Today we will get to know a nice 6 km long hiking trail that starts close to the Golani junction, continues parallel to the Gospel trail, and ends with a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee. Along the way, we will learn about the famous Battle of the Horns of Hattin in which Muslim forces under Saladin defeated the Crusader army, marking the beginning of the decline of the Crusader state in the region.
The route we will review today begins at the KKL-JNF site, on the northern edge of the Lavi Forest (north of Road 77).
The Horns of Hattin (Hebrew: קרני חיטין, romanized: Karnei Hittin) is an extinct volcano in the Lower Galilee near Mount Arbel. Its maximum height is 326 meters, and it is located about 5 km west of Tiberias. The mountain got its name due to its two peaks that are shaped like horns, probably volcanic plugs created due to a drift process. In 2007 the mountain was declared a national park.
The Lavi Forest, which covers an area of 3,000 square meters, extends south of Road 77. The JNF (Jewish National Fund) has built several pleasant camping spots in the forest, in the main one nice picnic tables, and a toilet structure accessible to people with disabilities.
The route: from the Golani Museum to The Horns of Hattin
The “Gospel Trail” (not to be confused with the “Jesus Trail” we wrote about in the past) is a 62 km long road that begins at Mount Precipice in Nazareth, crosses the Lavi Forest, passes at the foot of the Horns of Hattin and descends to Capernaum on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The trail was created by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and the Jewish National Fund and is intended mainly for Christian pilgrim tourists.
We will connect to the trail near the Golani Museum and the JNF “Ta Ets” Center (Plant a Tree Center). The Gospel Trail is not marked with standard trail markers but with a structure of four or five basalt stones threaded on an iron rod. We will continue north on a dirt road following the markings.
After about half a kilometer we will leave the Gospel Trail and turn left on a green bridge over a cattle fence. During the spring and winter, we will enjoy wonderful blossoms here. We will continue for about two kilometers of comfortable walk during which we will pass large carob trees, and stick to rocks next to the cultivated fields of the nearby Kibbutz Lavi until we reach a split of paths.
At the split, the Gospel Trail turns left towards the Sea of Galilee, but we will turn right onto the path marked in black in the direction of the ascent to the summit of the Horns of Hattin. From here we can already clearly see the two peaks (“horns”) that gave the mountain its name.
We will pass between two cattle fences and advance to the foot of Mount Karni Hittin, where there is a sign of the Nature and Parks Authority which declares the place a national park. Climbing to the top of the mountain is not particularly difficult. It is made of a kind of round crater, which is the crater of a dormant volcano that was active about 3 or 4 million years ago, during the Pleiades era. At the base of the mountain is a layer of marine limestone, similar to that found in Mount Arbel. Above it is a layer of greenish tuff, and above it is a layer of agglomerate that includes volcanic bombs and lumps of basalt. This indicates that the mountain began its life with moderate eruptions that intensified later.
We will cross the summit to its eastern fringes. From here we will have a spectacular view: at our feet stands the impressive Arbel Cliff, and in front of it is Mount Nitai. Between Mount Arbel and Karni Hittin lies the fertile Arbel Valley, which is entirely cultivated. In the background, we can see the Sea of Galilee at the foot of the Golan Heights and far behind it the white Mount Hermon.
We will continue to the southern side of the mountain facing the Galilee mountains, and descend the path marked in blue to the plain at the foot of the Horns of Hattin. We will walk the path marked in blue for another kilometer, to a group of eucalyptus trees with an improvised parking space. This is the endpoint of the route.
Battle of the Horns of Hattin
Perhaps the most famous historical event that took place in this place was the Battle of Hattin – a fateful battle that took place on July 4, 1187, between the army of the Crusader-Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem led by Guy of Lusignan who controlled considerable parts of Israel, and the Muslim forces of the Ayyubid dynasty led by Sultan Saladin that ruled an area that stretched from Iraq, through Syria to Egypt and Africa.
The battle and the journey took place on July 3-4 and took place with the goal of the Crusader forces to liberate Tiberias from the siege of the Muslims. The battle took place in a flat area at the foot of Mount Karni Hittin and on the mountain itself when the area was surrounded by fire and smoke that made it difficult for the Crusaders, who could not fortify themselves at the foot of the mountain and could not escape east towards the Sea of Galilee. Eventually, the Muslim forces inflicted a crushing defeat on the Crusaders, whose army was almost completely destroyed.
The defeat of the Crusaders was the decisive breaking point of the Christian kingdom, which was established in the Land of Israel following the First Crusade. The defeat was so severe and the Crusaders’ army remained in such a terrible state that most of the Crusader settlements and fortresses in the Land of Israel continued to surrender to Saladin. Shortly afterward, the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem ceased to be a significant factor in the Levant.
How to Get There
To the starting point – Golani Museum
From the Golani Interchange, drive about half a kilometer east, in the direction of Tiberias (Road 77). Near the gas station, enter an underground passage that crosses Road 77 in a northerly direction. Turning left will lead us to the Golani Museum, but we will go right on a dirt road and continue in the direction of the KKL-JNF “Ta Ets” site (there are signs) for a journey of about a kilometer and a half.
To the end point – Horns of Hattin
Drive west from the Poria junction (Route 77) for about 2 km and turn right according to the signs to Karni Hittin National Park. Immediately after the turn, we will turn right onto a dirt road (with blue trail markings), and continue for another 350 meters until a left turn towards the prominent eucalyptus trees. This is the recommended parking point, but you can continue to get closer to the top of the mountain on a bumpy road.
