In and around Jerusalem
- Home
- Summary of walks in Jerusalem
- The City of David - an engagement with history
- An introduction to the Old City
- The Temple Mount and its Temples
- The Jerusalem Archeological Park and Davidson Center - Glory and destruction
- The Jewish Quarter - Destruction and Renewal
- Northern Rampart of the City Wall, the Christian Quarter and the Via Dolorosa
- Mount Zion via the southern rampart of the Old City wall
- Nachla'ot and Mahane Yehuda market and the humble beginnings of modern Jerusalem
- Teddy's Parks
- The artisans of Ein Karem via the Jerusalem Forest
- Yemin Moshe and the first three Jewish residential areas built outside the Old City - Mishkenot Sha’ananim, Mahaneh Yisrael and Nahalat Shivah
- Government at Givat Ram
- The German Colony and Liberty Bell Park
- Jerusalem during the Mandate - from Mamilla Mall to the First Station
- Pioneers of modern Jerusalem - Dr. Ticho, Ben-Yehuda and Rav Kook - in the city center
- The Sherover and Haas Promenades at Armon Hanatziv and water supply system for Second Temple Jerusalem
- A walk through the haredi neighborhoods of Zikhron Moshe and Mea She'arim
- The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
- Nature walk: the Cedar Trail in the Jerusalem Forest.
- Nature walk: Gazelle Valley Park
- Nature walk: the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
- Nature walk: "The Gazelle Trail" in the Ramot Forest
- Mount Scopus - its university, botanical garden and lookout points
- A family trip to the Mei Neftoa (Lifta) Nature Reserve and Arazim Valley Park
- The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overview
- The Shvil Hama'ayanot and Yad Kennedy memorial
- To Ein Hindak and Ein Karem via Ein Karem National Park
- The springs in Emeq Refaim - Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar
- From Tzomet Ora (near Hadassah-Ein Karem) to the springs of Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar in Emeq Refaim
- Ancient agriculture in the Sataf Reserve
- The unusual caves of Nahal Halilim and the Arazim Valley Park for games and picnicking
- Crusader castle and bathing at Ein Hemed (Aqua Bella)
- From Kibbutz Tzova to Tzova Spring and the crusader ruins of Belmont on Tel Tzova
- To Ein Hindak and Ein Bichura in the Sataf Reserve
- The spring of Ein Kobi and the luscious ravine of Nahal Kobi in the Begin Forest
- Nahal Katlav
- Stupendous views from Outpost 21 via the historic Burma Road
- Hiking above Nahal Sorek
- Ein Hod and the Crusader castle at Beit It’ab
- Derech HaKaiser (The Caesar's Way) and overlook of Nahal Zanuach
- Castel National Heritage Park
- HaHamisha Forest and visit to the Harel Brigade Monument In Har Adar
- Hiking or biking around Har Eitan
- HaHamisha Forest and descent to Ein Kfira with views of Ein Kfira
- IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and Overview
- A hike to Tel Azeka
- A walk to the ruins of Qeiyafa - Goliath, will you please stop hollering?
- Tel Tzafit and the Philistines
- Neot Kedumim and agriculture in ancient Israel
- A circular hike around Givat Hatourmusim (Hill of Lupins)/ Tel Socho
- Hiking in the Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park
- The ancient synagogue at Um el-Umdan, Sher Hill, and the Maccabees of Modi'in
- Midras, Itri and the Bar Kochba Revolt
- Burgin
- The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractions
- Attractions from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, including Ma'ale Adumim
- A nature walk In the wadis of Maale Adumim
- Ein Prat
- Ein Mabu'a
- Ein Qelt
- Nahal Og
- Qumran
- Bathing, swimming and nature strolls in Enot Tsukim (Ein Feshkha)
- The Botanical Gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi
- Ein Gedi - Nahal David to Ein Gedi Spring and ancient synagogue
- Ein Gedi - Nahal Arugot
- Along the Jordan Valley
- South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal Tekoa
- North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and Shilo
- Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean Desert
- From the First Station to Ein Lavan and Ein Haniya
- A desert ride around Ma'ale Adumim
- The Arazim bicycle trail from Arazim Valley Park
- Spectacular views from the Aminidav Forest and Yad Kennnedy
- The Burma Road in the Shefela
- From Tzafririm to the ruins of Itri in the Adulum Park - a village frozen in time
- In Adulam Park - views, lupins and tels
- Britannia Park and Tel Azeka
- A ride around Har Eitan
- Horseback riding close to Jerusalem
- Outdoor swimming and bathing in and around Jerusalem - Places and details
- The Zippori Center in the Jerusalem Forest
- The "Country Club" in Ma'ale Adumim
- The Sport's Club at Ramat Rachel
- Mesilat Zion swimming pool
- Ein Lavan
- The spring pool of Ein Hanya
- Swimming in Shoresh
- The swimming pool at Kibbutz Almog close to the Dead Sea
- A natural-style rock pool by Mevo'ot Yericho in the Jordan Valley
- The spring pool in the Mei Neftoa (Lifta) Nature Reserve close to the Central Bus Station
- The kids pool at Rechelim
- A timeline and list of historical and geographical essays on this website
- Outdoor trips suitable for a stroller or wheelchair
- Contact Us
To Ein Hindak and Ein Bichura in the Sataf Reserve
If you find the hikes on this site too short and easy, you will find this hike a bit more challenging – although it is not at all difficult. It is a non-circular walk on the Schvil Yisrael, and you come back the way you came. Ein Hindak is a well known spring and has the longest underground tunnel in the Judean Hills.
