Meron, Mountain and nature reserve in Northern District, Israel

Mount Meron is a broad mountain ridge in the Upper Galilee between Safed and Ma'alot-Tarshiha, its rounded summit reaching 1,204 metres, the highest peak in Israel west of the Jordan. Dense Mediterranean scrub of oak, carob and red-stemmed Judas trees covers the slopes. A cluster of antenna masts stands on the crest, where a military base occupies the levelled summit; the 2.5-kilometre Peak Trail circles about 100 metres below it.

A nature reserve was established in 1965 to protect large tracts of land and preserve this mountain as a protected area. The protected territory was later expanded to include additional ecologically significant zones.

At the foot of the mountain lie tombs sacred to Jews and Druze, including those of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Elazar, Rabbi Yochanan the Sandlar, and the prophet Sabalan. Pilgrimages to the tombs of Hillel and Shammai are documented from the 12th and 13th centuries, and by the 16th century the site was central to Lag BaOmer celebrations. Today hundreds of thousands gather on Lag BaOmer, and the mountain is a recurring subject in the art of Safed's artists' quarter.

The mountain offers more than forty marked hiking trails for visitors of different experience levels, with multiple routes leading to overlook points with views toward neighboring regions. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for hiking with moderate temperatures.

The summit was once 1,208 metres high, but the IDF levelled it slightly to build an air control unit, leaving the present 1,204-metre peak. The top is closed to visitors because of the military base, so the main walk is the 2.5 km Peak Trail circling below it, partly on the Israel Trail.