Unveiling the Spectacular Red Canyon Hiking Trail

The Red Canyon in Israel is a “classic”, easy, and accessible hike near Eilat. The colorful and narrow gorge gives a good taste of desert hiking without sweating too much. The “Red Canyon” is a short section of Wadi Shani that starts its way in the Sinai Desert (Egypt), crosses the border, and continues through the Eilat Mountains. At some point, the wadi carves its way deep into red sandstone, creating a narrow and impressive canyon. A hike through this place is one of the most popular routes in the Eilat Mountains.

RED CANYON, EILAT

The land gets its name from the phenomenon that occurs when sunlight hits the reddish rock that lines the canyon. It then glows with an intense reddish color. The rock is varied in color and patches in shades of white and yellow. The wind and water have carved the sandstone through the ages, consequently giving rise to the colors.

Explore the hiking world

The green trail is considered to be family-friendly, well-marked, and also relatively short. The descent leads down into the river bed and there is then a short fun trail leading to the second creek. The black trail is a more challenging descent down into the second creek. Walking through the second creek, you will reach a large rock that projects from the river bed. From atop this rock, there is one of the most perfect photo spots in the area. As you continue to walk along the second creek, the sides of the canyon will narrow into what is known as the hiking paradise. The trail takes around 75 minutes to complete.