Wadi Ghub (Spectrum/Rainbow valley) hike with summit near the Musandam range of Hajjar mountains
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.31 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,284 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,284 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,202 ft
- TrailRank
-
74
4.1
- Min elevation
- 318 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 7 hours 11 minutes
- Time
- 12 hours 3 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2526
- Uploaded
- February 5, 2021
- Recorded
- February 2021
near Z̧anḩah, Fujairah (United Arab Emirates)
Viewed 21770 times, downloaded 427 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Notes: The hike is moderate to difficult, because there is minimal shade and the trail has loose gravel on multiple stretches of the trail. We had our share of falls and slips on this trail. Recommended only for groups (not solo) with a minimum of 3 ltrs of water per hiker. Even during winters, the afternoon sun can get to you without appropriate sun protection and ample water.
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If you intend to follow this trail, you can park right at the starting point and walk towards the WP2. We started the hike pre-dawn and WP1 was a mistake because we took off in the wrong direction. However, with the sun coming up, the wadi was clearly visible from the initial climb and we descended down into the wadi at WP2.
The wadi offers beautiful terrain views and within a walk of 20-30 mins, you will be right in front of the famed "spectrum" or layered, colourful rock formations. Given its unique look and feel, it is a "must visit" site, if you are into hiking in the UAE. The trail is straight forward and all you need to do is to follow the ravine bed. You will experience substantial boulder climbing, and scrambling over smoothened rocks. Being in a group, helped us to navigate the boulders or while descending them.
We took multiple breaks to experience the wadi's beautiful rock formations and also took a small detour (WP18) to climb over a small mountain. This can be skipped and you can continue walking through the wadi bed. After WP18, the wadi gets steep and the path is almost full of loose rocks and rubble - we had to use both hands to ensure grip, while climbing up. The waypoint WP22, at 682m, marked our first summit with beautiful views of the town of Musandam (Oman). After a short break, we continued to ascend further, with the trail offering stunning views of Oman and the Musandam mountain range. At summit, you need to decide whether to turn around or continue along the ridges, thus hiking a loop towards the starting point. We decided to descend down into the wadi, at WP30 and in hindsight, it was a mistake. This is because the trail beyond this point is not marked and we had to scout multiple times for the path to take. Here, one of our members suffered a sun stroke and we were running out of water. I strongly recommend to do the entire loop, rather than taking the path beyond WP30, unless you are mentally and physically fit to do so. No ropes are required, but the path down to the wadi, beyond WP30, has no shade, and has large drops that would require you to find alternative ways to descend. The other option is to take the full loop along the ridges and this takes you to a mobile tower (visible from the summit point). However, this is recommended if you go with someone who has done this trail before.
Notes: The hike is moderate to difficult, because there is minimal shade and the trail has loose gravel on multiple stretches of the trail. We had our share of falls and slips on this trail. Recommended only for groups (not solo) with a minimum of 3 ltrs of water per hiker. Even during winters, the afternoon sun can get to you without appropriate sun protection and ample water.
====
If you intend to follow this trail, you can park right at the starting point and walk towards the WP2. We started the hike pre-dawn and WP1 was a mistake because we took off in the wrong direction. However, with the sun coming up, the wadi was clearly visible from the initial climb and we descended down into the wadi at WP2.
The wadi offers beautiful terrain views and within a walk of 20-30 mins, you will be right in front of the famed "spectrum" or layered, colourful rock formations. Given its unique look and feel, it is a "must visit" site, if you are into hiking in the UAE. The trail is straight forward and all you need to do is to follow the ravine bed. You will experience substantial boulder climbing, and scrambling over smoothened rocks. Being in a group, helped us to navigate the boulders or while descending them.
We took multiple breaks to experience the wadi's beautiful rock formations and also took a small detour (WP18) to climb over a small mountain. This can be skipped and you can continue walking through the wadi bed. After WP18, the wadi gets steep and the path is almost full of loose rocks and rubble - we had to use both hands to ensure grip, while climbing up. The waypoint WP22, at 682m, marked our first summit with beautiful views of the town of Musandam (Oman). After a short break, we continued to ascend further, with the trail offering stunning views of Oman and the Musandam mountain range. At summit, you need to decide whether to turn around or continue along the ridges, thus hiking a loop towards the starting point. We decided to descend down into the wadi, at WP30 and in hindsight, it was a mistake. This is because the trail beyond this point is not marked and we had to scout multiple times for the path to take. Here, one of our members suffered a sun stroke and we were running out of water. I strongly recommend to do the entire loop, rather than taking the path beyond WP30, unless you are mentally and physically fit to do so. No ropes are required, but the path down to the wadi, beyond WP30, has no shade, and has large drops that would require you to find alternative ways to descend. The other option is to take the full loop along the ridges and this takes you to a mobile tower (visible from the summit point). However, this is recommended if you go with someone who has done this trail before.
Waypoints
Mountain pass
Intersection
Photo
Summit
Panorama
3,187 ft
WP27 - Panoramic view of the mountain range, crisscrossing into Oman
Turn back from this waypoint on the same trail, for a low risk return path.
Comments (28)
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Looks amazing, want to try this one!
