The Shikma Circular Bike Trails
This information is a recommendation only. Please ride carefully and responsibly. Some routes are for mixed-use of vehicles and cyclists. Riders must adhere to all traffic rules and pay attention to the signage.
Difficulty level: Basic riding proficiency
Route length:
The first part of the trail, from Kibbutz Dorot to Ruhama, is about 8.5 km.
The basic alternative to return to Ruhama for Dorot is about 6.3 km.
(Dorot-Ruhma-Dorot Basic Trail is about 14.6 km).
The Northern loop alternative from Ruhama to Dorot is about 11.5 km (Dorot-Ruhma-Dorot through the Northern loop is about 20 km).
From the Northern loop, the “Bror Hayil Loop” splits off, about 19.5 km (Dorot-Ruhma-Dorot via Bror Hayil Loop is about 28 km).
Start and end point: The Shikma Region single tracks have three possible entrances – The entrance to Kibbutz Ruhama; The entrance to Kibbutz Dorot, and; On the Shikma Scenic Trail, near Bror Hayil. For a circular route it is advisable to start at Dorot or Ruhama.
Summary of the trip area: Spectacular vistas of the Ruhama ravines and rolling hills expose the rider to beauty towards the Hebron mountains and the lowlands. In season one can witness magnificent blossom carpets. The single tracks in the Shikma Region are made into circular loops, which allow for several alternatives of different lengths and different levels of effort; the route in the area is marked with green signage.
Summary of the route: From the entrance of Kibbutz Dorot – start at the kibbutz gate, turn left on the dirt road with the single track sign into the woods, through the nearby fields and into the Dorot Stream channel. The single track continues towards the Ruhama Stream channel and then splits – to the right. to the northern loop; to the left to Dorod. On the way back, you will see the Gmama ruins (remains of buildings, caves and cisterns that indicate settlement in different eras). The single track continues along the route of the Ruhama Stream channel and finally turns left on a wide trail, crossing the road in front of the entrance to Kibbutz Dorot. This is the end of the route.
Northern Loop: From the fork, the single track continues for a bit, then connects to a wide eolianite trail that climbs towards the observation tower. Taking a short walk, you can see the mosaic floor, a remnant of a monastery from the 6th century AD. The single track continues through the ravines, with ups and downs, toward the Ruhama Stream channel and integrates into the basic single track back to Kibbutz Dorot.
Bror Hayil Loop: From the fork, the single track climbs in another turn and finally exits onto a wide trail between the fields and hills of the Shikma Nature Reserve. The single track continues towards the Hatzav Stream gorge. Finally, the single track continues toward the entrance to Bror Hayil and integrates back to Kibbutz Dorot.
Photography credit: Ilan Shaham
Map:
*The information is taken from the Lamedavesh and Mountain Bike Trails of the KKL-JNF websites