Chouf Reserve (Maasser el Chouf)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 7.02 mi
- Elevation gain
- 794 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,316 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,318 ft
- TrailRank
-
75
4.7
- Min elevation
- 5,537 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 2 hours 23 minutes
- Time
- 2 hours 49 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1962
- Uploaded
- June 28, 2020
- Recorded
- June 2020
near Māâsser ech Choûf, Mont-Liban (Lebanon)
Viewed 1910 times, downloaded 34 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This was supposed to be a loop. But then I decided to do it with a guide who suggested driving further up the road to start the trail. It is about 1 km further up from the main entrance where a green gate is located (your car needs to be parked somewhere there). To walk past the green gate you need to get a permission from the army or from the main entrance of the reserve. Since I was with a guide we were able to drive another 500 meters or so past the green gate. So you need to add those 500 meters to the walk.
This is a beautiful reserve and definitely worth hiking through, regardless of where you start and finish.
This is a beautiful reserve and definitely worth hiking through, regardless of where you start and finish.
Waypoints
Waypoint
Panorama
Intersection
5,840 ft
We took the trail on the right which loops around to meet the one on the left. See next photo for the information.
Information point
5,840 ft
If you follow the sign here the trail will meet the one we took. See previous intersection photo.
Intersection
5,902 ft
Next to this sign there is a large un-paved road. You need to cross it and continue on the other side. See next photo.
Photo
5,902 ft
After crossing the un-paved road the trail is initially not clear. Go a few meters and u will see it.
Intersection
5,942 ft
Here we went left off the trail for a shortcut over the hill (see next photo). Staying on the trail will lead to the same point.
Intersection
5,584 ft
We came from the Barouk direction. Continue straight or go right towards Lamartine cedar.
Intersection
5,617 ft
Stay on the left. The trail going down on the right leads to Maasser el Chouf village (on LMT 19).
Information point
5,686 ft
End of the trail. This is also one of the official entrances of the reserve.
Comments (4)
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I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Very nice trail
Thanks Paul
Hello Wadih. I am interested in doing this hike as it seems really nice. Could you please let me know more about the permit for reaching the peak of the reserve? How do I get it, is there a process I need to do in advance or is it given on spot at the reserve's entrance? Thanks in advance.
Dear Wael,
All you need to do is to buy the ticket to the reserve which you can do at the main entrance (located at the end my trail).
I did this trail with a local guide (you can ask for one if you want to at the entrance). The guide took me in his car further up the road (about 1.5 km) to start the hike.
To the best of my knowledge I was told that if I wasn’t with the guide I would have had to get a permit to start where we started as that entrance is controlled by the army. The best would be to ask them at the reserve entrance how to that. Things may have changed since then.
The other option is to go thru the reserve upwards and then catch my trail further in so you won’t have to a permit.
Also get in touch with the reserve so you have all the info beforehand.
Hope this was useful.