Ein Kedem in the Carmel is a little-known but striking short hike between Tirat Carmel and Carmel Forest Park. The route is described as family-friendly, takes about 20 minutes from the car, and offers clear water that flows year-round, even at the height of summer, plus wide views that are hard to stop watching.
The outing begins in Tirat Carmel and leads to the Oranit Cave, an ancient cave that, according to signs found there, once housed prehistoric humans. Today the cave is mainly known for its sweeping scenery and for the occasional vultures seen near its entrance. From there, hikers continue until a fork, then turn left for the Ein Kedem route, while the right branch leads to Nahal Galim and Haifa University. On the Sabbath route described in the article, it is about 6.5 more minutes to the water.
Ein Kedem itself is a spring hidden in the mountain, with cool, clear water all year. There are two water tunnels, one very shallow and another where the water reaches a little above the knees. Walking through the tunnel is short and enjoyable, the water is clean and shallow enough for children, and the full passage inside the water is about 60 meters. A flashlight is recommended because some sections are dark. The tunnel walls are full of fossils, remnants of the ancient sea that once covered the area, and the tunnel is an artificial one cut long ago, possibly in the Byzantine period.
The recommended ending point is the Sayerim lookout in Carmel Forest Park, which opens to views of the sea and the green Carmel slopes. The lookout was built in memory of Idan Shapira, a Paratroopers Reconnaissance soldier killed in combat in Jenin. The best time to arrive is in the late afternoon, when the sun begins to set, the view turns golden, and the sea breeze makes the stop especially pleasant.
