Avshalom Cave
Erez Speiser – Israel Scenic Roads (Part 2)
In this series of posts, we will introduce some of Israel’s most scenic roads. All of them offer both great views and interesting attractions along the way.
Road #3866 – The scenic ascend to Jerusalem
Start point: Near Beit Shemesh. GPS (31.749622, 35.002609)
End point: Ein Kerem, Jerusalem GPS (31.769402, 35.161660)
Region: Judean Mountains
Length: 25 Km
Driving time: 00:30 Hours.
Best season: Winter, spring and autumn.
Road #3866 offers a scenic and interesting alternative to the casual drive from Tel-Aviv (or Ben-Gurion airport) to Jerusalem that is usually done on Highway #1. The narrow, but very well-maintained road, winds through the forest up to Bar Giora, where it meets with Road #386. Turn left and follow #386 down to the Sorek stream and then along the Sorek stream up to Ein Karem. The views all along the way are magnificent.
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- Avshalom Cave
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- BarBahar Restaurant
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- Yaela Mountain
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- Ein Handak
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- st john in the wilderness
Main Attractions along the drive:
- Yaela mountain lookout: A short dirt road leads from the junction to the top of the mountain. Walk to the western edge to get a fantastic wide view of the whole Judean planes and the meditation coast (as far as Ashkelon on a clear day)
- Avshalom Cave: The 5,000 m^2 cave is unique for its dense concentration of stalactites and other cave formations. It is the most impressive cave in Israel and certainly worth a visit.
- Barbahar: A small café/restaurant with a nice outdoor balcony and a KKL information center near Bar-Giora. It’s an excellent starting point for various hikes in the area. (Information can be obtained it the KKL kiosk open every day of the week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. )
- Monastery of Saint John in the Wilderness: The monastery is named after John the Baptist, who was born in the nearby Ein Karem, and began his retreat here. The monastery was first built in the 6th century, and later renovated in the Crusader period. The current building on the site was built in 1922 by Catholic Franciscan monks. It is located in a beautiful setting on the edge of the slope and surrounded by a beautiful garden.
- Ein Handak Spring: A short walk of 1 km from the parking lot of Hadassah hospital leads to an interesting and beautiful spring. This spring is a “Tunnel” spring. The ancient tunnel is carved into the rock to reach the source of the water. The tunnel is almost 50 m long and the water depth reaches 1.5 m. It’s a unique experience to walk inside the tunnel, all the way to its end. (You must use a flashlight, preferably head mounted)
The drive ends in the magical Ein Karem neighborhood, where you can ramble around the picturesque houses and churches.
Get Detailed descriptions and optional short hikes for this drive.
