A Complete Guide to Red Canyon in Eilat, Israel
Red Canyon is a top attraction near Eilat. Read our travel guide to learn more about Red Canyon, top hiking trails, how to get there, when to go, or where to stay before your trip.
Eilat is a famous resort town in the southern tip of Israel, and many travelers seek its beaches, fancy hotels, and coral reefs.
But what if you're tired of lying on the beach, snorkeling at the Red Sea, or enjoying your hotel resort's perks?
What if you want to leave the town and see some nature? Don't worry.
We have an excellent tip for spending a few hours outside the city in the Negev Desert.
As we are not fans of doing nothing and Martin is able to lie on the beach only for like five minutes, it would not be us if we did not find a place to hike, at least for a bit.
Yeah, we love hiking and staying active while traveling.
Today, we're going to visit Red Canyon in the nearby Eilat Mountains, one of the best places to see in Eilat.
We know that Eilat does not have the best reputation among adventure travelers, but we want to show you why it is worth traveling to this part of Israel.
So what exactly to expect from Red Canyon? Narrow gorges, layered rocks, unique rock formations, typical reddish colors, and much more.
When looking for day trips from Eilat, you'll be facing a few options. But from the first moment we saw the Red Canyon photos, we knew that it was one of those places we wanted to visit.
Located in Wadi Shani, Red Canyon is simply one of those places you shouldn't miss.
So here's everything you should know about Red Canyon in Israel before you go.
How to Get There
Getting to Red Canyon from Eilat without a tour is super-easy and straightforward.
There are several ways to get from Eilat to Red Canyon, so you can choose the one that suits your preferences.
Car
We mostly traveled around Israel by car, so we drove to Red Canyon from Eilat as well. The Red Canyon junction is on Highway 12, about 21 kilometers northwest of Eilat.
The road is in good condition, and the traffic was light in this area. In general, driving in Israel is easy.
When we got closer to the Egyptian borders, we could see another service road and ominous-looking fences built between both countries.
When you see the typical brown sign that says Red Canyon, turn right.
The last 1.5 kilometers is on the dirt road, but we didn't have any problems driving on it with our small 2WD car.
Lastly, a rental car gives you the freedom to stop along the way to enjoy some views of the Eilat Mountains. The drive is quite scenic so enjoying it at your own pace is great.
Lastly, it's easy to rent a car in Eilat just for a day or two, in case you don't need it for the rest of your vacation.
Bus
Take Egged bus 392 from Eilat Central Station to Red Canyon if you don't want to rent a car.
The Red Canyon bus stop is at the junction, so you need to consider that you will have to walk about 1.5 kilometers just to get to the trailhead (and another 1.5 kilometers later on to get to the main road).
The issue here is that it might be harder to catch a bus back to Eilat.
You can solve it by hitchhiking, as other tourists should be heading back to the city. Also, you need a Rav-Kav card to get on the bus.
The bus continues then to Be'er Sheva and usually runs from 6:30 AM to 5 PM except for Saturdays. Don't forget to check the current bus timetable before you go.
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Taxi
Taking a taxi from Eilat to Red Canyon and back is expensive as they would need to wait for you there (or you would need to call another one from the Red Canyon).
Either way, we would leave this option as a last resort if you're short on time or just don't like the other options.
Tours
If you prefer guided tours, then you can consider taking this Red Canyon Tour.
Red Canyon tours have an advantage over independent travel because they usually include hotel transfer, transportation, local guide, and a few more other stops.
Hiking in Red Canyon
Some say that the Red Canyon trail is one of the best hikes in Israel.
And while we could clearly see that others might not agree, the fact is that the Red Canyon is beautiful.
Also, you might come up with some comparisons that the Red Canyon looks like Antelope Canyon in the U.S. or the Siq in Petra, but you should keep your expectations low this time.
It's not that the Red Canyon is not stunning. It's just that the trail that actually leads through Red Canyon is very short.
In fact, we were really surprised by how short it is in reality and how quickly the canyon ended.
Nevertheless, it was still a pretty good experience.
And unlike vast places such as Makhtesh Ramon, you don't need to spend a huge chunk of time worrying about how to plan your Israel itinerary and what places you should see, and which are not worth the time or your effort.
