Derech Burma - Yitzhak Rabin Park

Hiking

The Route:
During the battles in the War of Independence, Jerusalem was besieged, the road that ascended from the coastal plain to Jerusalem - Latrun and Ayalon Park - was the main artery, blocked and controlled by Arab forces and the Jordanian Legion.
The fighting forces of the Harel-Palmach Brigade occupied the outposts controlling the road from Sha'ar Hagai to the east, in the Latrun area and Dir Ayub, from Sha'ar Hagai to the west. The Givati and 7th Brigade battled but failed in a number of attempts to conquer, and Latrun remained under Jordanian control. The "Latrun Traffic Jam," was the inability to transfer ammunition and supplies to the city, and there was great concern that Jerusalem would not withstand the siege and fall into the hands of the Jordanian Legion.
Due to this situation, there was an urgent need to find a hidden alternative route that bypassed Latrun.

The sites:
Mitzpe Harel - Begin the trail on the road that is suitable for any vehicle and is marked with the silhouette of soldiers and armored vehicles, which once served as a KKL-JNF lookout for forest fires. The site contains a huge tablet depicting the route of the Burma Road and the battles that took place along it, from there we drive east to the next station, Ein Sussin.

Ein Sussin - The spring was used by the residents of the Arab village of Beit Sussin until it was conquered in May 1948. KKL-JNF rehabilitated the spring and built a parking lot under the shade of large eucalyptus trees. It is worthwhile to stop and have a look at the pumping house and the freight line. In this place, the first two jeeps of the Harel Brigade, which left Bayt Mahsir and Hulda, met each other to see if the road was passable by vehicle.Traveling about one kilometer to the east will bring you to "Ma'ale HaTena".

Ma'ale HaTena - the name comes from the fig trees planted on either side of it - in this section, which was very disorganized and impassable by vehicle, supplies were loaded on jeeps, beasts of burden, and volunteer porters went to the other side of the hill, where supplies were loaded onto trucks traveling to Jerusalem. Sculptures of jeeps and trucks made of iron riddle the road. As you travel eastward, you will arrive at a steep slope called Serpentine. It is recommended to walk there on foot and not with the vehicle.

"Serpentine" - a comfortable walk on a dirt road about 700 meters on the Burma Road to the steep end of the slope, where you can see a section of a water pipe that stands as a monument to the "Shiloah" line. This pipeline replaced the main water line to Jerusalem after the Jordanians blew up the pumping station at Latrun, the pipe was placed here quickly and the water flowed back only one day after the explosion.
The next point is an observation point at the Haruv parking lot. The Haruv parking lot observation point looks out over Ha-Masrek Reserve where you can stop for a picnic and rest.

"Ein Hila" - a road junction point - Burma Road with Derech Ayalot, a road that bypassed Latrun and precedes the Burma Road. The main road was headed by the armored vehicles of the Givati Brigade, nicknamed "Ayalot". From this point, a small spring emerges on the side of the road and a picnic area and car park were established. Continue driving according to red markers and arrive at Ein Mesila.

"Ein Mesila" - and the armored car parking lot - a well-shaped spring and an active parking lot where picnic tables, water taps, children's facilities such as swings, slides, sandbox and more.

The next stop is the Sha'ar Hagai Observation Point - known as "Khirbet Hatula". A moderate journey following the signs on a dirt road that is 250 meters long and you'll reach the Sha'ar Hagai Observation Point. The peak of the ridge was captured by Palmach fighters before the first truce in the War of Independence. KKL-JNF began to develop the observatory in 1998, from which there is a spectacular view of Sha'ar Hagai, there is a signpost commemorating the 5th Battalion of the Harel Brigade and a memorial site for fallen soldiers from the United States and Canada.

Anyone who wants to continue the trip on a mountainous section of the Burma Road, on a jeep road that crosses Route 38 to the Machal monument. It is a steep road that leads to Bayt Mahsir and the Burma road ends there as well.
This road segment is suitable only for 4+4 vehicles.

How to get there?
For those coming from the west - Masmiya Junction - Nachshon Junction, drive on Route 3 until Nachshon Junction, turn right onto Route 44 (the Gibora Road) past Moshav Kfar Uriya, about half a kilometer turn left according to signs to Mitzpe Harel (next to the turn is the Mekorot company site). For those coming from the center, Tel Aviv - Jerusalem), drive on Highway 1, at the Latrun interchange, exit right and right again to Route 3, at the Hativa 7 junction, continue driving until Nachshon Junction and turn left onto Route 44, Nachshon Junction - Shimshon Junction, about half a kilometer after the village of Kfar Uriya turn left according to the signs to "Mitzpe Harel" (next to the turn is the Mekorot company site), drive on the narrow road until the "Khan Harel" parking lot.

Google Maps
Type
Hiking
Region
Judea and Samaria
Near to
Jerusalem
Length
3-4 hours or more
Duration
About 16 km
Recommended season
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Difficulty level
Easy
Starting point
Metzpe Harel (map)
Ending point
Mezpor Sha'ar Hagai (map)
Special equipment
Walking shoes, hat, water, sunscreen

Parking
Free Parking
Circular
Circular
Drinkable water
Drinkable water
Suitable for children
Suitable for children
Picnic suitable
Picnic suitable

  Similar trails

Through the sculptures

Through the sculptures

Hiking, Vehicle Route
Judea and Samaria
Track Tel Batash

Track Tel Batash

Hiking
Judea and Samaria
Track The Monastery Of Silence - Latrun

Track The Monastery Of Silence - Latrun

Hiking
Judea and Samaria
Track Yad Lashiryon

Track Yad Lashiryon

Hiking
Judea and Samaria
Track Deir Rafat Monastery

Track Deir Rafat Monastery

Hiking
Judea and Samaria
Track Har Tov- First Spanish Colony

Track Har Tov- First Spanish Colony

Hiking
Judea and Samaria

  Nearby attractions

Clos De Gat Winery

Clos De Gat Winery

Wineries
Kibbutz Harel
The Sculpture Trail In The President's Forest

The Sculpture Trail In The President's Forest

Public Parks & Gardens
Near Moshav Taoz
Kadma Winery - Kfar Uria

Kadma Winery - Kfar Uria

Wineries
Kfar Uria
Gizo Winery

Gizo Winery

Wineries
Moshav Gizo
Soreq Winery

Soreq Winery

Wineries
Kibbutz Nahshon
Navot Winery

Navot Winery

Wineries
Tslafon

  Nearby restaurants

Si Cafe - Latrun

Si Cafe - Latrun

Dairy
Latrun, Jerusalem
Joe "Menta" - Tzira Park

Joe "Menta" - Tzira Park

Dairy, Vegan
Tzira Park, Bet Shemesh
Joe "Menta" - Nachshon

Joe "Menta" - Nachshon

Dairy, Vegan
Nachshon Junction, Ashdod
Humus 38

Humus 38

Arabian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Sonol gas station, Eshtaol Junction, Eshta'ol
Aroma Shimshon Junction

Aroma Shimshon Junction

Dairy, Vegan, Vegetarian
Shimshon Junction, Road 38 Sonol gas station, Jerusalem
Atza Sushi Bar - Beit Shemesh

Atza Sushi Bar - Beit Shemesh

Asian, Fish
Yigal Alon 1, Jerusalem
Aroma Beit Shemesh

Aroma Beit Shemesh

Dairy, Vegan, Vegetarian
Big, Beit Shemesh, Bet Shemesh