The Red Canyon in the Eilat Mountains is one of Israel’s most beautiful yet accessible hiking trails. Entrance to the park is completely free. Twenty minutes north of Eilat, this stunning geological wonder offers an undisturbed hike through the natural canyons. The Red Canyon gets its name from the phenomenon which occurs when sunlight hits the reddish rock that lines the canyon. It then glows with an intense reddish color. The rock is varied in color and in patches is shades of white and yellow. The colors come from the sandstone that’s been carved by wind and water through the ages.

The green trail is considered to be family friendly, well marked, and relatively short. The descent leads down into the river bed and there is then a short fun trail leading to the second creek. The black trail is a more challenging descent down into the second creek. Walking through the second creek, you will reach a large rock which projects from the river bed. From atop this rock there is one of the most perfect photo spots in the area. As you continue to walk along the second creek, the sides of the canyon will narrow into what is known as the ‘Red Canyon’. The trail takes around 75 minutes to complete.
How to Get to the Red Canyon
Easily accessible from Eilat, this area is 15/20 minutes by car from the Eilat hotel area. You can rent a car to drive there. Many companies offer rentals at Ben Gurion Airport. City centers also offer rental companies for single day or longer rental periods if you wish. This tends to be a more expensive option.