The Jerusalem Trail — In Photos And Videos
Though Jerusalem is steeped in history and antiquity, not so many are aware that the city is also home to a wonderful hiking trail.
The Jerusalem Trail is a point to point trail stretching for 42 kilometers from Even Sapir through to Sataf (or the other way around).
Starting from Even Sapir, it skirts around Hadassah Ein Karem hospital (and the ALYN Hospital) before transversing some of Jerusalem’s best-known landmarks, including (almost) the Knesset (plus the Rose Garden and Sakker Garden).
It then becomes an urban path crossing Rehavia, briefly proceeding down Emek Refaim St. in the German Colony, before turning into the Zurich Garden and embarking upon its stretch through East Jerusalem.
There, it continues for more or less the duration of the Hinnom Valley (you can walk along Guy Ben Hinnom Street or get down into the forested central area after the City of David biblical garden), before veering into and through the village of Silwan (this part of the route isn’t well-signposted; a GPX reader and file is advised).
Next comes the short open stretch from where Silwan emerges into the Kidron Valley, past Absalom’s tomb, and around Gethsemane (the contiguity of the valley itself is interrupted by Derekh Yerikho and private church land on either side of the road).
Hikers then meander up to but around the Ordon Hyde Memorial Gardens and proceed through the picturesque valley (again). Interjecting between this half of the valley and the half leading to Ein Tsuim is Shamouil street which runs through the Arab village of As-Sawana just below At-Tur.
The trail then loops up around the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before returning southward alongside Route 60 then veering West Again at Tzahal Square.
It then makes it way out of the city crossing through Lifa, then Park Nahal Soreq. At the Tur Sinai Organic Farm it turns due west again and at the picturesque town of Motza is avails of the overly passage across Route 1 before winding towards Sataf.
The trail’s making is a gold horizontal line encapsulated by two blue ones and the Lion of Judah.
