2022-02-19 Kfar Hay - Nahr Dahab - Nahr Jawz - Kaftoun Loop
near El Ouatâyâ, Liban-Nord (Lebanon)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
I would like to sum up this trail as a great trail and will rank it as moderate (might be difficult for newbies)
A great weather set the stage for this trail. The trail started from Kfar Hay next to an old one-room stone house. After a 50+ meter of pavement the trail turned into the Nahr dahab (Gold river) dried bed. Millions of years of running river water turned this bed into a mini Grand Canyon with beautiful rock formations and colors. The river bed trail was around 3.5 km where it intersects with the Msaylha trail (Thank God, the intersection avoids the kilometers of concrete cement slabs). After the Nahr Dahab section, the trail turns into a nice flat walk along Nahr El Jawz (walnut river); the combination of dried falling tree leaves and new spring sprouting shoots make this part a perfect setting for the impressionist movement to call it home. The trail continues along the river until we reach an old (probably Roman) stone bridge where we cross it into the surrounding hills. The hills have their charm and gives you a bird's eye view of the trail we left behind; this section of the trail is a moderate uphill climb that will lead you to orchards of avocado trees (I thought the avocado season was over but these orchards proved me wrong - all trees were feeling the burden of their fruits). the trail took us from avocado to olive orchards.
After the olive orchards, the trail has around 20 meters of extreme difficulty because it is covered in brittle thorns (and navigating them is treacherous so be careful) and then the trail takes you again on a flat path where you join pavement (around 500+ meters) and back to the cars.
I conclude with the introduction: this trail is a great trail and will rank it as moderate (might be difficult for newbies).
Enjoy
Stay foolish
Stay hungry
A great weather set the stage for this trail. The trail started from Kfar Hay next to an old one-room stone house. After a 50+ meter of pavement the trail turned into the Nahr dahab (Gold river) dried bed. Millions of years of running river water turned this bed into a mini Grand Canyon with beautiful rock formations and colors. The river bed trail was around 3.5 km where it intersects with the Msaylha trail (Thank God, the intersection avoids the kilometers of concrete cement slabs). After the Nahr Dahab section, the trail turns into a nice flat walk along Nahr El Jawz (walnut river); the combination of dried falling tree leaves and new spring sprouting shoots make this part a perfect setting for the impressionist movement to call it home. The trail continues along the river until we reach an old (probably Roman) stone bridge where we cross it into the surrounding hills. The hills have their charm and gives you a bird's eye view of the trail we left behind; this section of the trail is a moderate uphill climb that will lead you to orchards of avocado trees (I thought the avocado season was over but these orchards proved me wrong - all trees were feeling the burden of their fruits). the trail took us from avocado to olive orchards.
After the olive orchards, the trail has around 20 meters of extreme difficulty because it is covered in brittle thorns (and navigating them is treacherous so be careful) and then the trail takes you again on a flat path where you join pavement (around 500+ meters) and back to the cars.
I conclude with the introduction: this trail is a great trail and will rank it as moderate (might be difficult for newbies).
Enjoy
Stay foolish
Stay hungry
Waypoints
River
614 ft
POV I
The Nahr Dahab river is dried up now; I am told that the path was diverted to feed the Masylha Dam.
Intersection
415 ft
Msaylha Trail Intersection
This trail intersects with the Msaylha trail here. The two trails share the Nahr El Jawz segment. Need to Go Right here
Intersection
680 ft
Rock Plate
Look for this plate and where the trails continue. The trail is a bit out of sight here; be careful not to get lost.
Intersection
640 ft
Go Straight
Waypoint
722 ft
water Spring
Pavement ends
1,061 ft
Beginning of Pavement
Pavement ends
837 ft
Pavement Ends Here
Comments (2)
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Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Wonderful trail during early spring, thanks Zahi
The trail is wonderful, however as a heads-up note that the last quarter is really tricky as the visibility becomes nearly non-existent.