Hagoshrim – Waterways, Nature and Culture

Hagoshrim brings together streams and springs, trails by the water and activities in the kibbutz. If you’re looking for hotels for a stay here, these different themes can help you get your bearings: waterways in the village, a nearby nature reserve and a chocolate workshop each offer something distinct. Historic traces along a hiking trail also add to the picture. For broader archaeological interests, the wider Northern District destination offers a separate focus.

Streams, springs and the nearby nature reserve

Several streams and springs lie within Kibbutz HaGoshrim; a branch of the Dan flows alongside the members’ homes. Nearby, the נחל שניר (שמורת נחל שניר; Snir Nature Reserve) lies between HaGoshrim and Ma'ayan Baruch. Its trails lead to natural pools and run alongside נחל שניר. This offers two distinct ways to experience the water: the streams and springs in the kibbutz, and the pools and stream in the nature reserve.

The route to the nature reserve follows Road 99 and the HaGoshrim junction. The turn-by-turn directions differ depending on whether you are coming from the west or east. Check your current navigation before setting out, as route information can change. For your visit, it’s also a good idea to check the reserve’s latest visitor information.

A hiking trail with historic traces

The “עמק הנהר הנעלם” (The Disappearing River Valley) hiking trail passes an old grain mill and the remains of an Ottoman palace. Nature and history meet along the route: the mill and palace remains are specific landmarks for anyone who likes to look for historic traces while out for a walk. The trail thus offers a different perspective from the pools and stream banks in the nature reserve.

Chocolate workshops in the kibbutz

At Studio Ricoletta in Kibbutz HaGoshrim, children and families can make and decorate chocolate and sample different flavors in workshops. The program is suitable for several age groups. Workshops run from Sunday to Friday and must be arranged in advance. If you’re planning this activity, coordinate the date with the studio ahead of time and confirm current availability. This will help you fit it reliably into your trip plans without treating it as the same kind of visit as the nature trails.

Archaeological sites in the wider Northern District destination

The wider Northern District destination includes other archaeological sites, among them Tel Hazor. A visit to Tel Hazor focuses on the Upper City. Its features include Solomon’s Gate, a gate with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. The Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE; the Late Bronze Age palace is described as the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant.

Tel Hazor’s water system can also be understood through its specific construction features: steps three meters wide are cut into the walls of a vertical shaft. An excavated shaft at Tel Hazor is 45 meters deep. Its fortifications are considered the best example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. Together, the Upper City, gate, palace and water system make up a distinct archaeological focus within the Northern District.

Another perspective in the Northern District is Tel Megiddo. This biblical tell preserves significant remains of a city with biblical associations. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of cultic activity and the documented ritual activities. The orthogonal city plan from the Iron Age has few parallels in the Levant. The sites differ in their focus: Tel Megiddo centers on its temple complex and city plan, while Tel Hazor is distinguished, among other things, by its Upper City, gate and water system.

Discover more destinations: Gidona, Mi'ilya, Vered Hagalil, Kidmat Tsvi, Kadarim, Kfar Blum, Amnun, Hararit

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