The Gamla Nature Reserve contains a wonderful mixture of beautiful nature and fascinating archaeology. The reserve offers a number of walking and hiking trails of different difficulties:
The Lookout Trail
This trail includes a lookout towards the ancient city of Gamla, a view towards Gamla Riverbed – where there are raptor nests – and the Gamla Waterfall. One can also see the Vulture Rehab Cage, which helps rebuild the vulture population of the Golan. This is a circular path that is easy, and is also wheelchair-accessible.
The Ancient City Trail
A visit to the nature reserve also allows one to see the ancient Jewish city of Gamla, which rebelled and was destroyed in the Great Revolt against the Romans (in the year 67 CE). A hiking path descends to the city, with signs along the way that displays quotes of the historian Yosef Ben Matityahu (Josephus Flavius) about the city and the revolt. A visit to the city includes the ancient synagogue, the round tower, the Hasmonean Quarter, and the olive press in the Western Quarter. One can also make the steep climb to the peak of Gamla that provides a breathtaking view from above of Lake Kinneret and Daliyot Riverbed.
In the New Testament, the Sermon on Mount mentions: “You are the light of the world; a city sitting on a hill will not be hidden” (Matthew 5). There are those who identify Gamla as the “city on a hill”. Gamla was a Jewish city in the Golan during the Second Temple Period, 2,000 years ago, and existed at the time Jesus was active in the Galilee and Lake Kinneret area. One can assume that he knew the city of Gamla, and perhaps even saw it to the east, while giving his famous sermon.
This trail is difficult, and takes 3-4 hours. It is recommended to start this hike early in the morning; do not hike here during a heat wave.