Once you arrive at Red Canyon, you can choose from two main hiking trails.
Needless to say, there are many other hiking trails in Eilat Mountains worth exploring that would require additional planning and time.
Red Canyon Trail
We followed the green trail from the parking lot and walked towards the Red Canyon.
The green route will take you directly to the canyon, but you could also take the longer course and walk in the opposite direction via the red trail.
The green trail was well-marked, and as you're walking through a gorge, it's impossible to get lost.
There are a couple of steps and ladders in the canyon, but nothing scary. In fact, this is a relatively family-friendly path.
We had luck that the canyon was mostly empty with only a few people around and a couple with a photographer taking portrait photos in the middle of the ladders, but that was just a fun distraction.
However, we met at least two large groups of school trips later on in Southern Wadi Shani and were glad that we didn't run into them in the narrow canyon.
At the end of the canyon, you will have a few options. You can turn right at the canyon's end and make a short loop back via a black trail.
So from the junction, climb up a bit to follow a new path that loops back to the canyon's entrance.
Or walk back the same way you arrived there.
Southern Wadi Shani Trail
We decided that we didn't want to get back to our car so quickly, so we extended our hike and continued deeper into the now more open and broader canyon.
The trail continued on the green trail, so we stayed on it until we reached another junction, about three kilometers from the parking lot.
Now it was time to turn right onto the black route.
Don't miss this turnoff as you might otherwise end up in Wadi Raham or Arava Road (which is probably something you really don't want to do if you've left the car at the parking lot).
As we entered Southern Wadi Shani, the scenery changed slightly, and the canyon ended with a short but steep climb.
Soon enough, we reached the last junction (more than 1 kilometer from the last one).
As we had our car in the main parking lot, we took the red trail and walked towards the end of the trail (another 1 kilometer).
In my opinion, the last part of the hike was maybe even more impressive than the canyon itself.
You can always hear about how Negev Desert is an inhospitable environment, but seeing it with your own eyes is an entirely different experience.
It also shows you that your trip to Israel doesn't have to be only about historical sites but that you will have an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking scenery as well.
If you've arrived by bus, you could alternatively stay on the black trail and end your hike at the junction with the main road (it's the one where the bus dropped you off).
The entire Red Canyon via the Southern Wadi Shani loop is about 5 kilometers long with an elevation gain of 100 meters. Easy peasy.
Difficulty
Any moderately fit person should be able to hike through the canyon. A few ladders and steps are slightly more technical, but you won't find there anything challenging.
If you already have some previous experience with similar places, then Red Canyon won't surprise you in any way.
We've seen families with kids hiking in the canyon, but of course, you need to decide for yourself whether all members of your group are able to do this hike or not.
Unfortunately, Red Canyon is not wheelchair accessible.
Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Red Canyon.
Therefore, Red Canyon shouldn't fly under your radar when looking for free things to do in Eilat and when visiting Israel on a budget.
As Eilat is a very expensive town, finding an activity that won't add more pressure on your wallet is always helpful.
We can also easily see that Red Canyon is popular with budget travelers or backpackers who don't want to spend a lot of money on expensive activities Eilat has to offer.
And it's also great not having to use your free entries from your Israel Pass.
Parking
Red Canyon has a huge free parking lot located about one and a half kilometers from the main road.
There is ample space available for parking, so you don't need to worry about finding an empty spot even in the peak season.
The dirt road that connects the parking and Highway 12 was in good condition when we drove there with our small 2WD car.
Opening Hours
The general rule of thumb is that you should not hike in the desert after dark.
Moreover, it's often prohibited to hike after the sun goes down in many places in Israel for your safety. And it's the same here in Red Canyon.
After dark, you're only allowed to use the designated campground.
Where to Stay
Eilat is the nearest large city to Red Canyon, where you can stay overnight.
It's not the most beautiful city in the world, but as tourism is one of the main Eilat's income sources, it's easy to find a good hotel for every budget.
It makes sense to make a reservation in advance in peak season and during holidays, as the prices can skyrocket during this period.
Here, we've hand-selected the best hotels in Eilat.
Budget | HI Eilat Hostel - One of the best hostels in Eilat, HI - Eilat Hostel offers affordable accommodation to budget travelers. Basic but clean rooms, great breakfast, and free (limited) parking is everything you'll need. Moreover, the hostel has an excellent location close to the beach, shopping center, and many restaurants.