Distance: 7.52 Km (non-circular hike)
Time: 3¾ hours (with opportunities for extending the hike in the Sataf Reserve)
Difficulty: This is a minimally difficult hike on a dirt trail.
Starting point: Head towards Hadassah Medical Center. At the traffic circle located just before the entrance and security to the hospital campus, take the furthest exit off the roundabout - this heads to Tel Aviv and Even Shapir. After a very short distance turn left. After a few minutes you will see a road on the left leading to a gravel road and parking area for the Anidav Forest.
Public transport: The walk is very convenient to public transport. Take buses 27, 27A, 19, 19A, 12 or 42 to Hadassah Medical Center, and alight at the first stop within the campus. (If you are using the light rail, alight at the last stop which is Mount Herzl and bus 27 is waiting for you straight ahead as you walk out the train door). From the hospital campus, walk towards the traffic circle and follow the directions down the hill as above to the parking area. The distance is 0.7 miles and it should take you about 15 minutes.
Go out of the parking area for the Aminadav Forest and cross over the main road. Immediately in front of you on the other side of the road there are green and schvil yisrael markers (white, orange and blue stripes) indicating the trail. Take the steps down into the valley.
After a short while you will pass an agricultural watchtower labeled #19. If you call 02 677 8839 you can learn more about the trail and this watchtower. You can clearly see that this is former agricultural land. It is no longer in use but must have looked extremely beautiful when the terraces and land in the valley were in use.
After about 35 minutes and just over 1¼ miles you will come to Ein Chandak. The name is Arabic in origin, and means spring of the cave or canal. This well-known spring has one of the longest shafts in the Judean Hills. However, there is a notice not to enter the spring because of danger of collapse. In former times, an aqueduct system led the water to the agricultural land in the valley (Wadi Yusuf). As you walk along you will see a large dam wall built as a retainer for the soil. Because of the similarities of the stones to the Western Wall It has been suggested that it was built during the Herodian period.
Ein Hindek is also junction point for the Jerusalem Trail in the direction of Ein Kerem. However, follow the green-marked trail in the direction of Sataf. After the dam wall, you will come to the bottom of the wadi and a pine forest. The latter especially is very beautiful. In the wadi the going is a bit more challenging.
After about 1¾ hours of walking you will come to a parking area. The green-marked trail continues up the side of the valley on a easy stairway of rocks.
At the top of the stairway on your right you will see an irrigated vegetable garden area. Walk along the top of these gardens until you come to the spring Ein Bichorah, just before a vine-covered structure. You are now half-way on this walk. You are welcome to explore Sataf if you wish. Otherwise head back down the hill.
Nearby places of interest:
Hadassah hospital is worth a visit – even if you are not sick! The Chagal windows in the synagogue are famous. There is also a shopping mall (yes, a shopping mall!) in a lower floor of the hospital. There are stores for clothing, telephones, sweets, bakery, pharmacy and many very reasonably priced eating establishments – all kosher and many mehadrin. Many of the stores are open from fairly early in the morning until late in the evening. Ask for directions – otherwise you will never find it.
The rock stairway to the Sataf Reserve. It's a rather long walk up.
Ein Handak is below Even Sapir and can also be reached by car from the road to the moshav
