“He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea… in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.”
— Matthew 4:13–15
The Gospel Trail is a remarkable route that lets travelers—on foot or by bicycle—experience the landscapes where Jesus lived, taught, and journeyed. Stretching from Nazareth to Capernaum, the trail winds through some of the most beautiful terrain in the Galilee: rolling hills, ancient paths, quiet forests, fertile valleys, and sites filled with layers of biblical and historical memory.
Covering roughly 62 km, the trail can be completed in segments, making it accessible for a wide range of hikers. Along the way are optional detours to major Christian sites, archaeological remains, lookout points, and villages that preserve traditions going back centuries.
Your journey begins on Mount Precipice, just outside Nazareth. From here the entire Jezreel Valley opens before you—the same crossroads that shaped the ancient Israelite kingdom. Tradition identifies this cliff as the spot where Jesus’ own townspeople tried to throw him from the heights.
Descending from the ridge, the path skirts the village of Iksal and continues along the slopes toward modern Upper Nazareth. At the edge of Churchill Forest, hikers can either stay on the main route or follow a short detour through the ravine along Nahal Barak.
The trail curves around Mount K’sulot and climbs toward Mount Devorah, named for the biblical judge and prophetess Deborah. A little farther on, a short ascent leads to a lookout toward Mount Tabor, a site sacred to many Christian traditions. From here, hikers continue east toward the Beit Keshet Forest, or take an optional climb up Mount Tabor itself—a challenging but rewarding addition.
The Beit Keshet Mediterranean Forest offers shaded sections, spring wildflowers, and panoramic eastern views from the Beit Keshet Oak Lookout. Nearby Tel Govel provides another vantage point before the trail edges along a protected reserve that preserves the rare Mount Tabor Oak.
A popular optional loop leads west to Kfar Cana, traditionally associated with Jesus’ first miracle—the turning of water into wine. The circular path brings hikers back to rejoin the trail.
Continuing north, the landscape opens toward the Tur’an Valley and eventually meets Highway 65 at the Golani Junction underpass. Beyond the junction, the trail bends toward Kibbutz Lavi and the imposing silhouette of the Horns of Hattin.
Past Kibbutz Lavi, the trail follows remnants of an ancient Roman road. Carob trees, old wine presses, and cultivated fields appear—evoking New Testament scenes of wheatfields where Jesus’ disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath.
The route gradually approaches the extinct volcanic cone of the Horns of Hattin, famous as the site of the decisive 1187 battle in which Saladin defeated the Crusaders. A side loop climbs toward the Druze shrine of Nabi Shuaib, revered as the burial place of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.
Descending from the ridge, the trail joins Nahal Arbel, passing old olive groves and looking southward toward the dramatic Arbel Cliffs, home to ancient cave dwellings. Reaching Wadi Hamam, hikers pass the ruins of a Roman–Byzantine village before the path leads toward the plains near Magdala.
Before leaving the Magdala area, many choose to visit the archaeological site of Migdal, hometown of Mary Magdalene. Excavations uncovered a rare first-century synagogue as well as an emerging pilgrimage center.
The path continues across the fertile Gennesaret Valley, long known for its orchards and rich agriculture. Springs such as Ein Nun provide cool water and a quiet place to rest.
Crossing Nahal Amud, the trail passes beneath Highway 90 with the option to stop at the acclaimed Man in the Galilee Museum at Kibbutz Ginosar, home to a well-preserved fishing boat from the time of Jesus.
Heading north, the route climbs Tel Kinrot and then turns into Tabgha, the traditional site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. A short walk brings hikers to the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee—a serene setting associated with the Sermon on the Mount.
Returning to the lakeside promenade along Road 87, travelers reach the quiet inlet many associate with Jesus teaching from a boat—the “Bay of Parables.” From here, the final stretch leads to Capernaum, often called “Jesus’ own town,” and the endpoint of the Gospel Trail.
More info about the Gospel Trail