Israel National Trail Part 1- Tel Dan to the Roaring Lion Mountain

The trail begins at the Beit Ussishkin Museum in Kibbutz Dan, located in the northern Hula Valley below the Dan River. At the museum, you can learn about wildlife and nature in the Hula Valley and Upper Galilee region, and gaze northward towards Mount Hermon.

The trail passes nearby the Dan Nature Reserve (the Israel Trail intentionally bypasses nature reserves and national parks). At the observation point, facing north, you'll see the impressive Nimrod Fortress just straight ahead. Nimrod Fortress is a 13th century Muslim fortress strategically located on the route to Damascus, 800 meters above sea level. From the observation point, you can also see Mount Hermon, Israel's highest mountain, rising 2,814 meters above sea level and situated on Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria. The highest peak of the mountain is within Israel's borders and is 3,236 meters high. In the winter, the entire region is blanketed in snow and the Hermon becomes a ski resort and winter tourism site. The trail runs through the valley where the Israel-Syria border meets the Lebanon border.

The trail continues to the Snir Nature Reserve (Hatzbani), the only site along the trail where admission is charged. Hiking alongside the rushing stream is a very enjoyable experience. The air is cool and the platanus trees growing on the banks of the stream offer plenty of shade. As tempting as it may be, bathing in the stream is forbidden. Not far away is a fish restaurant, which you may even be able to smell from the nature reserve. The trail continues alongside the road past Kibbutz Maayan Baruch toward the Yuval village.

From there, cross the bridge over Nahal Ayun, a river that flows all year round. In the winter and spring, the area is covered in colorful wildflowers, including irises, anemones, cyclamens and lilies. The trail then continues towards Kibbutz Kfar Hagiladi and ends at the Roaring Lion monument. The monument was erected in memory of the eight pioneers who gave their lives while defending the land, including Joseph Trumpeldor, a national hero.