visitors Guide
You can find a fortress, trails, and many other things at Migdal Tsedek (Migdal Afek) National Park by Rosh Haayin.
Note: in 2021, after restoration, Migdal Tsedek was reopened.
Map
Migdal Tsedek National Park is located to the south of Rosh Haayin. You can see it from road #444, and the entrance is from Ben Gurion Boulevard, Rosh Haayin. The easiest way to get there is by entering “Migdal Tsedek National Park” on Waze.
Directions for drivers: Link to Waze and Link to Google Maps
Directions for public transport: Link to Moovit
Interactive map of the area:
We have visited Migdal Tsedek several since it reopened. Each time we visit another area (track) or an event (there are tours and some music events). And here are the relevant maps:
On the map above, you can see the whole national park. And near the beginning point of each track, you can find the path map. Here are several examples:
Note: you can click on the maps to enlarge them.
Tracks
As you can see from the map, there are various trails. Most trails, except bicycle paths, are not long (1 – 2 km).
| Name | Color on the Map | Description | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortress Way | Orange | It is an accessible trail that begins at the lower parking (on the left of the map) and goes to the fortress and around it. | 1.5 km and about 40 minutes |
| Migdal Tsedek Promenade | Red | If you do not mind the stairs, you can take the promenade from the lower parking to the fortress. | 1.5 km and 30 minutes |
| Tomb Hill Path | Purple | The tomb hill is located north of the fortress, and you can use an easy one km loop trail to explore it. In the spring, you can find many flowers along this trail. | 1 km and 30 minutes |
| Bicycle Path | Green | The short bicycle path around the fort is about one km long, and the way through the entire park is four km long. | 4.5 km and one hour |
| Stone Way | Brown | Stone Way leads through lime kilns and stone quarries. There are three options to make this hike. | 0.5 – 3 km and 30 – 180 minutes |
| Winter Pool Path | Dark Green | It is an accessible path near winter pools (for animal lovers). | 0.5 km and 20 minutes |
As you can see from the map, you can combine several trails for an extended trip.
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday and Saturday: 6:00 – 17:00 (08:00 – 16:00 during winter).
Friday: 6:00 – 16:00 (08:00 – 15:00 during winter).
On holidays, usually 8:00 – 13:00.
Note: during the early morning hours (06:00 – 08:00), you can enter for free only by foot through Psagot Afek. Also, at those hours, you can only either hike or cycle. And if you visit after 8:00, it is similar to a regular visit to national parks. In both cases, you must book your visit through the official site.
Entrance Fee
If you are visiting after 8:00, then the entry fee will be:
Adult 28 NIS, child 14 NIS, and student 24 NIS. And free for annual Matmon members.
If you visit several National Parks, then consider purchasing a combo ticket. You can find additional info at National Parks And Nature Reserves.
Note: opening hours and entrance fees were updated in December 2022. In any case, recheck the official site before visiting.
Two common questions are answered by the sign above:
- Dogs are allowed in the park only when leashed and muzzled.
- Do not light fires in the park, including barbeques.
And now, we will visit the different parts of the park.
The Fortress Way
We parked at the main parking during our visit to Migdal Tsedek National Park (located on the left part of the map). And we started making our way to the fortress.
“The Fortress Way” is an accessible path leading uphill toward the Migdal Tsedek fortress. As you walk on this path, you will see the fort and the cityscape beneath.
It took us about 15 minutes to reach the Migdal Tsedek fortress.
On another visit, we parked at the upper parking. You can see it in the following photo:
Via Maris
To understand why there is a fortress at this spot and its strategic importance, we need to mention Via Maris.
Via Maris was an ancient trade route dating from the early Bronze Age, linking Egypt with Syria, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia. Via Maris means “way of the sea” in Latin, and this historic road also passed through Israel. It runs along the Israeli Mediterranean coast in southern Israel, then passes into Jezreel’s plain and the Jordan valley.
And if you have read my blog for a while, you are already familiar with Via Maris. Each time we visited a place near Via Maris, I mentioned it. Here is a partial list of sites along this route: Ashkelon National Park, Ramla, Yarkon National Park – Tel Afek (Antipatris), Tel Megiddo National Park, and Tel Hazor National Park.
And the reason this trading route passed here is the marsh.
In the past, it was not possible to pass from the southern coastal plain towards the Sharon and northwards due to the marshes that had developed around the river. The ancient Via Maris that traversed the country lengthwise had to circumvent the marshes from the east, which is why the region was called the “Afek Passage.” The route went along a pass between the mountain and the sources of the Yarkon. From ancient times, this passage was a focus for human settlement, which is evidenced by the remains of a settlement at Tel Afek.
Over time, two fortresses were built on both sides of the “Afek Passage.” On one side, there was Yarkon National Park – Tel Afek (Antipatris), and on the other, Mirabel (also known as Migdal Afek and Migdal Tsedek).
Migdal Tsedek Fortress
Many remains of settlement from various periods were found in the national park area, including ancient agricultural farms from the 8th century BCE. In the days of the Second Temple, there was a Jewish settlement here called “Migdal Afek.”
During the Crusader period, a magnificent fortress was built at the top of the hill, called “Mirabel,R