The Red Canyon

About the Red Canyon

The Red Canyon is only 200 meters long but it is deep and has beautiful red colors (don’t forget to bring your camera). The natural beauty of this site alone is well worth the trip, but there is also one good thing about the Red Canyon — one of the most accessible hiking trails that you can find. The Red Canyon is very suitable for walking with children.

The Red Canyon is about a 20-minute drive north of Eilat and offers a great and undisturbed hike through the naturally-formed canyons.

Origins of the name – It may be self-explanatory, but Red Canyon gets its name from the phenomenon which occurs when sunlight falls on the reddish rock that lines the canyon, giving it an intense reddish glow. Apart from red, the rock has patches of white and yellow.

There are two trails in Red Canyon:

  • Green trail – it is the relatively easier and shorter trail and considered as family-friendly. It is a well-marked trail. The trail descends down into a river bed and there’s then then a short (and fun) trail which leads to the second creek.
  • Black trail – it is the more challenging of the two trails, descending down into the second creek.  As you walk through the second creek, there’s a large rock projects from the river bed. The top of this rock provides the perfect spot for taking photographs. As you continue to walk along, the sides of the canyon will begin the narrow into what is known as the “Red Canyon”. It takes about 75 minutes to complete this trail.

If exploring with children, look for the green Eilat stone and for other fossils.

Don’t forget to take enough water despite the short route.

Once in a while the Red Canyon is heavily flooded, so please do not attempt to enter the Red Canyon when the flood warning is raised.

See the Red Canyon Photo Album

How to get to the Red Canyon

By car:

About 15 kilometers north of Eilat (on Route 12) – follow the road signs turn and drive a short distance on a non-paved but solid road.

It is a 15 to 20-minute drive from the Eilat hotel area. During the winter months, the best way to reach the Red Canyon is by a guided tour from Eilat, which is a more cost-effective and budget-friendly way to reach the site, hike it, and return to Eilat.

By public transport:

You can also reach Red Canyon by public bus #392 which goes the regular route from Eilat to Be’er Sheva (Beersheba). It passes the Red Canyon.

Daily departures:
Weekdays – 09:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 17:00

Daily return on weekdays – 12:00, 13:15, 16:00 and 19:45