Routes and Rates
September 2019 Update – At the southern entrance to the Nahal, at the junction with Highway 22, it is recommended to access this trail only from the northern entrance in the near future due to construction work.
This trail begins at the city market: The restored Nahal Ne’eman on the outskirts of Kiryat Bialik offers a shaded and peaceful walking path beneath the shade of tall eucalyptus trees. This trail, paved throughout, is suitable for the whole family and is also ideal for family bike rides. On Wednesdays, the Kiryat Bialik city market, located at the trailhead, opens, adding to the experience.
A sign explaining the trail, which opened in 2007 as part of a collaboration between the KKL, the Drainage Authority, and the Kiryat Bialik Municipality during efforts to restore Nahal Ne’eman and its banks, stands on the eastern side of the parking lot at the market.
Nahal Ne’eman suffered for many years from neglect, sewage and drainage discharge, and overuse of its water sources. As a result, the stream became polluted and dried up. Initiatives to restore the stream gained momentum in recent years, and as part of them, thousands of tons of silt and contaminated soil were removed from the stream. The discharge of sewage and pollutants into the stream from factories along its course was stopped, and simultaneously, water from wells in the stream’s sources, at Ein Afek, began to be released, so clean water began to flow in the stream throughout the year again. Three pedestrian bridges, a network of cycling and walking paths, seating areas, and picnic areas were built over it. In 2011, the KKL declared the stream a clean and restored stream.
From the starting point at the parking lot, we walk along a wide and comfortable path that passes through a eucalyptus grove and reaches an underpass beneath the bypass road, next to a side canal that flows into Nahal Ne’eman.
A short walk will lead us to a bridge over this canal, leading to a path on the opposite bank that leads to a pleasant shaded area. We return from this point to the main path, and at the confluence of the canal with Nahal Ne’eman, we turn left , where we continue along a shaded and beautiful section with explanatory signs and seating areas.
The path stretches north, straight as an arrow, to the edge of the grove and beyond it, we reach the northern entrance to the walking trail in the restored stream. On our way, we will pass two more bridges that allow crossing to the opposite bank of the stream. When we reach the northern end of the path, we begin to return. The trail is a loop, and by using the bridges, you can include sections on the opposite bank of the stream, which also offer benches and children’s play equipment.
Along the way, we can encounter the diverse flora and fauna of the stream, including water birds and sometimes even soft-shelled turtles, which have come here as part of attempts to return them to nature in coastal streams. The presence of fishermen (despite the fishing ban) indicates the abundance of fish in the stream.
Difficulty Level:
Easy and suitable for the whole family.
Walking Time:
The trail is approximately 4 km long and takes about an hour. Since the trail is a loop that starts and ends at the same point, it is possible to shorten it at any stage of the trail using the bridges over the stream.
Directions:
Depart from the Carmel Tunnels towards the Kiryat, continue until the Kiryat Bialik junction, turn towards Kiryat Bialik – Highway 4. Turn right here, and after 1.5 km, turn right to Han Street, where you will drive for about 550 meters to the city market parking lot.