After being hit by a missile during the Swords of Iron War and remaining closed for long periods, the Tel Dan Nature Reserve is returning to routine. The Nature and Parks Authority completed the restoration work at the reserve, and over the past weekend, the visitor service center, access road, and visitor parking lot were officially reopened.
The cost of the restoration work stood at approximately NIS 2.5 million, funded by the Open Areas Protection Fund. The work included restoring the service center, which suffered significant damage, as well as addressing infrastructure damaged by fires caused by missile impacts and the movement of armored fighting vehicles through the reserve grounds.
Nature and Parks Authority Director-General Raya Shurki and Upper Galilee Regional Council Director-General Yaara Kadosh attended the dedication ceremony for the renewed center. During the event, the newly restored service center, access road, and parking lot were presented, alongside an information sign describing the damage caused to the reserve during the war.
"Your presence strengthens the community and economy in the North," Nature and Parks Authority Director-General Raya Shurki said. "I thank our partners from the Upper Galilee Regional Council for nurturing and restoring the trails and visits to the wonderful and special nature reserves adjacent to the border line. We are delighted by every visitor who votes with their feet. Your presence strengthens the community and economy in the North."
Shurki added that "Nature and Parks Authority employees are proud to lead and strengthen hiker movement in the North. We invest considerable thought into providing a good visitor experience together with our partners."
Yaara Kadosh, director-general of the Upper Galilee Regional Council, said: "The Tel Dan Nature Reserve is one of the most important and beloved nature sites in the Upper Galilee. We welcome the renewal of the service center and are pleased with the excellent cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority, which allows residents of the region and hikers from across the country to enjoy the reserve and the entire Galilee."
Water, pools, and a 5,000-year-old ancient mound
The Tel Dan Nature Reserve is one of the most beloved sites in the North, and it is not hard to understand why. Within its bounds flows the Dan River – the largest and most important of the Jordan River's sources – whose waters are fed by the Dan springs and water sources coming from the Mount Hermon area.
Hikers in the reserve can enjoy shaded trails alongside the river, green vegetation, wading pools, and natural sites, alongside Tel Dan, one of the largest archaeological mounds in Israel. The site preserves the remains of an ancient city dating back roughly 5,000 years.
During routine times, the reserve hosts hundreds of thousands of hikers each year who come to enjoy the northern nature and the flowing water among the reserve's trees. However, in recent years, following the Swords of Iron War, Tel Dan was forced to close for extended periods, similar to other nature sites near the northern border.
With the easing of Home Front Command directives, Nature and Parks Authority teams began working to repair the damage, while simultaneously reopening the reserve to the public. The restoration work continued recently and has now been completed, allowing visitors to arrive at the reserve and enjoy the renewed infrastructure.