Discovering Tel Dor: A Journey Through Nature and History

Photo by: Yosef Ozan

Is there anything more exciting and captivating than stumbling upon a hidden beach you never knew existed? Yes, discovering a hidden beach that not only boasts breathtaking views but also holds intriguing relics from the past. It’s the perfect combination of natural beauty and rich history, and it doesn’t get any better than that.

Starting point: the entrance to Tel Dor National Park

End point: at the starting point

Description of the route

Starting and ending at the same point, this route offers a unique blend of sea and land, past and present, nature and heritage. Despite stretching for only about two kilometers, the route is full of surprises and will surely tempt you to spend long hours exploring. The rugged beach in Tel Dor National Park is the perfect backdrop for a beach trip that will allow you to connect with the sea without bringing a bathing suit or wading between the waves.

As you start your journey at the new entrance to the National Park, be sure to check out the beautiful illustration hanging in one of the corners. It is based on a painting from the book The Land of Gilead by the 19th century British writer and statesman Lawrence Oliphant, and depicts the southwest end of the mound at the end of the 19th century, with the remains of the Crusader battle next to the remains of the Roman temples that were thrown into the sea. This illustration provides great inspiration for the beginning of the route.

The site offers two hiking trails – the “Ridge Trail,” which is an accessible round-trip route suitable for wheelchairs and is about a kilometer long, and the “Beach Trail,” which is about two kilometers long and includes the Ridge Trail on the way back. On the Ridge Trail, here we will refer to the Beach Trail which passes by the main points of interest.

High on the southern coast of Carmel on a kurkar (calcareous sandstone) ridge lies Tel Dor, an area with several impressive bays within a national park. In ancient times, the readily available and easy-to-quarry building material found in the Kurkar Ridge made Dor an important port city from around 2000 BCE to the beginning of the first century CE when Caesarea rose to prominence as a major port city.

The history of the port city of Dor dates back about 3,500 years during the Canaanite period. Merchant ships anchored in the natural bays along the way, so a settlement was established to provide essential services to their crews. Over time, Dor became a fortified and spacious city, as evidenced by the remains of its huge walls.

To visit this area, head west from the entrance and follow the well-marked Ridge Trail, curving to the left/south along the coastline. The first stop is a beautiful bay with rock formations that form small pools. These reef tables are crucial habitats for a wide variety of fish and invertebrates. During the Hellenistic period, an industry operated in this area that produced purple dye using sea snails.

Continuing westward, you’ll reach the area of the Roman temples, where only subtle remains still exist, next to coves that appear as virgin beaches on winter weekdays. Dor was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. It was during the Hellenistic period that the city prospered and grew. A new wall with towers and an impressive gate was added, and in the 1st century BCE, it was conquered by Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus.

After the Roman occupation in 63 BCE, it became a prosperous independent city. Water was brought to it, and some of the residences were decorated with frescoes and mosaics. To the north, a theater similar to the one in nearby Caesarea was built, and on the coastline, a spacious bathhouse and large temples facing the sea were erected.

However, with the establishment of the port of Caesarea in the beginning of the first century CE, Dor lost its status and greatness, and about 200 years later, it completely lost its stature.

Farther along the trail, you’ll encounter more temple remains with a hidden cove, until you reach the southern end of the trail. From there, climb to the top of the Kurkar Ridge for a fantastic view of the remains of the ancient port at the foot of the hill.

To the south, you’ll see the Nachsholim Beach Lagoon. This marks the end of the accessible Ridge Trail, and you can comfortably return north to the starting point, taking in new and breathtaking views of the beautiful stretch of coast you’ve just explored.

Directions: From Route 4 (the old Tel Aviv-Haifa road), turn west toward Kibbutz Nachsholim and head north on a comfortable dirt road towards the Nachsholim cemetery. Follow the signs from there.

Keep in mind:

– While entrance to the park is currently free, you need to register on the Nature and Parks Authority’s website beforehand.

• Swimming is not allowed at the beach.
• Only the Ridge Trail is accessible to baby strollers.
• If you visit during February or March, you can enjoy the beautiful blossoming wildflowers.

Please note that this information is a recommendation, and it is up to travelers to use it responsibly and at their own discretion. Make sure to check the weather forecast and the Nature and Parks Authority website for updates before each trip, and feel free to phone the call center at *3639 until 4:00 PM each day with any questions.

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