Mount Arbel Park
At the National Park and Nature Reserve on Mount Arbel in the Lower Galilee visitors can enjoy views of the Sea of Galilee (Kinnereth), Mount Hermon and much of the Golan Heights.
When arriving at Mount Arbel, visitors are first struck by the steep cliff and impressive view. Further investigation brings nature lovers to different hiking trails of varied lengths and with points of interest. Mount Arbel’s ancient synagogue constructed primarily out of limestone is believed to have been in use between the fourth and eighth centuries during the Talmudic period of Israel’s history. The Cave Fortress can be reached via one of Mount Arbel’s more difficult hiking trails. Once there, visitors will find basalt and limestone walls protecting caves from unwanted intruders. These caves were once used for residential purposes. Local Druze royals built this fortress in the seventeenth century and remnants of the staircase, four level cave house and ritual immersion baths can be seen. In total, there are eight separate cave complexes built into the cliffs of Mount Arbel.
For those interested in incredible views, Mount Arbel Nature Reserve and National Park also offer a variety of lookout points, each with a unique perspective of the surrounding valleys. These points are the Carob Lookout, the Kinneret Lookout and the Labor Battalion Rest Area. Mount Arbel Park is open year round from 8 am until 4 pm, and until 5 pm during summer months. Guided tours are available upon request.