Horshim Forest

 

Photograph: Yakov Shkolnik, KKL-JNF Photo Archive

 

 

 

The forest, which extends over an area of some 2,000 dunam (approx. 500 acres), is situated on a beautiful hill on the lower Samarian slopes, overlooking the Green Line to the east and the Sharon region to the west, all the way to the sea. Its position in the center of the country adjacent to both rural farming communities and large cities gives it considerable tourism potential.

 

To the north and east the forest lies between the two community settlements of Matan and Nirit, with Kibbutz Horshim and the gully of Nahal Kaneh, one of the tributaries of the Yarkon River, to the south. Nahal Kaneh has left its mark on this hilly landscape by creating a canyon, along which it flows through the center of the forest. As we approach the plain, the riverbed widens and provides a basis for the farmland whose orchards thrust a finger into the planted woodland. As we make our way across the plain, the course of the stream becomes indistinct, especially in spots where it is part of a farmer’s field.

The forest, which was partially planted by the Jewish National Fund in the 1950s, abounds in natural beauty and offers some fine views. Its pine and cypress trees are accompanied in places by abundant natural vegetation. At this time of year we can spy cyclamen flowers hiding in the stony ground and on the rocky slopes, while wine presses, water cisterns and ancient buildings are visible among the trees. Between Kibbutz Horshim and Kafr Bara lie olive groves, some of which are tended by the Jewish National fund, while others are privately owned and cared for by residents of Kafr Bara. Lac sumach (Rhus tripartita) is among the plants for which the area is notable.

In the heart of the forest, on the hill beside western Zakur, is a lookout tower used for fire-watching. From the summit of the hill on which it stands there is a magnificent view of the Samarian Hills and the Coastal Plain. Climbing to the top of the tower is strictly prohibited, for safety reasons.

Ten years ago, residents of local communities took action and enlisted thousands of volunteers in a public battle to protect the forest from construction projects. With the help of “green” organizations, the ministry of environment and KKL-JNF, the entire area of the forest was classified in nationwide and regional zoning plans as an area earmarked for afforestation and conservation, for purposes of leisure and recreation. The Jewish National Fund, in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, has invested great effort in the development and conservation of the forest

 

 

There are two main routes, each around 3 kilometers long. The first begins at kilometer no. 1, north of the entrance to Kibbutz Horshim, from the western entrance to the forest, behind the sponge factory at the entrance to the kibbutz. This route finishes at the community settlement of Nirit (marked in green on the map). The other route starts at the same point, but in the center of the forest it turns southward towards the Oranit Recreation Area to join up eventually, at the Eretz Aheret junction, with the green trail, the Hezi Sapir Recreation Area, Horshim Observation Point, Khirbet Zakur and the community of Nirit (marked in red on the map).

Access by four-wheel-drive vehicle (4x4):

An access road about a kilometer in length climbs up to HaOren Recreation Area and Kafr Bara (marked in blue on the map). This recreation area provides a magnificent view of the forest interior, which offers an abundance of picnic sites, some of which include playground equipment for children and stone ping-pong tables (Oranit Recreation Area) for added enjoyment. 
 

 

The dirt road leads the hiker to the Hezi Sapir Recreation Area, which offers playground equipment and picnic tables. Nearby is a circular footpath along which agricultural implements from the ruined Arab village of Zakur can be observed, together with the remains of a site from the Kingdom of Israel period (First Iron Age: 13-11 BCE) on Mount Ephraim, and also from the Roman-Byzantine era. During the Kingdom of Israel period, members of the tribe of Menashe lived in a village at the site, which after the fall of the kingdom was occupied by Samaritans. Three picnic tables are situated adjacent to the ruins.

On days when visibility is good, the high-rise towers of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan can be seen from here, and there is an especially good view from the eastern corner of Khirbet Zakur, from the Hezi Sapir Observation Point towards the village of Thult and all the way to Alfei Menashe. The late Captain Hezi Sapir (Startz) was killed in a terrorist attack at Netzarim Junction in November 1994. 

 
Additional information