Ein Bokek Stream Trail: Easy Desert Hike from the Hotels
The trailhead is a five minute walk from the Dead Sea hotel lobbies. No entrance fee, no advance reservation, no special equipment beyond a pair of water shoes. The Ein Bokek stream trail (Nahal Bokek) is the most accessible hiking experience in the Dead Sea region, and the only significant trail that begins directly from the Ein Bokek hotel zone.
The Ein Bokek stream trail starts directly from the Dead Sea hotel district, requires no entrance fee or reservation, and follows a shaded freshwater stream for approximately 2 kilometers through the Judean Desert to a freshwater spring pool, making it the easiest trail to reach for visitors staying in Ein Bokek.
Overview
A concrete flood canal runs alongside Route 90 at the base of the Bokek Valley. The trailhead is at the Sonol gas station parking area in Ein Bokek. Walk underneath the highway bridge via the dry streambed, and the trail begins immediately on the other side. Within minutes, the hotel strip disappears behind you.
The black marked trail follows the stream upstream through a corridor of tamarisk trees. Shallow, cool water flows through much of the route for most of the year (flow varies seasonally and following the INPA/Israel
Chemicals Ltd water restoration project). The path passes through small rock pools and cascades before reaching the Ein Bokek spring, a sizable pool set on a rocky desert terrace. The return follows the same route.
The Upper Extension: Cliff Lookout The red marked trail branches from the stream and ascends steeply to the Ein Bokek lookout, gaining approximately 370 meters of elevation.
Duration: an additional 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. The summit provides panoramic views of the Dead Sea, the Moab Mountains, the Ein Bokek hotel strip, and the industrial evaporation ponds of the southern basin.
Along the upper route, the trail passes Metzad Bokek (a Byzantine era fortress with partially standing walls) and the site of Ein Noit, a Roman period spring once believed to have medicinal properties. King Herod reportedly used Ein Bokek as a cosmetics and medicines production center, with agricultural terraces covering approximately 0.35 square kilometers and aqueducts connecting multiple water sources.
What to Bring
Water shoes or sport sandals with heel straps (the trail involves walking in shallow water). A minimum of 3 liters of drinking water per person, especially if attempting the fully exposed upper extension. A hat and sunscreen for the upper extension, which is fully exposed. A waterproof phone case. A towel for after the water walk. The stream section is shaded, but the cliff ascent has no shade at all.
Best Time to Visit
Year round access, but October through April is most comfortable. Summer visits should begin before 9:00 AM. The shaded stream section remains cooler than surrounding desert terrain, making it one of the more tolerable summer hiking options. Check for flash flood warnings between November and March before entering the stream; Nahal Bokek is a flood prone drainage.
Facilities The Sonol gas station at the trailhead has a convenience store for water and snacks. Hotel zone amenities (restrooms, restaurants, shops) are within a 5 to 10 minute walk of the trailhead. No facilities exist along the trail itself.
FAQs
Is the Ein Bokek stream trail free?
Yes. The Ein Bokek stream trail requires no entrance fee and no advance reservation. It is accessible year round from the hotel zone parking area.
Can children do this hike?
The lower stream walk is suitable for families with children of all ages. The trail is short (approximately 2 kilometers), mostly shaded, and involves walking through shallow water that rarely exceeds ankle depth. The upper cliff extension is not recommended for young children due to steep, exposed terrain.
Will there be water in the stream?
Water flows through the stream for most of the year, though volume varies seasonally. The INPA and Israel Chemicals Ltd completed a restoration project to supply fresh water to the stream. Winter and spring typically have the strongest flow. Check locally before visiting in late summer.
How far is the trail from Ein Bokek hotels?
The trailhead at the Sonol gas station is approximately a 5 minute walk from most Ein Bokek hotels. Cross Route 90 via the underpass beneath the highway bridge to reach the stream.