Sarach River & Cave

The Nahal (River) Sarach Reserve is a nature reserve in Israel, which was declared in 1969. The reserve extends near the border of Lebanon, north of the northern road. The name originates from the ferns that grow on the banks of the stream. The beginning of the stream is within the borders of Lebanon, and its last part is in the Nahal Betset Reserve.

The reserve is characterized by a dense and diverse Mediterranean grove, in which, among other things, the worm oak, the forest crown, the Syrian maple, the atil tree, the catalb, and various fern species (after which the channel is named). In the dry areas of the channel, common oak trees grow, these are the Eretz Israelite, and azaar, and their late woodland and hairy bushes grow.
The reserve is mostly shaded and sometimes so thick that it completely hides the sky. The route is comfortable for travelers in all seasons, also the descent is relatively easy, on a path covered with foliage that has fallen in spectacular yellow-green colors.
The upper part of Nahal Sarach is the Nahal Zenev, and in the lower part, there are springs that flow throughout the year, called “Enot Karchara”, from which a steady flow goes towards the pumping station below Kibbutz Eilon. There is a grove of eucalyptus trees and old ponds. And from here the stream water is pumped and brought to Kibbutz Eilon. Nahal Sarach flows towards Nahal Betset.
At night, foxes and wild boars are active in the area, and you can also occasionally see rock rabbits, or the bats that live in the cave.

In the center of the reserve is Sarach Cave, which is a special attraction for travelers, and where you enter the belly of the mountain (with flashlights) and climb inside a spectacular stalactite cave to a height of about 20 meters in the thick of the mountain, in an organized route that includes iron steps and pegs, which is close to 200 meters long, the exit from the cave is on the upper level, at a height of about 15 meters above the channel.

During the winter (November – April) when the bats mate, entry to the cave is prohibited.