Mid-range | The Reef Eilat Hotel - If you want to stay away from the busy streets of Eilat, The Reef Eilat Hotel might be a perfect choice for you. This hotel is located about a 5-minute walk from the famous Coral Beach (and about six kilometers south of the city), and the clean, modern rooms offer stunning views over the bay.
Luxury | Royal Beach Hotel Eilat by Isrotel Exclusive Collection - Located in the main hotel zone, Royal Beach Hotel Eilat offers luxury accommodation. The hotel has air-conditioned rooms with balconies, three outdoor pools, and everything else you would expect from a hotel in this category.
Camping
There is a campground near the parking lot where you can stay overnight. Bear in mind that the Red Canyon campsite has no facilities.
When to Go
Deciding on the best time of the day to visit Red Canyon can be a bit more complicated than you would think.
Obviously, arriving early in the morning will allow you to see Red Canyon without crowds and help you to avoid the heat.
On the other hand, the sunlight that makes the colors pop won't reach the canyon's bottom early in the morning.
The biggest advantage of arriving early in Red Canyon is that you won't get stuck behind a huge group when using the ladders.
Plus, you'll have more time to take some awesome pictures without people in the frame.
However, we spent the morning snorkeling in Coral Beach Nature Reserve in Eilat and arrived in Red Canyon in the afternoon.
While it was still hot, there were fewer people as well, and most of the school trips were gone.
Red Canyon has two seasons. Rainy season in winter and a dry season during the rest of the year.
Summer can be extremely hot in this area, so it's often recommended to come outside this season.
On the other hand, winter in the Negev Desert is colder than you would expect, so an extra warm layer might come in handy together with an windbreaker as it gets windy in the mountains.
Honestly, summer is not the best time to visit Israel in general.
We hiked there in the middle of November, and it was still pretty warm there.
The rainy season is not exactly as rainy as some other parts of the world, but you need to be careful when hiking during this time of the year. See below.
Staying Safe
Most of the narrow canyons and Wadis in the desert are prone to flash floods, and Red Canyon is no exception.
Flash floods that help carve the Red Canyon's unique shape can be hazardous. Always check the weather forecast before you go.
Also, don't forget to use your common sense to stay safe.
It's not just here, but in similar places such as Ein Gedi Nature Reserve or Ein Avdat National Park as well.
When the weather forecast doesn't look good, it's not worth it to risk your life.
Also, once you leave the narrow canyon, watch out for rocks that might fall from the steep cliffs that surround you.
You can see them lying everywhere, so it's better to stay from the cliffs whenever it's possible.
While the easier trails are well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here, you should still at least have Maps.me installed on your mobile.
For any serious hikes in this region, bring an up-to-date 1:50000 map.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
What to Pack
Regardless of how much time you want to spend in Red Canyon, always bring plenty of water. Use a reusable water bottle.
Staying hydrated throughout the day (not only when exploring the canyon) is essential to be fit and healthy when traveling.
While walking in flip-flops along the Eilat's waterfront is perfectly fine, you should wear proper footwear when hiking in Red Canyon.
The bottom layer of the canyon consists of sand, pebbles, and small rocks, so even open shoes such as sandals are not ideal. Bring runners.
When hiking in open spaces, use strong sunscreen, and don't forget to cover your head.
A camera with an ultrawide lens comes in handy in narrow canyon areas.
In winter, as mentioned above, make sure to bring a fleece jacket, windbreaker, or some extra warm layer as it can be cold here.
Is Red Canyon Worth Visiting?
Yes, Red Canyon is worth a visit.
In fact, if you're staying in Eilat for more than just a day, then Red Canyon is one of the best places to see, especially if you prefer spending your time actively.
It's also a great alternative to Timna Park for budget travelers.
However, if you're asking yourself whether to visit Red Canyon or Timna Park, we would choose Timna Park over Red Canyon as it's a much more diverse and more extensive place.
Sorry, we can't help ourselves, but we loved Timna Park.
On the other hand, visiting Timna Park is not free, which might be an issue for some travelers.
As we visited both places and believe that both offer a great experience, we would recommend you do the same.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
