Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve, Nature reserve and national park in northern Israel
Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve is a protected area on Mount Arbel in northern Israel, rising above the Sea of Galilee. The park covers steep limestone cliffs, deep valleys, ancient caves carved into the rock, and marked trails that lead to several viewpoints.
The caves on Mount Arbel were already inhabited during the Second Temple period, and King Herod the Great fought rebels who had taken shelter inside the cliffs. In the 17th century, a local leader named Ali Bek had walls built in front of some of the caves.
The name Arbel appears once in the Bible, in a verse referring to battles in this region. Today, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim visitors all come here, since the mountain holds meaning across several traditions.
Some trails are easy and suit most visitors, while others cross steep rocky ground and call for sturdy footwear. Summer days can get very hot, so an early start and enough water are a good idea.
To reach the rebels hiding in the caves, Herod's soldiers were lowered down the cliffs in cages and platforms suspended by ropes. This unusual siege method is recorded in ancient sources and makes the site a rare example of mountain combat from that era.
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