2019-05-08 Mokhtara - Barouk River - Haret Jandal
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.91 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,962 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 1,962 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,634 ft
- TrailRank
-
81
4.9
- Min elevation
- 1,720 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 hours 20 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1248
- Uploaded
- May 8, 2019
- Recorded
- May 2019
near El Moukhtâra, Mont-Liban (Lebanon)
Viewed 12455 times, downloaded 308 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
The spring weather makes it perfect to hike this trail. The weather was foggy and light drizzle early in the morning but later turned into blue clear skies interspersed by white clouds. The river and water falls were at their optimal flow due to the extra rain/snow fall this year.
The hike started from the Virgin Mary church in Mokhtara and went down along the Barouk river all the way to Haret Jandal and back. The trail has breathtaking scenery as well as an assembly of water mills, Roman, and Ottoman bridges. at the end of the trail, we passed by the Bride's pond (birkit al arous in Arabic). All in all the scenery was exceptional.
The trail is a long and challenging trail; especially at this time because of the grown weeds along the trail. The great thing is we enciuntered the municipality workers who were clearing the trail from weeds and preparing it for the hiking season.
Do recommend the trail for those who are fit.
I rated this trail as difficult because of the overgrown bushes along the path which were impeding our movement.
The hike started from the Virgin Mary church in Mokhtara and went down along the Barouk river all the way to Haret Jandal and back. The trail has breathtaking scenery as well as an assembly of water mills, Roman, and Ottoman bridges. at the end of the trail, we passed by the Bride's pond (birkit al arous in Arabic). All in all the scenery was exceptional.
The trail is a long and challenging trail; especially at this time because of the grown weeds along the trail. The great thing is we enciuntered the municipality workers who were clearing the trail from weeds and preparing it for the hiking season.
Do recommend the trail for those who are fit.
I rated this trail as difficult because of the overgrown bushes along the path which were impeding our movement.
Waypoints
Waypoint
2,385 ft
Sewage Treatment Plant
Waypoint
2,241 ft
Ottomam Bridge
Ottoman bridges are usually less fancy than Roman bridges and made with smaller stones. The top of the bridge is not as smooth also.
Waypoint
2,102 ft
Cave
This cave has a metal door; I couldn't think of any use for it except, maybe, a shelter.
Waypoint
2,064 ft
Water Mill
Lebanon used to have many water mills built close to rivers to grind all kinds of grains. This one is among few that is still in good shape and will be renovated by the Mokhtara municipality.
Intersection
2,268 ft
Go Left
Waypoint
1,996 ft
Massar Nahel (Bees Cliff)
Looking East, you can view it. It is a high cliff that could be reached via the Roman stairs (another hike)
Waypoint
2,295 ft
Bride's Pond (Birkit Arous)
A beautiful set of waterfalls and ponds. A great landmark to end the hike with.
Comments (18)
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I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Difficult
nice trail, the path was easy to follow on the app, though we did face some obstacles on the trail
what obstacles and where on the trail?
it seems the winter was harsh and the trail was blocked by some fallen rocks which we climbed over, and as u mentioned in your description, there were some bushes we had to go through.
Hello! How did you get there from Beirut using bus transportation system?
I used my car. There is no public transportation that I know of to take you there.
Okay thank you
I have followed this trail View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Thank you Zahi, we did this trail today. It was truly amazing. The scenery is just sooo beautiful and the hike itself is difficult (as written in the description) and fun at the same time.
I love your other trails, as well. Can’t wait to walk them (:
Enjoy hiking and Live life to the fullest
I did it today and alone. It's very hard but deadly beautiful. I cried and felt stuck many times but it did feel great. It is very powerful when mother nature guides and heals. Thanks zahi.
I am glad you enjoyed the hike. Even though I don't encourage people to hike alone, but being one with nature is like being reborn anew.
Keep on hiking.
I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Difficult
Thanks for sharing such a nice trail Zahi! I just completed it a while ago. The scenery is wonderful, the river, the bridge, the water falls, the mills....it was simply superb.
As you rightly mentioned in your description in some places it is really hard to find the trail as it is not blazed or marked at all which makes it a bit challenging.
Overall a nice trail for good hikers to enjoy!
NB: I rated the easy to follow as 3 just because the trail isn’t marked however with Zahi’s waypoints it wasn’t a big issue.
Thanks for the review
Keep on hiking
I will tray this trail tomorrow, thanks to share 🌹
I have followed this trail View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Difficult
Nice trail and beautiful scenery. The trail was well maintained and therefore clean from obstacles or bush. The Shouf biosphere reserve are maintaining part of the trail and are taking an entrance fee of 7000 LL at the starting point (St. Mary church). We had our lunch near the end of the trail after the waterfall next to the river bed. A fire pit was already setup and its a good spot to swim in the river.
Thank you Zahi for sharing.
Thanks for the review
Keep on hiking
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Thank you zahi. I followed this trail today. This trail has recently been added to shouf reserve trail. Thus anyone entering shall pay the usual small amount entrance fee . I considered the trail moderate +. The trail was well maintained, cleared and cleaned from bushes, summer spikes or any obstacles.
Glad you enjoyed the trail.
Keep on hiking.
Can I depend on the app for the location all the way on the trail? Or will I get lost?
Is it this good in this time of the year?