Park Sites

Timna Park spans a vast 70,000 dunams,
offering a myriad of trails that beckon you towards exploration and discovery.
Here, you’re invited to experience the desert’s unique beauty,
delve into its rich history, and challenge yourself with a range of trails from the leisurely to the demanding. Whether you prefer to traverse these paths on foot, cycle through them, or explore by car, adventure awaits.
*Note: The walking trails are not accessible.

– Trails are exclusively for hiking. Stay on the marked paths.

– Tailor your hike to both the environmental conditions and the weather. Equip yourself with a hat, sturdy walking shoes, and a substantial amount of water (a minimum of 3 litres per person). A hydration station is only available at the Lake Complex.ย 

– Be mindful that trails may intersect with roads used by vehicles, cyclists, and other hikers. Proceed with caution.

– Hiking during night hours is strictly prohibited.

– Avoid slippery surfaces and muddy paths; venturing close to or climbing cliffs is strictly prohibited.

– Climbing or causing damage to natural formations is strictly prohibited.

– Starting of fires is not allowed.

– Drones are prohibited without proper authorisation.

– It is forbidden to disturb or harm flora, fauna, or any inanimate objects within the Park.

– Please do not litter! Dispose of all litter in designated facilities, or take it with you.

– You are responsible for your own safety while enjoying the Park and its facilities. No entity shall be held accountable for any injuries or damages that occur to riders, passengers, or pedestrians on permitted trails or elsewhere within the park.

Timna Lake

This artificial lake was created to provide a constant water source for wildlife and a recreational area for adults and children alike.
Spanning 16 dunams, it contains approximately 20,000 cubic meters of water, which is unsuitable for drinking.
Although swimming is prohibited, pedal boating is a popular attraction, surrounded by a variety of lodging options, shaded seating areas, a sand bottle filling station, Cafรฉ Timna, and a souvenir shop close by.
Timna Lake was established through a joint investment by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in the United States, the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL), the Eilot Regional Council, and with a contribution from the Chudnow family of Milwaukee, USA.

The Arches

Navigate through Timna Park’s diverse trails, each offering a unique adventure tailored to your exploring style:

Embrace a challenge with this medium-difficulty journey, including ladder ascents, all within a brief 15-20 minute trek. Marvel at the captivating Small Arch, a testament to the park’s natural beauty.

Gear up for a moderately challenging expedition, featuring ladder climbs, navigating through stakes, and squeezing through narrow passages.
This hour-long journey rewards you with the majestic sight of the Great Arch and a journey back in time to ancient mining operations, complete with educational signage to enrich your understanding.

Continuing with a theme of medium difficulty, this trail promises an engaging 30-minute exploration, complete with ladder climbs and navigating via stakes.
Delve into the heart of ancient mining history, diverging and reconverging with the Red Trail.
A highlight includes climbing ladders to a cave for sweeping panoramic views, with insightful narratives on the region’s mining legacy leading you back to your starting point.

About the Site:

ย Though they might mimic man-made marvels, the arches are purely the work of nature’s relentless force, sculpted over millennia by the desert winds. These sandstone formations stand as a natural sculpture garden, with the arches themselves serving as the park’s crown jewels.

Historical Insight:

The area is home to some of the world’s earliest copper mines, marking a pivotal moment in human history with the advent of metal mining and usage. Copper’s legacy is deeply entwined with the evolution of ancient civilizations, highlighted throughout your journey in Timna Park.

Solomon's Pillars

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 500 meters
Formation: Impressive, high & majestic pillarsย 

Embark on a serene half-kilometer journey to discover the awe-inspiring Solomon’s Pillars. This circular route ascends the cliff overlooking these towering, natural sculptures, offering breathtaking views of Timna Valley and concluding at the site of ancient copper smelting. Carved by centuries of wind erosion through the cracks of the vibrant red sandstone, these pillars stand as monumental testaments to nature’s artistry.

The Mushroom

Probably one of Timna Parkโ€™s favourite sites, the Mushroom is a unique geological formation where a large rock rests atop a slender pillar, showcasing the natural beauty sculpted by erosion in the sandstone. The perfect selfieโ€ฆtake a photo of you โ€˜holding upโ€™ the mushroom to prevent its fall for a fun memory of your visit!

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 200-300 meters
Formation: Mushroom Rock

Historical Insight:

During the Egyptian period of activity in Timna, a copper extraction site operated in the Mushroom Valley, where the copper produced in Timna was smelted. The ores mined at the foot of the Timna cliffs as well as combustibles – acacia trees were brought to this area.ย 

Canyon Trails

Set out on a quest through the mesmerizing trails of Timna Park,
beginning at the mystical Mushroom rock formation.
With an assortment of paths varying in length and challenge level,
there’s a journey suited to every explorer’s desire.

Points of Interest:ย  Sandstone landscape
carved into a diverse array of forms and ‘faces’.
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Trail Length: 4.7 km-2 hours
Trail Colours:ย  black>blue>green>blackย 

Immerse yourself in the rich palette of the sandstone landscape, carved into a diverse array of forms and ‘faces’.
Tackle this moderately challenging loop, covering 4.7 km in roughly two hours, marked by a black>blue>green>black route.
Embark on the black trail, advancing 900 meters before proceeding on the blue trail to a pivotal blue-green junction, then circle back via the green trail to black, culminating at your point of departure.

Points of Interest: Ancient copper mines, archery ranges, and a camel hump.
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Length: 6 km, 2 hours
Trail Colours:ย  black>blue>green>blue>blackย 

Venture into the past with a 6 km trek, taking around two and a half hours, through ancient copper mines, archery ranges, and camel hump carvings, marked by a black>blue>green>blue>green>black trail sequence.
Kick off on the black trail, continue straight on the blue trail, and after a kilometer, take a right at the green-blue junction.
Navigate past significant archaeological sites, through narrow canyons, and return to the black trail to complete your journey.

