So, can you cycle the Israel National Trail? The short answer is no, except for some specific parts. Keep reading to learn all there is to know on cycling the Israel National Trail.
The Israel National Trail was designed for pedestrian crossings, and only parts of it are passable for cyclists. In 2006, after many cyclists improvised cycling paths along the trail, the Trail Marking Committee began planning the Israel Bicycle Trail. The first section, which extends for about 85 km, was marked and opened in 2011, from Eilat to Shaharut.
The total length of the trail is about 1,200 km, and unlike the Israel National Trail for hikers, it starts in the Golan Heights, passes through the mountainous Jordan, the Eastern Sharon, and Jerusalem.
A day of riding along the trail should be 35-40 km – a reasonable distance for the average off-road rider. Similar to the INT, riders are invited to complete the trail in a few weeks, or it can be done divided into sections.
The uniqueness of the trail lies in the fact that it is one of the longest regulated trails in the world, designed and adapted especially for mountain bikers. This is a path that passes through the most ancient heritage sites in Israel, including the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The route continues along the route of ancient convoys and on only a few riding days you can cross it from the snow on Mount Hermon to the deserts in the south, through thousands of years of history and hundreds of millions of years of geology.
Can you cycle the Israel National Trail?
The Israel Bicycle Trail has been planned but has not yet been fully marked. The sections of the trail were built so that the riding in each of them would be one-day (between 6-8 hours) and would end at a place where accommodation and water services. As of July 2020, about 400 km have been opened from a planned route of 1,200 km – they connect Arad to Mishor Amiaz and the Sde Boker seminary to Eilat. The entire route can be ridden for about 8 consecutive days.
Trail Segments
Israel Bike Trail is the ultimate route for the adventurous rider. “Bikpackers” may ride it for days without encountering civilization, although it is always a few kilometers away.
On one hand, the trail offers remote desert landscapes and on the other, it is a well-maintained route that enables you to enjoy the ride to the fullest.
Israel Bike Trail is a mountain bike (MTB) trail. It was planned and built to fit the average MTB cyclist’s skills and bikes. The trail’s physical characteristics, such as surface, width, slopes, and obstacles, are making the trail suitable for the average mountain biker or bikepacker.
For more information regading the different trail segments, visit the official IBT website.
Off-road Riding Tips
Here are some tips for those who plan on cycling the Israel National Trail.
Route Planning
Route planning is the most important part of the journey. During the planning, the physical fitness of the riders must be taken into account, and breaks, campsites, and water filling points must be planned. The route of the segment, its elevation (descents/ascents), military training areas, busy roads, and nature reserves must also be taken into account.
It is recommended to make the trip accompanied by a topographic map of the Society for the Protection of Nature that includes all the relevant details. A web map of the Israel National Trail on Google Maps was recently uploaded to our website. This is a very useful tool during route planning.
Fitness
Even very skilled riders, who ride tens of miles continuously, are not necessarily accustomed to riding for several consecutive days for long hours each day, so one should practice as much as possible before embarking on a journey, making sure to start each day riding at low intensity and low gears.
When finishing a day of riding, do not be lazy, and be sure to do stretches to prevent muscle pain. As mentioned, it is always advisable to have access to a first aid kit that contains at least the basic means of self-care in case of injury.
Nutrition and Water
During the initial planning of the route, water filling points and food shopping stops must be taken into account. It is also recommended to carry light but nutritious items. Be sure to eat orderly and do not pass up meals in light of the much energy invested in riding.
Equipment
The subject of the equipment is very broad and depends on the situation: Are you traveling alone, in a group, together with an accompanying vehicle, a single section, or the whole route in a row. Mandatory equipment for any field trip is first aid equipment, maps, technical equipment for the bicycles, water, and food. Sleeping equipment that includes a tent and a backpack is necessary only if you plan to sleep in the field (and not with trail angels).
It is recommended to take equipment frequently used in a small backpack (up to 5 kg), and the rest of the equipment (clothing, cooking equipment, sleeping, etc.) should be taken in a carrier on the bike. It is recommended to make sure in advance that the equipment is well packaged, and even give it a “test ride” to examine the comfort and weight of the equipment.
Technical Aspects
It is recommended to take all the technical equipment needed to repair all possible bicycle malfunctions, such as Allen keys, chain wrench, replacement chain, number of replaceable spikes, spare internals, pump, spare gear cable (take the longer one, and if the front is torn then shorten), kit For repairing punctures. Our recommendation is to take a headlamp, which will leave you two hands-free during the repair.
Israel National Trail Guidbook
In this comprehensive and trusted trail guide, you will find all the information you will need to navigate all 44 parts of the trail, from Kibbutz Dan in the north and all to way to Eilat in the south, whether you’re a seasoned hiker seeking out a new adventure or a someone looking for a family-friendly outing.
With elevation gain and mileage, detailed descriptions of each trail suggested places for breaks, and opportunities to take it a bit further for a hidden gem that is not on the trail’s route – this guide includes all the information you need to plan and execute your INT adventure!
Whether you are planning a close-to-home day hike for a single section or a backpacking excursion on the full length of the Israel National Trail, this essential guide should be in your backpack!
Cycling the Israel National Trail: FAQ
The Israel Bike trail was planned to be ridden north to south. There is a big difference riding uphill in places where the trail was designed for a downhill ride, and vice versa. The average rider who will ride the opposite direction could find himself facing a risky downhill slope or unrideable, steep, uphill. you should try it.
Anyone who has experience in mountain biking and is capable of riding for 4-5 hours (about 40 Km) can ride any segment of the trail.
Only partially. There is no connection between the trails.
Because riding the southern segments of the trail involves crossing various types of terrain and passing through hot and dry climates, the recommended bike setup for it is a full suspension 26″-29” bike.
It is recommended to ride the southern parts of the trail from October to the beginning of April. During the rest of the year, the weather is too hot. Keep in mind that during the winter, some parts of the trails might be muddy and slippery, especially after the rains.
This section is really helpful in trying to put together a picture of cycling the INT and IBT although the guidebook referred to (and included in this section) is for hiking. As a less youthful cyclist who has done long distance cycling my thoughts were to shadow the INT on a touring bike taking in sections of the trail where it was sensible to do so. Google street helps in this respect. I am experienced at plotting my routes in advance and using a Garmin gps device to follow daily routes. I’ve cycled a bit of the INT when cycling Ben Gurion airport to Jerusalem a couple of years a go.
Accommodation is very expensive from my initial research on Booking.com. About travelling to start and return to Ben Gurion airport, one basic question is will trains and buses take bikes on board?
Maybe other cyclists have thoughts which might help me prepare for my journey?
Hi Tom,
Great to hear your plans! You are correct in terms of the route, as the INT was planned for hikers and not cyclists, you would need to plan your own route that bypasses the “problematic” sections of the INT. On the other hand, it is a great opportunity to go to places that are (sadly) not on the INT – Jerusalem for example.
As for your questions – On intercity buses, bicycles can be stored in the trunk of the bus at no additional cost (however it is forbidden to take bicycles into the passenger compartment). On city buses, non-folding bicycles (motorized or regular) may not be loaded into the passenger compartment (and there is no trunk).
On trains, you can take non-foldable bicycles only at specific times: Sundays-Thursdays from 09:00 – 15:00 and 19:00 – 06:00, and at all times on Fridays.
Best of luck!