Around Bet Oren, you can choose between a circular trail near Little Switzerland and marked trails with different routes at the Stone Arch. These route details offer different points of reference for planning a hike.

Circular Trail or Marked Route?

Little Switzerland has a circular trail for families with a moderate difficulty level. The hike is about 1 km long, takes approximately an hour, starts and ends at the Little Switzerland parking lot, and is recommended year-round.

The start of the Fire Trail is also easy to identify on the ground: a low stone wall, a few meters long, marks it. A fire-colored metal sign bearing the trail’s name is on the wall.

From the Stone Arch, the red-marked trail runs about 2 km to Kibbutz Bet Oren. Alternatively, the blue-marked trail descends westward into Nahal Kelah. From there, you can return to the Stone Arch or follow Nahal Kelah to its confluence with Nahal Galim, then continue to the green-marked trail. Check local conditions before setting out.

For planning purposes, note that these distances and times refer to different routes: the approximate hour is for the roughly 1 km loop at Little Switzerland; the approximately 2 km distance is the route from the Stone Arch to Kibbutz Bet Oren. One option is a circular trail that starts and ends at the same parking lot, while the other leads to a destination.

Getting to the Little Switzerland Parking Lot

The Little Switzerland parking lot is on Road 672, opposite the University of Haifa. A 2019 set of directions follows Road 4 to Road 721, from Oren Junction to Damon Junction, then turns left at the roundabout onto Road 672. Check the route and road conditions before driving.

Haifa as a Wider Travel Destination

Haifa offers a distinct cultural perspective. The Carmel ridge slopes down to the sea, creating Haifa’s characteristic connection between sea and mountains. The National Maritime Museum focuses on more than 5,000 years of maritime history in the Mediterranean region. The Haifa City Museum is housed in two buildings from the Templar period in the German Colony.

Beit Kish has two original Japanese rooms, used to introduce aspects of Japanese life, including clothing, food, and housing. The Shrine of the Báb in Haifa is part of the Bahá’í Holy Places inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These sites in Haifa and Western Galilee are visited as part of the Bahá’í pilgrimage.

The wider travel destination of Haifa also includes Bet She’arim National Park. Its catacombs feature elaborate carvings and inscriptions. The national park is the final resting place of prominent Jewish figures, including Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.

The Carmelit is another useful point of reference for getting around Haifa: it is Haifa’s historic underground railway. Museums, a theater, colorful markets, and promenades are within convenient walking distance of the Carmelit stations. Wadi Nisnas has a lively year-round market with street food, spices, and handmade sweets. The Turkish Market offers bars, street food, restaurants, art galleries, and shops.

Discover more destinations: Nir Akiva, Kokhav Ya'ir, HaZore‘im, Sde Yoav, Cholon, Kfar Rut, Nimrod, Jabneel.

See the wider travel overview: Israel.