Israel Trails Committee

Israel Trails Committee
Name	Israel Trails Committee
Native name	ועדת הש Trails של ישראל
Formation	1984
Headquarters	Jerusalem
Type	Non-governmental organization
Purpose	Development and maintenance of long-distance hiking trails
Region served	Israel
Leader title	Chair

Israel Trails Committee is an Israeli non-governmental organization founded to establish, mark, and maintain long-distance hiking trails across Israel, linking natural, historical, and cultural sites. It coordinates with national parks, local councils, and heritage bodies to route trails through landscapes such as the Negev, Golan Heights, Galilee, and Judean Hills, promoting outdoor recreation and heritage preservation. The committee’s signature achievement is the marking of the national long-distance route that traverses diverse environments from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, integrating sites associated with biblical, Ottoman, and modern eras.

History

The committee was formed in 1984 by a coalition of hikers, cartographers, and conservationists inspired by international models such as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Long Distance Walkers Association, and the Conseil International de la Randonnée Pédestre. Early initiatives linked to activists from organizations like the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and volunteers from university groups at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The 1990s saw formal agreements with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and municipal authorities in Haifa, Beersheba, and Safed to route trails through nature reserves and cultural heritage sites. Political developments including the Oslo Accords and security events such as the Second Intifada influenced access and routing, prompting alternative alignments through the Carmel and coastal plain. In the 2000s the committee expanded digital mapping collaborations with institutions like the Survey of Israel and mapping initiatives at the Technion.

Network and Trails

The committee oversees a network of long-distance and regional trails, including the national blue-marked path that connects the Eilat Mountains, Neot HaKikar, and Ramon Crater with the Zikhron Ya'akov area, continuing through the Samaria Mountains and coastal regions near Caesarea. Trails link archaeological sites such as Masada, Beit She'an, Caesarea Maritima, and Tel Megiddo with religious landmarks including Tiberias, Nazareth, and the Old City (Jerusalem). The network incorporates spur trails to places like Rosh Hanikra, Acre (Akko), and the Sea of Galilee, and connects with cross-border routes approaching the Lebanese border and the Jordan River corridor. Trail waymarking uses a standardized color system and integrates with national signage systems overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety for access points and the Israel Fire and Rescue Services for emergency coordination.

Organization and Governance

The committee operates as a volunteer-driven NGO with a board composed of trail experts, ecologists, historians, and representatives from municipal and national bodies. It maintains memoranda of understanding with agencies such as the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the Jewish National Fund, and local regional councils like Mateh Yehuda Regional Council and Merkaz HaCarmel Regional Council. Funding sources include private donations, grants from foundations like the Gesher HaZiv Foundation, and occasional municipal project budgets. Governance practices emphasize stakeholder consultation with kibbutzim, moshavim, and Bedouin communities in the Negev, as well as coordination with the Palestinian Authority where trails cross areas of shared interest.

Conservation and Maintenance

Conservation policy aligns trail routing with protected areas managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and habitat programs run by entities such as the Jewish National Fund and academic research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Maintenance protocols address erosion control in fragile zones like Ein Gedi, archaeological preservation near sites such as Tel Be'er Sheva, and wildfire mitigation in the Carmel Range following lessons from the Carmel forest fire (2010). The committee collaborates with conservation NGOs including the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and scientific bodies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem to conduct impact assessments and adaptive trail design.

Volunteerism and Community Programs

Volunteers form the backbone of trail maintenance, with organized crews from scouting movements like the Israel Scouts and international programs such as Habonim Dror and Taglit-Birthright Israel participating in trail days. Community programs engage municipal youth centers in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba to promote stewardship and local tourism. Corporate volunteer partnerships with companies headquartered in Tel Aviv and philanthropic initiatives from diaspora organizations support large-scale projects such as waymarking, bridge construction, and signage renewal.

Education and Outreach

Educational activities include guided hikes, workshops, and publications produced in cooperation with institutions like the Israel Museum, the National Library of Israel, and university departments of geography at the University of Haifa. The committee issues maps and digital trail data that integrate with platforms developed by the Survey of Israel and outdoor apps used by hikers. Outreach targets schools in regions such as the Judean Desert and programs for diaspora communities facilitated by organizations like the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Impact and Recognition

The committee’s work has increased domestic and international hiking tourism, influencing infrastructure investment in towns along routes such as Metula, Dahabiyya, and Ein Bokek. It has been recognized by civic and environmental groups and received awards from regional chambers of commerce and conservation bodies for sustainable tourism planning. The trails have become conduits for cultural heritage interpretation, linking archaeological research at sites like Tel Hazor and Megiddo with public access, and contributing to public health initiatives promoted by municipal health departments in cities including Haifa and Jerusalem.

Category:Hiking in Israel Category:Non-governmental organizations