The Marlstone Gorge
The circular cycling trail of Kikar Sodom offers a great cycling experience through the marlstone landscape, with diverse rock shapes and desert vegetation all along its length. A popular bike or jeep trail in the Dead Sea Land.
The cycling trail begins at Amatzia Park stream and ascends alongside an abundance of acacia trees, rotem shrubs and salvadora bushes. The path is signified by a red marker, up until the confluence of the Avia and Amatzia streams. The cycling continues along the impressive twists and turns of Avia stream – a narrow, shaded marlstone canyon – until reaching the Arava Road.
On the Arava Road, you’ll ride along a dirt track and follow the bike path markings descending to the track along the Marlstone Gorge. This cycling route winds in between a narrow, deep canyon, along the ‘tongue’ marlstone (a type of marlstone particular to the Dead Sea area). The descent into the Wadi (canyon) brings the cyclists to the entrance road of the Kikar Sodom settlements, to the point of Ein Plutit stream, for a nice, refreshing dip at the end of the bike ride.
Amatzia stream drains the Sodom Marls into the Dead Sea. It’s a relatively short stream in the Negev, about 20 km long, until it spills into the Sodom salt-flats. The stream drains the area between Moshav Idan and Ein Tamar and is a flood stream with steep walls created from sediment from the ancient ‘tongue’ lake (which later evolved into the Dead Sea as we know it today). Some sections of the stream give it a canyon-like appearance with crumbly-looking cliffs, which collapse in its wake after heavy rains.
The Marlstone Gorge is a classic track suitable for cycling lovers – beginners and experienced, off-road cyclists, alike. The circular track is about 27 km long. Experienced cyclists will cover it in about 3 quick hours of riding, and beginners will ride the track in about 4-5 hours.
- Trail Length: 27 kilometers.
- Trail Duration: 3-5 hours according to the cyclist.
- Suitable for: cyclists
- Recommended Season: autumn,winter and spring.
- Trail Map: # Craters according to the map of the Society for the Protection of Nature.
- Starting Point: Amatzia Park stream
- Finishing Point: Access road to the Kikar Sodom moshavs
The itinerary, as described above, is a recommendation only, and those who choose to take this trip do so at their own discretion and responsibility. The Regional Councils will not be held accountable in the event of any adverse consequences that may ensue.
