Jabal Soudah - Al-Qaroon Trail

 The Al-Qaroon (Al-Qarun, Alquroun) Trail ranks among the most stunning hikes in Saudi Arabia, offering a picturesque scenery unexpected in this part of the world. The trail cuts through dense Juniper tree forests, grasslands, bushlands, and cactus fields, spanning from the highest point in Saudi Arabia to terraced agricultural fields on the slopes of the foothills – or the other way around. The views are stunning all along the hike, either you look down on the descending ridges, or up to the rim of the imposing high plateau. The trail is also known as Shawkan (Shokan) trail as one end is near the village of that name. The walk itself takes about 4 hours, but considering travel time, it’s a full day outing. 

We follow the trail downhill, but you can obviously do it the other way around. The trail itself is 6.5 kilometres, but it’s another 5 kilometres on a minor asphalt road to the busier Rijal Almaa road. You could also walk all the way to Rijal Almaa, as did Wiciloc user Gianluca Baratti, but even if descending, 22 kilometres is a long way. 

The hike in Google Maps 

Open the menu to turn waypoints on and off.

Hikes around Riyadh: Edge of the World | Camel Trail | Graffiti Rock ; Abha: Jabal Soudah | Wadi Lajab | Jabal Ferwa ; Najran: Raoum ; Bisha: White Mountain ; Taif: Kara Heritage Trail | Harithi Escarpment | Al-Waba Crater ; Medina: Mount Sela | Mount Uhud ; Al-Ula: Wadi al-Naam | Mahash Viewpoint | Dadan Trail ; Tabuk: Wadi al-Deesah | Jabal Shayban | Wadi al-Aqlah | "Real Mount Sinai" 

The hike in photos




































































































































Hikes around Riyadh: Edge of the World | Camel Trail | Graffiti Rock ; Abha: Jabal Soudah | Wadi Lajab | Jabal Ferwa ; Najran: Raoum ; Bisha: White Mountain ; Taif: Kara Heritage Trail | Harithi Escarpment | Al-Waba Crater ; Medina: Mount Sela | Mount Uhud ; Al-Ula: Wadi al-Naam | Mahash Viewpoint | Dadan Trail ; Tabuk: Wadi al-Deesah | Jabal Shayban | