The greenery is so lush and the water is so plentiful that if it was allowed you would jump in. Welcome to Banias, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Middle East. It is a bit of a schlep to the Golan Heights but it is worth it to see Banias and to hike along one of the trails in the large nature reserve.
For Israelis, the word Banias is synonymous with tranquil hiking - yet it does not mean much to most overseas visitors. But you can bet they will have heard of the waterway formed from Banias and some other tributaries - the Jordan River.
Mount Hermon is home to Israel's only ski resort and is, to many, the emblem of the Golan Heights. A spring emerges from the foot of this mountain, runs through a canyon, and then cascades down 30ft. True, it's hardly the Niagara Falls but it is the stunning scenery around the cascade that makes it such an impressive place to visit - and happily the scenery thrives in the spring. The dense forest, with its poplars and willows, seems out of place in a part of the world that is so hot, and is often actual desert.
The trails give you views, nature and history. As well as the forest and the water, you will see animals including porcupines and rock hyrax - and you will encounter the history of the place. One trail, a 45-minute loop, features sites from the Roman and Crusader eras. Another trail lasts an hour and a half and takes you under a Roman bridge and onwards to a thoroughly modern site - a hydroelectric power station.
