This is an 80km (50-mile) loop of Mount Carmel National Park and associated nature reserve with the goal of including all the major trails and climbs.
The route includes the very challenging Druze singletrack trail, which is steep and technical, but also incorporates easy 4x4 dirt roads allowing one to run almost half of the route. The singletrack trails are challenging, especially numerous dry river beds, which are filled with large, slick rocks making it difficult to hike and almost impossible to run.
The nature in the area is just beautiful with many incredible views making the route a real unforgettable adventure. There is no need to obtain any permits to complete the route. The recommended start/finish is inside of the Kibbutz Yagur on a free parking lot near the Israel National Trail.
Following is a description of the route starting at Kibbutz Yagur and proceeding counterclockwise. However, the route may be completed in either direction, from any start point.
Kibbutz Yagur, which is located 14 km south-east of Haifa. The first climb follows the well known steep and technical Druze trail. From 2.5 km to 20 km the route follows the nice and easy Nof Carmel trail. At 20 km the route crosses the road #672 and continues 12 km south-west over mixed 4x4 dirt roads. At 32 km the route enters the Mearot Nature Reserve and continues west to the road #4. At 36 km, there is a gas station on the Ein Carmel junction allowing one to buy food and water. At 37 km, the route turns east and climbs towards Ein Hud over mixed 4x4 roads and single trails. At 46 km the route joins the Israel National Trail and goes down to the Oren campsite over a very technical single trail. On the Oren campsite, there is a water point and a restroom. From the Oren campsite, the route continues east on the Israel National Trail over a very technical single trail to the Rakit campsite. From the Rakit campsite, the route turns north and climbs toward Beit Oren and continues north over mixed 4x4 dirt roads until 58 km, where the route turns north-east via a very technical single trail. The technical single trail continues until 61 km and then the route turns right and climbs toward Haifa via the steep and technical Nahal Neder Trail. From 64 km, the route turns south and goes down via the beautiful and technical Nahal Galim Trail. At 69 km, the route turns left and climbs towards the Har Alon camp site via the steep and very technical Nahal Kelah Trail. There is a water point and a restroom on the Har Alon campsite. From the Har Alon campsite, the route turns north and goes back to Yagur via mixed 4x4 dirt roads and single trails.
