Nahal Udim flows through Udim and is a tributary of the Poleg Stream. Choosing the town as a place to stay provides a direct connection to the waterscape; nearby natural and historical sites add to this impression, though they are not necessarily located within the town itself.
Waterscapes and seasonal nature
In the nearby Udim Nature Reserve, daffodils, anemones, cyclamens, Hyacinthoides and orchids bloom at different times of the year. The flowers are therefore a seasonal feature of a visit. The Israel National Trail also passes through the nature reserve. Existing trails may change due to infrastructure work; check the latest notices and trail conditions before your visit.
At Agmon Poleg, you can observe an aquatic plant with floating leaves, freshwater turtles and coypu. A pair of black-winged stilts nests there, while numerous waterbirds gather at the water in winter. Which animals you see can vary. These observations also differ by season: winter is especially notable for its waterbirds, while the plants bloom at their respective times of year.
Agmon Yakum is a water reservoir that can be seen clearly from the trails in the nearby Udim Nature Reserve. The lake and its surroundings are on land belonging to Kibbutz Yakum and are not part of the nature reserve. It is therefore important to distinguish between a viewpoint in the reserve and the land on which the reservoir is located.
Kurkar and settlement history
The nearby Poleg Gate, also known as the “Roman Gate,” is an opening cut into the kurkar ridge. Hiking trails pass through the opening and along the edge of the cliffs. The gate gave the Poleg Stream its name in several languages. Nearby Tel Poleg is a rocky outcrop left standing after extensive kurkar quarrying; it contains settlement remains from the Middle Bronze Age, the Canaanite period.
Old Udim preserves remains of the first site of the Moshav Udim settlement, from 1948 to 1950. These include caves cut into the kurkar ridge that served as livestock pens, and a building used as the community secretariat. A memorial commemorates three residents of the moshav who fell defending the community during the War of Independence. Access to the cave entrances is prohibited because of the risk of collapse.
Hiking trails and getting there
A hiking trail near Tel Poleg follows a dirt track past dense lakeside vegetation before reaching a small kurkar hill in a quarry known as Tel Poleg. Several trails meet beside Tel Poleg. A nearby trail also features large rocks that you can climb, a pine grove with a picnic table, and a memorial to the defenders of Moshav Udim during the War of Independence.
A short loop trail of about one kilometer begins at Agmon Poleg and is suitable for the whole family. Check the latest conditions before your visit. To reach destinations in the surrounding area, one of the regional bus routes between Tel Aviv and Netanya may be useful: you can get off at the Wingate Institute stop on the western edge of the nature reserve. From there, a footpath leads to Old Udim and Poleg Gate. Bus routes can change; confirm current service before traveling. A pedestrian passage beneath the bridge over the Poleg Stream on the coastal road also provides access from the nearby Poleg Stream Nature Reserve to the Udim Nature Reserve. Check the latest notices before using this crossing too, as the route may change due to infrastructure work.
When choosing where to stay, it helps to distinguish Udim itself from the destinations in the surrounding area: Nahal Udim flows through the town, while the natural and historical sites described here are nearby. Consider whether the stream, seasonal wildlife and plant observations, hiking trails or settlement history will shape your stay. If your plans include bus routes or trails in the nature reserves, check their current status in advance.
Discover more destinations: Gonen, Ra'anana, Nahalal, Matta‘, Mevo Modi'im, Ma'ale Gamla, Menara, Shivta
For the full travel overview: Israel.
