The Iyon Stream, which cuts through steep rock walls near the town of Metula, has its sources in the Iyon Valley (Marj ‘Ayun) in Lebanon, about seven kilometers north of Metulla. In summer, the springs are capped for agriculture, and only a small amount of water flows through the streambed. But in winter the Iyon’s water flows powerfully, creating one of the most spectacular trails in the Galilee, featuring four waterfalls. One, the Tahana (‘mill’) fall, named after an old flour mill at its foot, cascades down a 21-m-high wall. The best-known waterfall is the Tanur that shoots down a ‘chimney’ about 30 m high. The Iyon Stream is mentioned in the Talmud as the “path of Iyon.”
Lilies and colchicum-flowered sternbergia blossom here in autumn, and spring sees an abundance of wildflowers.
The long trail – Begins at the reserve’s upper parking lot, reached from Metula (follow the signs). This downstream trail takes about 1.5 hours; if possible, leave a car at the end-point to avoid walking back up.
|