Shkhoret Canyon, Ammerm Columns, Arvat Avrona

The trail includes driving on dirt roads that any vehicle can pass, walking on a circular trail of about 3 hours at the level fit for family's, and short walking segments.
The route begins in a vehicle on the road branching from the Arava road (Route 90) westward, at the 20 km. The signs lead you to the Amram pillars and Shkhoret Canyon, following the blue trail marking.
For those coming from the north (from Yotvata, Timna, Be'er-Ora) turn right. For those coming from the south (Eilat and Kibbutz Eilot), continue until you enter Be'er Ora, turn around and go back to the Arava road southward.
The drive down the dirt road is with blue trail markings until it splits and you will turn left to the southeast to the road with green trail markings to the opening to the Shkhoret Canyon. On the way, there is a chance you'll see deer grazing under the trees. From the point where the trail for vehicles ends, the circular walking trail begins, which means that this will be your endpoint as well. The vehicle will wait for you at this point, and you will walk the winding channel between the ancient granite rocks. On the way, you will be able to see the unique phenomena and characteristics of the bedrock. You will walk over a few rock steps with the help of your trail mates. This section of the route is part of the 'Israel Trail,' and its trail marking will accompany you along the way. You'll reach the spot where the wadi channel expands, and you will emerge from between the blackened bedrock, which gave the river its name.
Here you will part ways from the green trail marking with the marking of the Israel Trail and ascend to the right (north) following the red trail marking, on the trail used once by camels in ancient times. On the first section, the trail goes down a geological fault line: to your right, there are dark bedrocks and to your left are lighter rocks originating from ancient sea sediment, in bent layers, evidence of the enormous forces that broke the earth's crust. The path turns again to the right (east), the Arava landscape and the Edom Mountains opens before you. The trail goes down the slope and meets a trail with black trail markings (with Israel National Trail markings) that comes from the north. Continue with the new marking to the right (south). On the way, there are remnants of a trap for predators - most-likely for tigers. After an additional five minutes and you'll be back to the starting point of the walking trail and the vehicle.
You will return on the road to the junction and turn left to the northeast, following the blue trail markings, to the pillars of Amram. To the right (from the north) is Mount Amram, which was formed from bedrock, and, on the left, you will see layers of limestone and colorful sandstones, once again a case of geological phenomenon. The road ends in a small parking lot and from it, a ten-minute walk with the black trail markings to the foot of the pillars. The pillars are as if they've been carved out of the cliff of sandstone rock, a sculpture made by nature. You will return to the vehicle and drive to the Arava road.
You can't cross the road (a fence separates the lanes), and so you must drive south to the entrance to the industrial zone where you can turn and go north in order to then descend east on the Arava road opposite the point where you got on it. The signs will direct you to a chain of wells and the red trail markings. You will travel about a kilometer between agricultural areas and palm groves and reach the salt ponds. The trail with red markings turns left to the north. The pools used to produce salt from the Gulf of Eilat, and are attractive to many species of birds. The most amazing is the flamingo ("Shakitan" in Hebrew). A section of the road leads to an observation point with explanatory signs. You will continue northward, and after about 2 km you will reach an orchard of palm trees - "Doum Palms." It is an African palm, and this is the most northern that these palm species grow in the world.

From here you can turn left (west) following the red trail markings and return to the Arava road, or continue north on the trail with black markings and reach Be'er Avrona after about 3.5 km, where the peace talks between Israel and Jordan were held in 1994. The road turns left (west) and arrives at the Arava Road. Those interested in continuing to accommodation sites at Eilpaz, Katura, Lotan, and Yahel will turn right. Those that want to turn left towards Eilot and Eilat should not get on the Arava road. Instead, return to the old Arava road, parallel to the Arava road from the east until it meets the road from the Arava border crossing and take it to Eilot or Eilat.

Written by Asaf Holtzer

The trail includes a road suitable for any vehicle and a circular walking trail, which can be short or medium length according to your choice (1-3 hours) suitable for families. There are hiking assists that have been anchored into the rock to help.

photographer: Doron Nissim