An orange-marked forest road, picnic areas and historic memorial sites make nearby Eshtaol Forest a specific focus when planning a trip around Mesilat Zion. These destinations are in the surrounding area and offer different highlights: forest scenery, short trail sections and cultural history. This lets you choose based on what you’d like to see along the way.
Forest Road and Picnic Areas in Eshtaol Forest
An approximately 3.5-kilometer orange-marked road leads from the O’Higgins picnic area to the access road to Mesilat Zion. It is passable by private cars, and there are additional picnic areas along the road in the forest. Road conditions may vary, so it’s a good idea to check current travel information before setting out. For orientation, the two endpoints and approximate distance are more useful than an estimated driving or walking time.
The Yonatan picnic area is near the point where the road meets the access road to Mesilat Zion. From there, a short trail leads to children’s play equipment. If this is important for your visit, check the KKL-JNF’s current travel information in advance. This keeps both the location at the road junction and the practical planning of the detour in view.
Trails with Different Routes
In nearby Eshtaol Forest, the Path of Friendship branches north from the main road after approximately half a kilometer and rejoins it about 300 meters later. These two approximate distances give an indication of the branch’s route. It is different from the approximately 3.5-kilometer road between the O’Higgins picnic area and the access road to Mesilat Zion.
The landscape can also be pinpointed to a particular section: east of the O’Higgins picnic area, a trail runs past a pine forest. Pine nuts are the seeds of pines. The HaArba’a picnic area offers a view of the Sorek Stream basin. So, in the same nearby forest, both a specific trail route and a view across a landform are highlights.
Memorial Sites and Ancient Traces
A monument to SimĂłn BolĂvar (1783–1830), the Argentine military leader, stands along the trail in Eshtaol Forest. Another picnic area along the trail commemorates JosĂ© de San MartĂn (1778–1850), an Argentine military leader and statesman, and a prominent figure in the movement to free Latin America from Spanish rule. The two sites highlight different aspects of history, associated with their names and dates of life.
The grounds of the HaArba’a picnic area include parts of an ancient olive press. Together with the memorial sites, this offers a different focus from the forest road or the view over the Sorek basin: here, the interest is in historical figures and archaeological traces. The different destinations can therefore be chosen according to their respective themes, rather than treated as similar picnic areas.
Jerusalem as a Distinct Cultural Highlight
The wider destination of Jerusalem offers a distinct historical context. Jerusalem’s Old City and its walls have great symbolic significance as a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and include 220 historic monuments. The Dome of the Rock in the Old City was built in the 7th century. These sites and their history are distinct from the forest destinations around Mesilat Zion.
Museums offer their own highlights, too: the permanent exhibition at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum spans ten galleries and combines innovative technology, interactive displays, archaeological finds and ancient artifacts. The observation point on Phasael Tower is 777 meters above sea level and offers a 360-degree view of Jerusalem’s Old City and New City. Thus, in the wider destination, urban culture, collections and a sweeping view over Jerusalem are also themes to explore alongside forest trails and picnic areas.
Discover more destinations: Tal Shahar, Tsafririm, Aderet, Jerusalem, Bar Giora, Ma'ale Hahamisha, Abu Gosch, Giv'at Ye'arim.
Go to the main trip overview: Jerusalem.
