We will drive on the north road from Shlomi to the east, we will pass Kibbutz Eilon, and about 100 meters east of the Garnoth HaGalil industrial area we will turn left following the KKL sign for the road to Nahal Sarach. After about a kilometer we will reach a large parking lot, from which a walking path leads to Nahal Sarach and Nahal Betset. At the end of the parking lot, there is a sign and trail markings to the Daniela Ruins. The route is short, marked, comfortable, and mostly shaded by an umbrella of thick-stemmed pine trees and other forest trees that compare to the ruin we will reach, the appearance of an ancient mound in the thick of the jungle somewhere in the world.
Horvat (Ruins) Daniela is an archaeological site in the Western Galilee. The site is near the Nahal Sarach parking lot, inside the Jewish Child Forest complex.
An asphalt road from road 899 (the north road) leads here.
Excavations were conducted at the site in 1984 and 1986. The findings of the archaeological survey and the excavations carried out at the site testify to a large village whose central remains extend over five dunams.
It seems that the core of the settlement began in the Roman period and it expanded in the Byzantine period. During the Crusader and Mamluk periods, the site was resettled and the buildings and the ancient floor levels were renovated.
On the spot, five olive oil production mills were uncovered on which the settlement’s economy was based.
In the years 2000-2001, the Foundation and the Antiquities Authority began a project to preserve and restore the cloth houses in the Horvat. Walls, thresholds, and fabric houses were restored, alleys were opened and a circular route was prepared for a tour of the ruins.
From the Daniela Ruins parking lot, there is a circular path marked red that will take extend around 30 minutes. The place was investigated and restored.
It’s nice to see the fabric house and walk the “streets” of the restored village. Explanatory signs scattered around the place will explain what you see.
After the tour of the DanielaRuins, we will go on our way along the blue path that descends towards the forest. We will see a water cistern and other remains from the ancient village and soon we will enter the charming channel of Nahal Sarach as we walk through a shadowy tunnel of rich vegetation.
After about 700 m we will reach the entrance of Sarach 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.
Those who want a circular trip – should return from here to the starting point.
After the Sarach Reserve, we will continue down the stream until the meeting with Nahal Betset, and the intersection of blue-black trails. We will continue with the blue path along Nahal Betset. About 500 m later we will reach Einat Karcha and the wet part of the stream, which also allows wading in some of the pools.
Nahal Betset (Arabic: Wadi Karkara) is one of the streams of the Western Galilee. The stream enters the territory of the State of Israel from Lebanon between the settlements of Shtola and Zareit, and empties into the sea near Rosh Hanikra. The river channel passes near the settlements Shomara, Aramsha, Ilon, Adamit, Yara, Mtsova, Shlomi, and Batza.
The area of the drainage basin of the stream is about 60 square kilometers and it also drains the streams Sarach, Galil, Nemer, Hanita, and Tzova.
The part of the stream north of Kibbutz Eilon used to flow all year round and along its banks are many remains of flour mills and various agricultural facilities. The waters of the stream were stored by the kibbutz for drinking and irrigation purposes until the beginning of the 2000s when the Karcha springs dried up due to over-pumping from the aquifer.
The stream is beautiful and abundant with beautiful vegetation. It allows for many charming stops by the stream.
At the intersection of the blue-black paths, we will turn black, and soon we will reach an old concrete building – the pump house of Kibbutz Eilon. From here, a “healthy” climb of about 800 meters awaits us along the road towards the rear gate of Kibbutz Eilon, and shortly after that, we will reach an arranged parking lot.
After we unite vehicles, we can enjoy coffee and cake at the Mika Cafe in Kibbutz Eilon (closed on Shabbat)
At the Mika Cafe in Kibbutz Eilon you can sit outside or in the restored bakery and enjoy a “morning on the kibbutz” (a meal for two that includes fresh pastries, salads, a cheese board, frittata or shakshuka, and Dalit’s famous brioches), enjoy a smoked salmon sandwich with Corazon, a vegan rye bread sandwich, quiche Manchego cheese treat or sandwich with plum jam and beets.
All this when you are surrounded by the old kibbutz trees and enjoy the special kibbutz atmosphere.
The breakfast boxes can also be ordered for a B&B or to go on a picnic with them in the nearby Goren Park.
And we haven’t said anything about Dalit’s amazing pastries…
We hope you had fun!