A bicycle trip in Peres stream

A trip through the Southern Judean Desert, along the length of the river, where a power struggle is taking place between the majestic views of the cliffs and the violent demands of industrial development. The struggle is determined by the unconditional surrender to Mother Nature.

How to get there:Drive on Route 25, Dimona-Sodom. Between 118 and 119, a paved dirt road towards Nachal Peres. [1] Here, get ready, leave your vehicle, not before you set a meeting place at kilometer 112, near the road junction leading to the small crater. Wear a helmet, reset a distance meter and go. Follow the signs to Nachal Peres, on the road marked with blue, which begins parallel to the road. 

Soon, you turn north, toward the Valley of the Deer (Bik'at HaTzviaim). You will pass by a small quarry for 1.4km and under the conveyor belt of the Dead Sea Works. [2] Ahead you will see hill 408 with an electricity pole at the top, immediately after the conveyor belt is a crossroads where you turn to the right of Nachal Peres for 2.0 km more, under the conveyor belt. Another kilometer or so, the stream becomes narrow and the road becomes rocky.

At kilometer 3.5, under the conveyor belt. At kilometer 4.2 the trail gets close to the conveyor belt, and finally, you cross a bridge. The conveyor belt is below and we are above. Immediately after the bridge [3]. The trail marked with green, designed for pedestrians, leads right to Nachal Peres. We turn to the left, marked with blue, which is a service route of the power lines, ascending and descending according to the signage. At times, on the right you can see the cliffs of Nachal Peres, which descends from the Hazera ridge, in the canyon's channel. It is worth getting close to the cliff to see the view.

At kilometer 6.0, there is a junction to the foot of Giv'at Harutit. The left side is more comfortable, but both meet at the channel. Ascend to kilometer 7.0 and arrive at the hill with metal stairs that lead nowhere. Pass the top of the top of the hill to the south until the junction in the trail at kilometer 7.2, turn right (south) to the viewpoint at the end [4]: to the west we see the valleys of Nachal Peres and its waterfalls, to the southeast the Dead Sea roundabout. Enjoy the landscape and return the same route in which you came. 
From the junction, choose the eastern route to the power lines and when you get there turn towards them, east, down the steep descent. Ahead, about a kilometer, you will see the black hill of Giv'at Harutit. At kilometer 8.8, a junction marked by the Wadi channel [5]. Turn right, upwards, according to the sign, "To Dimona-Sodom Road, multi-engine vehicles." After a short ascent (difficult) there is a junction under the power lines, to the foot of hill 177, which is the black Giv'at Harutit. There also used to be a sign here "To Dimona-Sodom Road, multi-engine vehicles," but it was removed so we reiterate: At this junction you leave the power lines, do not turn left, instead, turn to the right (south) down a particularly steep descent. Do not go too fast! Ahead is a portion of ground that is very rocky and even dangerous.

At kilometer 10.0 you will see "key" of Nachal Peres. Go toward the Wadi and the route will be marked with green. We understand from this that we have returned to Nachal Peres. At kilometer 11.0, pedal a short section in the channel followed by an "expressway." At kilometer 12.5 junction [6] along the trail marked with red, and next to it, the jewel of the journey. Here, the river meets a layer of limestone rock from a geological age called Tonian. The "roof" of that hard layer and the floods "shaped" white surfaces. Intersection them - a cliff at whose bottom there are several "baths" filled with flood waters in the winter.
At the edge of the cliff is a small waterfall and at its base are huge cubed stones. This is the place to relax. Rest, make some coffee, explore, take pictures and get back to the junction at point No. 6. Turn west, with the trail marked with red, on a moderate incline. After 300 meters the trail curls south and climbs. At kilometer 13.2, the red markers take you to the right. Continue on the high road on the maintained trail, which curls at the end to the north and descends towards Nachal Tachmas. 

At kilometer 14.2, cross the Tachmas River channel, and around another checkpoint and at kilometer 14.9, climb in the Wadi channel with no name, but does have many Acacia trees. At kilometer 15.3 the ascent gets difficult, but at kilometer 15.7 it comes to an end, by passing the small plateau south leading you to the vehicle meeting point at kilometer 16.2 [7]. 

Good to Know
The trails are very rocky and not recommended for beginners. The site is near to national highway, so there is not real danger of getting lost in the desert.

Photo - Pikiwiki Web