Points of Interest: Sandstone landscape, carved into a diverse array of forms and ‘faces’.
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Trail Length: 10 km, 3.5 hours
Trail Colours:ย  black>blue>black> greenย 

Marvel at the kaleidoscope of colourful sandstones, etching a multitude of shapes and ‘faces’ into the rock.ย 
This challenging 10 km hike takes approximately three and a half hours, navigating a black>blue>>black>green route
Begin your journey on the black trail, continue onto the blue at the first junction, and after reaching the second blue-green junction, prepare for a 150-meter climb.
When you reach the blue-black junction, turn left onto the black trail, which will lead you past the majestic Solomon’s Pillars.
Eventually, merge onto the green trail that will take you back to the Mushroom, completing your adventure right where you started.
Begin your journey on the black trail, continue onto the blue at the first junction, and after reaching the second blue-green junction, prepare for a 150-meter climb.
When you reach the blue-black junction, turn left onto the black trail, which will lead you past the majestic Solomon’s Pillars.
Eventually, merge onto the green trail that will take you back to the Mushroom, completing your adventure right where you started.

Waffle Wall

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 100 meters from the Mushroom site car park, back and forth ย 
Formation: Natural multi-coloured wallย 

A short walk, beginning and ending at the Mushroom parking lot, spans approximately 100 meters and reveals a striking geological phenomenon. The Waffle Wall displays a spectrum of natural hues, each layer a narrative of minerals that have been compressed into the rock fabric over half a billion years, painting a vivid picture of Earth’s ancient past.

The Temple of Goddess Hathor

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 200 meters back and forth
Point of Interest: Impressive ancient templeย ย 

Positioned at the base of Solomon’s Pillars, this temple is best experienced as part of the comprehensive Solomon’s Pillars trail. If you choose to focus solely on this, ascend the staircase to the Egyptian rock carvings, then descend to the temple, making your way back to the parking area at the foot of the cliff that forms the pillars.

Historical Insight:

Evidence of Timna’s connection to ancient Egypt is found at the Shrine of Hathor. This site, also known as the “Minersโ€™ Temple,” dates back to the 19th and 20th dynasties of Egypt (14th to 12th centuries BCE). The structure has undergone various phases of destruction and rebuilding, with clear signs from both the Egyptian and Midianite periods. The smooth surface on the ceiling of the rock cliff, just north of the temple, proudly bears an ancient Egyptian rock engraving of Ramesses III. Positioned at the pinnacle of the stairs above the temple, nestled on one of the imposing cliffs, this remarkable carving offers a window into the past. For those intrigued by the visage of ancient royalty, a glimpse of this engraving provides a rare opportunity to come face-to-face with the likeness of a pharaoh who shaped history.

The Chariots

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length:200-300 meters
Point of Interest: Impressive rock engravingsย ย 

Set out on an easy stroll of 200-300 meters to uncover impressive rock engravings from a bygone era. Upon arrival, your journey begins at a sheltered hut where replicas of these rock carvings and informative signs provide a backdrop to the history you’re about to witness. There are two locations where these engravings can be found. The first set, situated about 50 meters up the channel, showcases chariots, each with two wheels and carrying two figures.ย 

The second set of engravings, located above the rock cascade to the right of the parking area, depicts a scene of hunting with humans and animals – ibexes, vultures, oryxes, and ostriches, portrayed by humans brandishing weapons and engaging in the hunt.

Historical Insight

These petroglyphs, dating from the 14th to the 12th centuries BCE, bring to life chariots, people, and hunting scenes, offering a glimpse into the vibrant cultural and social dynamics of the time.

Spiral Hill

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 300 meters
Formation: Spiralย  shaped hill.ย 

This sharply defined tapered hill is named due to a rock formation which diagonally envelops it to reveal a screw-like shape. It is a testament to the diverse natural formations and sculptures formed by weathering forces of varying intensities and methods of erosion on the layered rocks.

The Sphinx

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 100 meters
Formation: Egyptian Sphinx.ย 

Stop along the road and enjoy a relaxed stroll to he Sphinx. Unlike sculptures shaped by human effort, this natural wonder has been sculpted by the relentless forces of erosion acting upon sandstone.ย 

Historical Insight:

Named for resembling the famous Sphinx statue that legendary guards the Pyramids in Egypt. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of nature’s artistry.

Half Mushroom

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length: 300 meters
Formation: Natural Half-Mushroomย ย 

Explore a 300-meter trail leading to an extraordinary geological curiosityโ€”the Half Mushroom. This formation showcases the fascinating effects of erosion, where the softer lower segment has worn away quicker than its hardier top, sculpting a landmark that mirrors the peculiar shape of a half mushroom. This trail offers a unique glimpse into the dynamic processes that shape our natural world.

Fossil Trees Trail

Hiking Trail:
Level of Difficulty: Easy Family-Friendly
Trail Length: 3 km circular hikeย 
Formation: Fossil Treesย ย ย 

A family-friendly hiking trail stretching over 3 km in a circular route, offering a unique glimpse at trees that have been encapsulated within the rock. Throughout this path, you’ll encounter ancient copper mines and channels carved into sandstone, creating intriguing rock formations and ‘quarry pits’ that have been filled in over the years. Walking close to the cliff base, the trail provides a panoramic view of the entire valley, from west to east. At the right times, you can enjoy the stunning vistas of sunrise and sunset.