The main tourist
attraction
at Mount Gliboa reserve is the wave of the iris bloom.In
order to prevent any damage to the reservation or to its amazing bloom, the Israel Nature and Park Authority has marked (on map) visitor trails going through the main bloom regions. Digressing from the marked paths and picking the flowers is prohibited.
Mount Barkan Path- Guiding trail color-RED:
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A circular route
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45 minutes walking time
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Fits all ages
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The Iris Path: Guiding trail color - GREEN
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Circular trail
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30 minutes walking time
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Fits all ages
The Gilboa Iris
The Gilboa Iris is of the largest and most spectacular of the Iris kind. The Gilboa Iris also grows in the southern
Golan Heights
and in Eastern Samaria. The flower appears in great spores which develop from a single rhizome. In the past the Gilboa Iris was more common however people collected its rhizome for personal use. Nowadays the Gilboa
Iris is a protected national flower and picking it is prohibited.
Locations of bloom sites on the Gilboa
The main blooming sites of the Gilboa Iris, is centered in a small area on the top of Mount Barkan nature reserve which is located on the Gilboas north-eastern ridge.
There are three routes to Mounth Barkan nature reserve:
- Northern rout- Through" Beit Alpha junction".
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Western rout- Through" Nurit junction".
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Souther rout- Through "Revaya junction".
Circle of bloom at the Gilboa
October - November: The common Squill, Autumn Crocus and common Daffodils
Januray - Fabuary: Anemone and Large Chivies
Fabruary - April: Mountain Tulip, Gilboa Iris and Lebanese Fritillary.
Gilboa Wildlife Deer
Wild boars, badgers and quills can be seen at all areas of Mount Gilboa. The Gilboa is also the northern border of the Adder snake. Also, at the creeks and cliffs hyraxes live and buzzards nest. For the rest of your journey, we recommend you come visit our national garden in "Beit-Sheaan", "Gan Ha Shlosha", "Maayan Harod" and the ancient synagogue in kibutz Beit-Alpha which are all located near the Gilboa Nature Reserve.
Credit: Israel Nature and Park Authority