Ein Jones (or by its other name, “Ein a-Rih”), is a hot spring surrounded by an ancient Turkish bath that its roof collapsed (and some say it was turn down by the IDF, given the fact that it served Syrian officers over the years) – something that gives it a historic vibe and special atmosphere. It is located right on the border, at the point where the Israeli and Syrian part of the Golan Heights meet with the Jordanian Gilad ridge, near the “Hamat Gader” site.
The site, located in the Yarmouk Valley (at the foot of the southern Golan Heights), was created following the Syrian-African rift and is famous for its natural hot springs, which originate from the earth’s interior and are known for their special healing properties. One of them, and perhaps the last one that remains open and free – and that too is under question, we will explain later – is Ein Jones.
There is a large, rectangular concrete pool there, measuring about 32 square meters (4X8), into which hot and clear water enriched with minerals like sulfur and magnesium flows (and it smells accordingly, take it into account). The depth of the pool is a little more than a meter, and there are steps that allow for pleasant and comfortable sitting. It is surrounded by graffiti, and is on of the most popular turist attractions in the area.
On the site there are some more smaller pools and abandoned buildings, and not far away is a wonderful Roman baths site built in the third century AD. The historic bathing site was centered around “Ein al-Makla”, a spring that springs to an upper pool and from there continues to a series of seven different pools, each from its own hall, in a route that lasts about 15 meters.
Maybe one day we will write a long post about it as well – and in any case, if you have already reached Ein Jones, it is recommended to take the time and see this impressive historical site.
How to get to Ein Jones
From Tzemach Junction, drive east, pass Maagan Junction and continue on Road 98 until you reach a sign pointing to the Hamat Gader site (“Hamat Gader Junction”). Continue with a right turn and drive another kilometer until the road curves to the right in the direction of the Hamat Gader site. Here, deviate from the road and continue left on a rough road for about a kilometer and a half until you reach the military post on the spot – Ein Jones will be in a concrete structure about 50 meters nearby.
As we have already hinted, in recent years there has been a debate between the public and the authorities about the use of the place. The site was closed by virtue of a general order and “security” considerations from time to time, and in recent years the only access road to the spring, which is also an IDF “blurring” path, has been blocked by two electric gates.
This is strange in light of the fact that this is a place adjacent to another tourist site – Hamat Gader – which is never closed in light of security considerations…
But it does not stop hikers, and there is no problem entering the area on foot (except at times when it is closed by a general military order). You can park near the gate and continue on foot along the road until you reach the spring (about 15 minutes walk). On the other hand, you can park on the south side of the Hamat Gader parking lot, and from there look for a point that connects to the spring access road (at a point closer to it).
It is important to clarify – according to an IDF spokesman, the road to the spring (which is also the border road), was closed to vehicular traffic in order to reduce traffic there, but there is no prevention for travelers to reach the spring area on foot, and there is no security problem.