Jaj Cedar Forest Hike

Start this loop at Saint George church of Bkarta, Ehmej. It is completely North of Ehmej – Laqlouq road and the terrain crosses many depressions in continuous ups and downs that one can compare it to “Russian mountains”.
Part of this trail has been blazed in the 60’s by late Lionel Ghorra, then responsible of the “tourisme des jeunes” at the ministry of tourism. Yellow and red signs can still be seen on the rocks.
The itinerary is described clockwise. Starting at the church, a footpath goes up to Ain Bkarta, a captured water spring, and continues uphill North towards the pass above.

At Aarbet Marina, it turns right to go East crossing the wooded flanks of the rugged Jabal al-Mablous. Inspite of some downhill, the trail is definitely uphill, sometimes quite steep.

Arriving to a pass, a small valley opens under your feet, Tarouaaj-Jamal. follow it for a while then to its flat northern ridge with panoramic view. Soon, the first cedars appear far ahead. You are now near the first snow pit of our way, “Houwet al-Biyada”, where snow remains late until summer and shepherds melt it for their goats (A worthwile detour of 200m).

Zigzagging among rocks and sinkholes, we pass two other snow holes, “Houwet al-Morh” and “Houwet al-Manchara” before we reach the “Cedars of Jaj”. Old and majestic, they hide under their branches a small chapel, that an arabic inscription dates to the 1860s. It’s dedicated to the resurrection. Like other groves, the place is known as “Arz ar-Rabb” i.e. Cedars of God.
For the average hiker, the return route is simply backwards or to the nearby asphalted road to the village of Jaj.
Fit hikers can go more uphill east among needle-like stones along a canyon to reach the largest and most spectacular sinkhole of the whole range. Looking inside the pit from above, an incredible view awaits you. Spear-like rocks, more like an army, spring up from the low ground some 60m deep and snow is there hiding from the rays of the sun.

Time is now for the way back. Ups and downs again among oaks and junipers to cross southwards the steep slopes until “Jisr IBrahim” where it meets T02. Turning west, we follow it via the “Mdaqer” until our starting point.