Gev Yelek is a natural and pleasant cistern located at the end of a short and easy route that is about a kilometer long, or a few minutes walk from the parking. The place offers a wide rock surface with a wonderful cistern, with proximity to the car – making it a perfect place to stop for a quick refreshment or a coffee break.
Gev Yelek is a place that there is no reason not to visit if you are in the area (on Road 40, about 10 minutes drive from Mitzpe Ramon). The ridge is part of Nahal Yelek, which is one of the tributaries of Nahal Nekraot, which centers Mitzpe Ramon in the direction of the Arava. During the rainy winter, the stream fills with water and drains to the back – creating the wonderful pool that attracts many visitors, from large families to young people.
The cistern is found below a small waterfall, a beautiful and very special place in the surrounding desert landscape. When it is full to the brim, it reaches a depth of about 4 meters and a surface area of about 20 square meters – among the largest pools in the area. The main beauty of the place (at least in our opinion) are the flat cliffs that surround it, creating shade that covers the spot for a pleasant and magical atmosphere.
But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. and a video even more:
Getting to Gev Yelek
To arrive at the parking: From Road 40, about 5 kilometers south of Ramon Crater, descend from the road east to a short dirt road. Continue for a few minutes until you reach the parking lot. Or simply, write “Gev Yelek” in Waze or other navigation apps.
In practice, after 10-15 minutes of driving from Mitzpe Ramon, you will see the dirt plaza to the left of Road 40, where you can park your car. If you missed the turn, do not worry – there is another turn after about 200 meters where you can make a U-turn.
From the parking lot, the most convenient access to the cistern is to continue 200 meters on the creek channel and ascend to the small canyon there (carefully). Then you should continue a little west until you reach the waterfall behind the cistern.
When to Go
First of all, keep in mind that the great accessibility and beauty of the place attracts quite a few visitors, so it may be crowded on holidays and weekends.
In terms of weather – note that the place is at risk of floods, so it is not advisable to arrive at the place during rains and it is very important to check in advance and make sure there are no expected floods in the area. Safety first!
However, after the rains have stopped, it is highly recommended to visit the place as soon as possible – this will allow you to enjoy the maximum amount of water, which will also be clearer.
Did you know: Nahal Nekraot is one of the largest streams in the Negev region. It is about 60 km long and it starts near the southeastern edge of Ramon Crater – about 2.5 km from the summit of Mount Oded – crosses the Mitzpe Ramon-Eilat road and continues until it connects with Ramon stream. The walls of the stream have layers of Nubian sandstone, and it is very flat and relatively wide, except for a bend known as the “horseshoe hoof”, where the stream is bounded by rocky walls of limestone.