It is. Please do let me know how it goes. It would also be a risk free hike if you turn back on the same trail, after WP27. Do try to walk around that WP27, towards the mountain top, to have a breath taking vide of Musandam. Happy hiking!
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Thank you for recording. It really helped us a lot.
Thank you for your feedback, Chogoree. Happy that it helped!
Trying this one tomorrow and can’t wait
You will love it. Please carry enough water. At least 5 ltrs. It is getting warm..
Hi, we tried it today and couldn’t reach the first summit after wadi Ghub.
I found the loop part was not intermediate level due to the rubbles and ‘almost’ climbing skills required. Also couldn’t see any cairns or marks to use as guide, would have been useful to see some at least on the WP to confirm we were on the right track.
Sorry to hear that it was a bit difficult. We did set up a few cairns, however, given the terrain, I doubt that they would remain stable. Did you reach the top overseeing the Musandam area?
No impossible. The terrain was too scrambled and the heat didn’t help as we couldn’t hold on to the stone to ‘climb’. Another time maybe ...
Hi HikerWolf, i would like to ask if the trail is easy to follow as we dont have guide.. thank you!
Hi Camille, the trail is eays to follow, however, do not turn at WP30 and I suggest you go along the ridge, towards the start point (like a loop). I hope you are a decent sized group (3-4 hikers) and please do carry ample water.
When do you intend to do this trail? It is still pretty hot and we did this trail in Feb, and one of us had a heat stroke. The trail offers absolutely NO shade and hence please ensure you have enough water. You can also follow the trail as documented, following through WP30. My trail gets steeper from WP30 and hence I would recommend it only if you think that you are at an optimal fitness level. It is doable for sure, without a guide. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much HikerWolf! I was planning to do this next month but since you mention there is no shade, i might postpone til dec.. thanks again!! Will follow your trail 🙏🏻
I intend to do this one again, in Nov. Oct is still good for night hikes :)
Happy hiking!
Was the hardest hike I ever did. Took us 14.5 hours. Thank God we completed the loop part before nightfall.
Hello Luv, hope you enjoyed it. Hiking in those mountains after sunset, can be a little challenging.
Hello, do you know If this route is still available?
Hi Haya, yes, it is. I just did this 2 weeks back. Please ensure that you carry enough water though, and do it as a group. Have fun!
Thank you! I read somewhere that there was a military check so that’s why I was worried. Thank you will do this 🤪
Great, have fun!
Hello, I am planning to do the route in solo this weekend. I understand it is safer to take the same way back at WP27. Is it correct? Some good places to camp at the summit?
Hi Erwan, you can possibly find a camping spot between WP25 and WP27, but be mindful of the winds at that altitude. I would strongly recommend to return back on the same way, from WP27. I have done this hike a few weeks back too, and would still not recommend to do it alone, even though you intend to return back from WP27. Please carry ample water, as there is hardly any shade on this trail.
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Well, I did this route on 27th of August, it's my first hike .. I did it with a friend which is his first hike too..... by wp15 we were so tired so we decided to call it off .... in all cases we did about 10km going and back ... the rainbow valley is around the middle after about 3k in ... so if u are only there for this valley then u don't have to go farther .. however the trip was very challenging to us since its our first hike... we followed the route so really thanks for who upload it... it really helped alot .... just be careful with the beginning of the route since the part next to the camera is been covered with stones so you have to go around and then go down ... Good luck and one more thing TAKE MORE WATER THEN U THINK U WILL EVER NEED ... BECAUSE U WILL RUN OUT OF WATER IF U DIDNT ....
Well, I did this route on 27th of August, it's my first hike .. I did it with a friend which is his first hike too..... by wp15 we were so tired so we decided to call it off .... in all cases we did about 10km going and back ... the rainbow valley is around the middle after about 3k in ... so if u are only there for this valley then u don't have to go farther .. however the trip was very challenging to us since its our first hike... we followed the route so really thanks for who upload it... it really helped alot .... just be careful with the beginning of the route since the part next to the camera is been covered with stones so you have to go around and then go down ... Good luck and one more thing TAKE MORE WATER THEN U THINK U WILL EVER NEED ... BECAUSE U WILL RUN OUT OF WATER IF U DIDNT ....
Happy that you found the information, useful. Have fun hiking, especially now that the weather will get cooler. However, this hike is totally exposed so I wouldn't recommend doing it in Aug or until September end.
Thanks for ur quick response, I agree with what u said ...since we did most of the hike between 11am to 4pm which is really hot ... and im smoker 🙄...
we had one rest for 30 minutes on our way back ...
If its not so much trouble to u , which hike u recommend for someone like me ( second hike in his life with no tools ) to do in September which has a summit for a high view and not so much challenging like this in terms of the parts which has a very high attitude changes in some areas ..
Thanks for sharing, this seems very interesting, probably will do it the coming weekend,. Very interesting
We hiked the Spectrum full loop yesterday and it was amazing yet difficult / struggle. Make sure to bring a lot of water / electrolytes and energy bars. We are lucky that we made it back safely.
Hi Rena, glad that you are safe. Yes, it is quite an exposed hike.