In and around Jerusalem


arnoldslyper@inandaroundjerusalem.com

  • Home
  • Summary of walks in JerusalemClick to open the Summary of walks in Jerusalem menu
    • The City of David
    • An introduction to the Old City
    • The Jerusalem Archaeological Park, Davidson Center and the Western Wall
    • On the Temple Mount
    • The Jewish Quarter - community building, destruction and renewal
    • The northern Rampart of the Old City wall and the Via Dolorosa
    • Mount Zion via the southern rampart of the Old City wall
    • Nachla'ot and Mahane Yehuda Market ('the Shuk")
    • Teddy Kollek - a great builder of Jerusalem
    • Ein Kerem and its artisans via the Jerusalem Forest
    • Yemin Moshe to Nahalat Shivah
    • Givat Ram - birds, roses, the Supreme Court and Knesset
    • The German Colony and Liberty Bell Park
    • Jerusalem during the British 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 and water supply system for Second Temple Jerusalem
    • The haredi neighborhoods of Zikhron Moshe and Meah She'arim
    • The gorgeous Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
    • Nature walk: the Cedar Trail in the Jerusalem Forest.
    • Nature walk: Gazelle Valley Park
    • The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
    • A countryside hike on the Gazelle Trail in the Ramot Forest
    • Mount Scopus - its university, botanical garden and lookout points
    • The Mei Neftoah (Lifta) Nature Reserve and Arazim Valley Park
  • The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overviewClick to open the The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overview menu
    • The Shvil Hamaayanot and Yad Kennedy memorial
    • To Ein Kerem via Ein Hindak and the Ein Kerem National Park
    • The springs of Emeq Refaim
    • From Tzomet Ora (near Hadassah-Ein Karem) to the springs of Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar in Emeq Refaim
    • Ancient agriculture in Sataf
    • The unusual cave formations in Nahal Halilim
    • To Tzuba Spring and the crusader ruins of "Belmont"
    • 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
    • The beautiful Nahal Katlav
    • Outpost 21 via the historic Burma Road
    • Hiking above Nahal Sorek
    • The spring of Ein Hod and Crusader castle at Hurvat Beit Itab
    • Derech HaKaiser (The Caesar's Way) and overlook of Nahal Zanuach
    • Castel National Park
    • HaHamisha Forest and visit to the Harel Brigade Monument In Har Adar
    • Hiking or biking around Har Eitan
    • The HaHamisha Forest and Ein Kfira spring
  • IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and OverviewClick to open the IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and Overview menu
    • Hiking 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
    • Tel Adulam
    • 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 attractionsClick to open the The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley  - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractions menu
    • Attractions from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, including Ma'ale Adumim
    • A nature walk In the wadis of Maale Adumim
    • Ein Prat Nature Reserve
    • Ein Mabu'a
    • Ein Qelt
    • Nahal Og
    • Qumran
    • Enot Tsukim/(Ein Feshkha for swimming and nature stroll
    • The Botanical Gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi
    • Nahal David, Ein Gedi Spring and ancient synagogue at Ein Gedi
    • Ein Gedi - Nahal Arugot
    • Along the Jordan Valley
    • Qasr el Yahud National Park
  • South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal TekoaClick to open the South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal Tekoa menu
    • Herodium
    • The Gush Etzion Springs
    • Nahal Tekoa
  • North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and ShiloClick to open the North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and Shilo menu
    • Nebi Samuel National Park
    • Beth El - the place of a dream
    • The Tabernacle at Shilo
  • Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean DesertClick to open the Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean Desert menu
    • 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 in spring-fed pools and swimming pools in and around JerusalemClick to open the Outdoor swimming in spring-fed pools and swimming pools in and around Jerusalem menu
    • The Zippori Center in the Jerusalem Forest
    • The "Country Club "in Ma'ale Adumim, the most beautiful city in Israel
    • Ein Hemed National Park (Aqua Bella) - swimming, picnicking and fortified Crusader home
    • The Palm Pool at Ein Prat
    • The artesian pool at Ein Mabu'a
    • The Sport's Club at Ramat Rachel
    • Mesilat Zion swimming pool
    • Ein Lavan
    • The spring-fed pool of Ein Haniya
    • Swimming in Shoresh in the Judean Mountains
    • The swimming pool at Kibbutz Almog close to the Dead Sea
    • Swimming at Enot Tsukim/ Ein Feshkha by 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 of Jerusalem and list of essays on this website
  • Outdoor trips suitable for a stroller or wheelchair
  • Common flowers in the Judean Mountains
  • Trees, bushes and flowers of the Desert
  • Contact Us

