Nahal Meshushim: The Hexagons Stream and Its Volcanic Pool

Nahal Meshushim (the name means simply “hexagons” in Hebrew) (the Hexagons Stream) is one of the most spectacular hikes on the Golan Heights, named for the extraordinary basalt columns that line the canyon walls, each column a natural hexagonal prism formed when volcanic lava cooled slowly and contracted into geometric shapes. The hexagonal columns, looking as though they were carved by a master stonemason, are a geological wonder, and the waterfall and pool at the bottom of the canyon make the hike one of the best in Israel. It is the kind of place that stops people mid-stride and sends them reaching for their cameras before they have even registered what they are looking at.

The Geology: Columnar Jointing

The basalt columns at Nahal Meshushim were formed millions of years ago during the Golan’s volcanic period, when a lava flow from one of the plateau’s volcanic vents cooled slowly and uniformly. As the basalt contracted during cooling, it fractured along planes that meet at approximately 120-degree angles, producing the characteristic hexagonal cross-section. The process is called columnar jointing, and the same phenomenon appears at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, at Fingal’s Cave in Scotland, and at basalt formations across Iceland and the American Pacific Northwest. Nahal Meshushim is Israel’s finest example. The columns are vertical in some sections and tilted or even horizontal in others, depending on the orientation of the original cooling lava surface. Walking through the canyon, you move between walls that look like stacked pipe organs, bundled reeds, or the faces of a honeycomb, all formed by the same simple physics of thermal contraction.

The Hexagons Pool (Breichat HaMeshushim)

The trail descends into the canyon and reaches the Meshushim Pool, known in Hebrew as Breichat HaMeshushim, a deep natural pool surrounded on three sides by columns of hexagonal basalt rising directly from the water. The pool is fed by springs and seasonal stream flow, and the water is cold year-round regardless of the summer heat above. Swimming here is one of the defining Golan experiences: cold volcanic water, geometric rock walls, the sound of the stream, and the occasional shaft of sunlight cutting down through the canyon. On summer weekends the pool fills with hikers, so an early morning arrival is strongly recommended. The combination of the clear water and the sculpted basalt creates a landscape that looks more like Iceland than the Middle East.

Hiking to the Hexagonal Pool

The standard route from the parking area to the pool takes approximately 45 minutes each way, with a descent of around 150 meters on a well-marked trail. The path involves some rocky terrain and a few short scrambling sections, making it suitable for reasonably fit adults and older children but not for young children or people with limited mobility. A longer trail continues through the canyon into the Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve, connecting to the Yehudiya Canyon hike for a full-day traverse. The round trip to the pool and back is manageable in two to three hours including time at the water.

Best Season to Visit

Spring (March through May) is the ideal time for the full experience: the stream is flowing, the canyon walls are green where plants have taken hold in the basalt crevices, and the air is cool enough that the descent and climb are comfortable. The pool is at its fullest and most photogenic in spring. Summer visits remain worthwhile, as the pool is still swimmable even when the stream above has slowed, but the trail is exposed and hot before you descend into the canyon’s shade. Autumn is a second good window. Winter can see flash flooding in the canyon and the trail may be closed after heavy rain.

The Basalt Landscape of the Golan

Nahal Meshushim exists within the broader volcanic landscape of the Golan Heights, a plateau built up by successive lava flows over millions of years. Dozens of extinct volcanic cones are visible from the plateau rim, and the black basalt that underlies the entire region shapes everything: the soil, the agriculture, the building materials of the ancient villages, and the hydrology that feeds springs and streams throughout the area. Nahal Meshushim is the place where the geology becomes a spectacle rather than background context.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Nahal Meshushim is the Golan at its most beautiful. Hoshen Tours includes the hike in Golan itineraries, combining geology, nature, and a swim in one of the most unusual pools in Israel.

Visitors exploring the Golan Heights often combine Nahal Meshushim with nearby destinations such as Hippos-Susita, Ancient Synagogues of the Golan, and Golan Heights, each offering its own distinctive perspective on the region’s layered history and landscape. A broader itinerary might also include Hamat Gader and Bethsaida, both within easy reach and rich in their own right.

Every Hoshen Tours itinerary is private and fully customizable. Contact us to begin planning your journey through the Golan Heights.