Nahal Amud: The Pillar Stream from Safed to the Sea of Galilee

Nahal Amud (the Pillar Stream) is a dramatic canyon that cuts through the upper Galilee mountains from near Safed to the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The stream is named after a tall, pillar-shaped rock formation (amud means “pillar”) that stands in the canyon, and the hiking trail through the gorge is one of the finest long-distance hikes in Israel.

Canyon, Caves, and History

Nahal Amud flows through a narrow limestone canyon, with cliff walls that rise 200-300 meters on both sides. The canyon is lush with Mediterranean and gallery forest vegetation: oak, carob, plane trees, oleander, and maidenhair ferns growing from the rock walls. Natural pools dot the streambed, fed by springs that flow year-round in the upper sections. The canyon is home to ibex, wild boar, foxes, and a variety of birds, and the sense of wild isolation in the gorge, just a few kilometers from the busy roads of the Galilee, is remarkable.

The Limestone Pillar

The amud (pillar) that gives the stream its name is a free-standing rock column, approximately 20 meters tall, that rises from the canyon floor. The column was formed by differential erosion of the surrounding limestone, leaving the harder rock standing as a natural monument. The pillar is located in the middle section of the canyon and is one of the landmarks of the hike.

Prehistoric Caves

The canyon walls contain caves that were inhabited by prehistoric humans. Amud Cave, near the canyon’s outlet to the Sea of Galilee, produced the remains of a Neanderthal (Amud Man), dating to approximately 50,000 years ago. The discovery was one of the most significant Neanderthal finds in the region and contributes to the understanding of early human habitation in the Galilee.

Hiking Nahal Amud Israel from Safed to the Sea of Galilee

The full Nahal Amud trail runs approximately 14 kilometers from the springs near Safed to the Sea of Galilee at Hukok, descending from over 500 meters above sea level to 200 meters below. The hike takes 6-8 hours and is rated moderate to difficult. Shorter sections are possible, and the upper pools near Safed are a popular half-day destination. The trail is best hiked between November and May, when the pools are full and the temperatures are moderate.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Nahal Amud is the Galilee at its most wild. Hoshen Tours offers guided sections of the canyon for groups who want to combine hiking with the landscape of the upper Galilee.

Visitors exploring the upper Galilee often combine Nahal Amud with nearby destinations such as Safed, Mount Arbel, and Rosh Pina, each offering its own distinctive perspective on the region’s layered history and landscape. A broader itinerary might also include Montfort Castle and Sea to Sea Trail, 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 upper Galilee.