The Aircraft Trail is a new circular hiking trail around the summit of Mount Eitanim. The name of the route is in memory of an IDF plane that crashed on the side of the mountain during the War of Independence (the nearby mountain is also named after the pilot – Mount Pilots, ‘Tayassim’ in Hebrew).
However, in the absence of any elements in the trail that are related to this historic incident, it seems better to call this route “Round Eitanim”. In fact, it is a circular “summit trail” that offers beautiful views and is suitable for the entire family (on the JNF sign at the beginning of the route, it is defined as a “trail for experienced hikers” – but there is no justification for this).
The Aircraft Trail
- Length – 2 kilometers.
- Duration – about an hour.
- Cumulative climb – Approximately 50 meters.
Getting There
Access to the trail is from the access road to “Eitanim Illit”, a psychiatric institution located between Givat Ye’arim and Ramat Raziel, near Road 395. You can go there from the Eshtaol junction at the intersection of Roads 395 and 38, or from Mevaseret Zion via the Sataf junction.
The route is also accessible by public transport, on the bus line to Ramat Raziel (getting off at Eitanim Illit station and a short walk), but the frequency of buses is low, so for travelers on public transport, it is recommended to combine this route with a longer walking route. And don’t forget you need a Rav-Kav or other app to board the bus.
In Waze (or other navigation apps): Eitanim Hospital
Aircraft Trail Route Description
From Highway 395, turn toward Eitanim Illit. After about 100 meters, a modest memorial monument can be seen to the left of the road in memory of Captain Rafael Zvi Koenig, who was killed here in a car accident in 1949. At the top of the monument is the Irgun logo “only thus” and the Irgun officer’s nickname – “Commander Yishai”.
The Irgun – known as “The National Military Organization in the Land of Israel” was a Zionist paramilitary organization that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. The organization is also referred to as Etzel (Hebrew: אצ”ל), an acronym of the Hebrew initials, or by the abbreviation IZL. The policy of the organization was based squarely on Ze’ev Jabotinsky‘s teachings: every Jew had the right to enter Palestine; only active retaliation would deter the Arabs; only Jewish armed force would ensure the Jewish state. Irgun members were absorbed into the Israel Defense Forces at the start of the 1948 Arab–Israeli war.
We will continue and pass a large bend in the road, and at a distance of 350 meters from the main road we will identify a dirt road that branches off to the right and sign with information on the “Aircraft Trail”. We will park at this point (parking is possible for a limited number of vehicles). If you do not find parking there, you can continue a few meters ahead and you will find a larger parking lot.
From here, we will first walk on a comfortable dirt road, from which we will look out towards Eitanim, Nahal Tzova, and Mount Eitan (the dirt road leading to Pilots’ Spring stands out). We will pass two cisterns on both sides of the road, remnants of the village of Deir Amar. The path approaches the fence of the “Bezeq” facility on Mount Eitanim, and then a narrow footpath branches off and ascends to the boundaries of the Eitanim institution.
If we turn for this path, we will reach within tens of meters an interesting cave with several rooms (no flashlight needed). The continuation of the path leads to a locked gate, so we will return to the main path. After a short descent, we will reach a trail junction (at this point there are signs pointing to the continuation of the route – along the route there are almost no directional signs). From here we will continue on a narrow path that winds gently along the northern slope of Mount Eitanim. On our way, we will pass a grove with a number of picturesque catalpa trees and anatomical orchid blossoms in the spring.
After a kilometer of hiking, we will reach the western point of the route. From here the path curves in a southeasterly direction. Here, you will not be able to ignore the beauty of the red-stemmed catalpa trees, especially those that branch out differently than usual. Continue on the path until you reach the signposting that turns left to continue the route. Here the trail climbs slightly upwards, but the ascent is easy and short, and further on the path is straight and moderate. Towards the end of the route you will see water pipes in front of you, and the views will become less mountainous.
It is important to note that most of the trail is not shaded so it is important to be dressed accordingly and take enough water. There are no toilets in place.
From the beginning of the route, you will be accompanied by forest trees and Mediterranean woods, such as cypress, common oak, and a wide variety of plants. Along the entire route that surrounds the “Dome of the Strong” (Deir Amar), you will walk on a wide, easy dirt road.
A few minutes from the start of the route you will see the views of the Jerusalem mountains in all their glory. First, you will see the Eitanim, Nahal Tzova, Mount Eitan, and later the sataf forests and the Sorek ridge. You will also see the remains of the village of Deir Amar with the agricultural terraces, cisterns, and remains of several buildings while walking.
More in the Area:
- Ein Lavan: Cool Spring in the Jerusalem Mountains
- The Springs Trail near Jerusalem (Shvil Hamaayanot)
- The Jerusalem Trail: Best Walk in the Holy City