Tel Adulam



 

 

This is a very beautiful and interesting circular hike that ascends to the top of Tel Adulam from where there are fantastic views of the Elah Valley and Judean Mountains. There are also some caves to explore. The trail then descends to the bottom of the tel and encircles it.

 


Do you find this website helpful? Then you are sure to like “In and Around Jerusalem for Everyone,” a guide to the best walks, hikes and attractions in and around Jerusalem. For more details, rave reviews, and purchasing options see our Home page.

Watch this short video!

 


  

Time: Approximately 1½ hours

Distance: 3½ Km

Difficulty: Mainly an easy hike on jeep trails. However, there is one 10-15 minute section close to the top of the tel which is steep and a bit difficult, although not dangerous.

Directions and starting point: Enter "תל עדולם" into Waze. This will take you through the moshav Neve Michael and along country roads to close to the  top of the tel. But stop at a 3-way junction where the paved road comes to an end and park your car here. If you find yourself driving on a rough jeep trail you have gone too far.

Public transport: There is no close public transport.

 

The ancient Biblical city of Adulam

Adulam is mentioned a number of times in the Bible. It was an important Canaanite city and is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 12:15 and 15:35). Prior to this, the book of Genesis tells us that Judah left his father and brothers to partner with the Canaanite Hira from Adulam (Genesis 38:1) and it is here that he met his Canaanite wife. David hid in Adulam after being expelled from Gath by King Achish while fleeing from King Saul who was seeking to kill him. He gathered here his family "and every man who was in distress, and every man who had a creditor, and every man of embittered spirit, gathered themselves to him, and he became a chief over them; and there were about 400 men with him." (Samuel 22:2). This is the beginnings of his becoming a military leader. Could the cave on the top of the tel be the cave in which David and his men hid out? it is difficult to know as there are other caves in the area. Nevertheless, the place he hid is called in the Bible the "cave of Adulam." The place was inhabited as a Muslim village early in the Ottoman period, but was uninhabited at least by the 1800's.


 

The trail:

  • Take the first or second trail on the left up he hill (it does not matter which one as they both join up).
  • Shortly you will come to a fork. Take the left fork that continues up the hill.
  • As you approach the top of the tel, notice a narrow and not very conspicuous footpath on your right. This is a slightly difficult trail that will take you to the top of the tel.
  • The edge of the top of the tel is a good place for observing the Elah Valley below and the Judean Mountains in the  distance.
  • Continue ahead. Shortly on your right you will see a yellow sign סכנה on your right warning you about a cistern that is encircled by a wire fence. Notice a footpath below it. After a short distance on this footpath is another סכנה sign with another cistern enclosed by a wire fence. A bit higher on the tel and above the sign is a stone wall. In the corner of the wall on your left is the opening of the cave. Explore! There are parts of two olive presses within the cave, which also has another exit.
  • Go back to the main path. Continue to the very top of the tel where there is a signpost. Continue straight ahead past the signpost.
  • After a while you will see a black marker on a tree on your left. Shortly there is a 3-way cross junction. Turn left.
  • At the next T-junction turn right. This will take you past a large field on the left. After a bend in the path, you will see in the field an area with a large fig tree. It actually comes from a well. If you want you can explore it. Otherwise continue along this trail which will lead you back to your car. 

 

Entrance to the cave on the tel at the base of a stone wall. Is this the cave in which David and his men hid? it could be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Copyright 2015 inandaroundjerusalem. All rights reserved.

Web Hosting by Yahoo


arnoldslyper@inandaroundjerusalem.com