Yatir Forest
Fall is the season when Israelis take to the trails. Hiking is more than a pastime here—it’s practically a national sport. With the kids out of school, the long days stretching into golden evenings, and the lure of mountains, wadis, and streams, families, soldiers, and groups of friends lace up their boots and head outdoors.
Israel’s diverse landscapes make this easy to understand. Within just a few hours’ drive, you can cross desert canyons, Mediterranean coastline, lush Galilee forests, or the volcanic heights of the Golan. Each region tells its own story: ancient fortresses, Nabatean trade routes, Crusader castles, and desert springs where ibex wander down to drink.
For many, hiking is about rediscovering heritage. Paths often overlap with history: Masada at sunrise, the Jesus Trail in the Galilee, or the Israel National Trail which zigzags more than 1,000 kilometers from Eilat to the Lebanese border. To hike in Israel is to walk with memory beneath your feet.
But as beloved as hiking has become, it comes with a responsibility. Too often, breathtaking trails are scarred by carelessness. A candy wrapper fluttering in the wind, a crushed plastic bottle beside a stream, or worse—half-eaten lunches left behind—ruins the experience for everyone else and, more critically, for the fragile ecosystems that make Israel unique.
Be Nice to Our Land
The simplest act of respect for nature is also the most important: carry out what you carry in. If you pack sandwiches, snacks, or cold drinks for your hike, bring a bag to collect all the waste afterward. Tie it onto your backpack until you find a bin at the trailhead or on the drive home.
It might sound obvious, but small oversights accumulate. A single potato chip bag can linger for months. Plastic bottles left behind in the desert break down slowly under the scorching sun, leaching chemicals into the soil. Food scraps attract wild animals, altering their natural diet and making them dependent on humans.
When you hike, you are a guest. The land is not yours to dirty or alter. It belongs to everyone—humans and wildlife alike—and deserves the same respect you would give to someone’s home.
Hiking Smart and Light
Respecting the land also means preparing thoughtfully. Here are a few ways to make your summer hike lighter on the environment:
-
Reusable bottles: Carry water in a reusable flask or hydration pack. Israel’s heat is unforgiving—hydrate often—but avoid disposable plastics.
-
Eco-friendly snacks: Choose unpackaged fruit, sandwiches in reusable wraps, or snacks in small reusable containers instead of plastic bags.
-
Stay on the trail: Cutting across paths may seem harmless, but it damages fragile desert crusts or wildflower patches. Stick to marked routes.
-
Respect wildlife: Observe from a distance. Don’t feed ibex, hyraxes, or birds; human food harms them.
-
Leave no trace: If you see trash others left behind, set an example by picking it up. Kids especially learn more from what you do than what you say.
A Culture of Care
Israelis are passionate hikers, but the land is small and the population dense. This means that careless behavior has a magnified impact. Each summer, parks authorities and eco-groups run campaigns urging hikers to keep trails clean, and volunteers often organize “green hikes” to collect litter while walking. Joining one of these is not only a chance to protect the land but also a way to meet fellow nature lovers.
Ultimately, the way we hike reflects the way we see ourselves in relation to the land. Do we treat it as a disposable playground? Or do we see it as sacred—worthy of respect, stewardship, and gratitude?
Don’t Let Israel Become a Garbage Country
Hiking is supposed to refresh the body and spirit, not remind us of bad habits. Each of us has the power to decide whether Israel’s trails will sparkle under the summer sun or be tarnished by trash.
So this summer, when you pack your gear, take one extra bag. Use it to carry your waste, and maybe a bit of someone else’s. Be kind to the land that sustains us, to the history beneath your feet, and to the next hiker who comes along.
Because a hike in Israel should end with tired legs, full hearts, and unforgettable views—not with a trail of garbage in your wake.
