Meron and Har Adir Climbs

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Upper Galilee, Israel

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Route Overview

Northern Israel and More

Beautiful Road Cycling Routes

54 mi.

6,474 ft.

Gorgeous climbs towards Mount Meron, Biranit and Har Adir, giving you a taste of the Upper Galilee. There are many spots to take a break and enjoy local specialities, like the sambusak pastries, the best ice cream in the country, and end with a meal in Rameh at the Ezba restaurant. You are in for a treat!

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Route Details

If you are into climbing, this is certainly a gorgeous ride to enjoy some views of the Upper Galilee, and to challenge your legs with over 2000 meter clmbing, including a short 1.8km steep climb that averages more than 11% grade.

The route starts in the gas station near [Kibbutz Moran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moran,_Israel) where you can leave your car, get an espresso at the convenience store in the gas station, and use their @poi[restroom](13998513) before getting on the bike.

Leave the gas station going north (right) and then immediately right onto route 85.  This is a very busy road and the shoulder may have debris so ride carefully.  About a kilometer into route 85 you have to take a left onto route 866.  I recommend you @poi[get off your bike](13998512) and use the pedestrian crossing.

Now you are onto a 28 km climb towards Mount Meron.  The village of Meron and the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai are on Mount Meron. Leading up to the anniversary of his death on Lag B'Omer, thousands of people camp out along the slopes near the tomb, and on Lag B'Omer itself, hundreds of thousands make pilgrimages to celebrate the occasion. You will pass moshav Amirim settled by a vegeterian community and which offers several vegeterian restaurants.

Because of the religious importance of Meron, you will pass several jewish orthodox communities like Meron and Or Haganuz.  At Meron you will continue onto road 89.  Then you will pass through the arab village of Jish which has a predominantly Christian population. Continue onto route 89, passing Kibbutz Sasa  and about a kilometer later turn left to climb to Mount Meron.  This is a nice 4km climb averaging 6.9% grade.  Enjoy the view at the top! @photo[As you ride back](6540610), take extreme caution of the potholes in the road as you ride downhill.  Once you are down, you can refill water near the @poi[Hamama Ruins](13998508) where there are also picnic tables.

Turn left onto route 89, going through the town of Hurfeish, a Druze community.  A landmark of Hurfeish is the @poi[Sambusak HaArazim](13998509) restaurant, famous for its sambusak, a Lebanese over the counter restaurant which mostly serves sambusak, savory turnover pastries, similar to hand pies,  stuffed with a variety of fillings, from ground lamb or beef to chickpeas to cheese and more. Leave the town on a nice downhill and passed the gas station on your right you will take a right onto route 8944.

Here you sill start your second climb from Elkosh towards Biranit, and beautiful country road that is also a paradise for motorbikers that want to test the limits of their bikes, so be careful!  The first part of your climb ends at the Biranit junction, very close to the border with Lebanon.  Take a right onto road 899.  After four kilometers take a right towards @photo[Har Adir](6540621) and then a deep breath as you start clibing a very steep 1.8 km road.  Since this road is not a throughway you will not find any traffic, and I climb the road by doing wide "esses" from side to side.  Enjoy the view and the downhill, but remember this is a very steep road.

As you return to the main road 899, take a right.  About 6 kms later you will arrive to junction with road 89.  I recommend you take a ride towards Kibbutz Sasa, enter the Kibbutz and enjoy an ice cream at @poi[Buza](13998510), some claim it is the best @photo[ice cream](6540643) in the country!  Their opening hours are weird, and even during open hours they might be giving tours, so be patient!

Leave the Kibbuts taking a left on route 89, and going back on the same road you took towards Mount Meron.  The good news is that this is mostly downhill!

When you are back at the gas station, I strongly recommend you stop for lunch or dinner at @poi[the Ezba Restaurant](13998511) in the village of Rameh.  Enjoy the @photo[local dishes](6540646) with aromatic herbs and spices from the Galilee.  You have earned a good meal after 85kms and more than 2000 meters climbing!
# Notes

* Route 85 can be very busy and dangerous.  Fortunately, you only have a short ride into it, but I recommend crossing to the left on the pedestrian crossing!
* Remember to fill up water bottles after you climb Mount Meron at the @poi[Hamama Ruins!](13998508)
* @poi[Sambusak HaArazim](13998509) is a nice stop for a light lunch.
* Treat yourself to an ice cream at @poi[Buza](13998510) after you climb Har Adir!  You deserve it! You can also use the bathroom there.
* The asphalt in the 4 kms to Mount Meron have seen better days.  Be careful, especially in the downhill!
#
# More resources
You will pass through many villages, towns and communities of the Upper Galilee.  Many are worth a detour!
* The [Amirim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amirim) vegeterian community.
* The tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the [Moshav of Meron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meron,_Israel)
* The Christian Arab village of [Jish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jish).
#
# Important Reminders

On Saturdays, you should avoid entering Orthodox Jewish villages.  However, the roads will have less traffic.

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Meron and Har Adir Climbs

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