The Israel National Trail runs along the edge of Kfar Hittim. At the same time, the planning details of the cooperative moshav tell the story of a second settlement phase that began in early December 1936. Two distinct ways of exploring the area therefore sit side by side: a route in the surroundings and the history of a deliberately planned settlement. As you plan your trip, consider whether you are more interested in the trail route or the local history.
The Israel National Trail near Kfar Hittim
The Israel National Trail runs along the edge of Kfar Hittim in the nearby area. From there, the route leads to the streambed of Nahal Raqat and continues toward Mitzpe. This description gives you an idea of the route and its setting without treating the trail as a walk through the town. If you plan to hike the trail, check current trail conditions before your trip. This keeps the trail as a distinct focus of your plans, alongside the town’s historical details.
A Cooperative Moshav in the Plan
The second settlement phase in Kfar Hittim began in early December 1936, during the Arab Revolt. The planning details of the cooperative moshav show how the settlement was laid out: Kaufmann separated the agricultural holdings from the members’ homes. The public buildings were located in the center, and the plan retained the settlement’s original oval shape.
These features describe different aspects of the same plan. Separating the agricultural holdings from the members’ homes organizes agricultural and residential areas in relation to each other; the location of the public buildings provides a central point of reference. The oval shape, in turn, describes the outline of the settlement.
Further Archaeological Sites in the Northern District
As a broader travel destination, the Northern District offers other distinct historical themes. At Tel Hazor, a visit focuses on the Upper City. Its archaeological features include Solomon’s Gate, dating to the 10th century BCE, a gate with six chambers and two towers. A Canaanite palace is also part of the site: the kings of Hazor used it in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.
Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water-collection system, whose engineering was adapted to the geographical conditions. One excavated shaft is 45 meters deep; in the water system, steps three meters wide were cut into the walls of a vertical shaft. To reach Tel Hazor National Park, approach from the north or south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar. Check your navigation before setting off.
Another archaeological focus in the Northern District is Tel Megiddo, a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible. The Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of its temples, the continuity of its cultic activity, and its documented ritual activities. The orthogonal city plan dates to the Iron Age and has few parallels in the Levant. Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo thus draw attention to archaeological scales different from Kfar Hittim’s settlement planning.
When choosing your destination, you can consider these themes separately: Kfar Hittim combines a specific settlement plan with the route of the Israel National Trail along the edge of town; the examples from the Northern District introduce the archaeological subjects of Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. You can search for hotels in Kfar Hittim to suit your travel plans.
For the broader travel overview: Kinneret.
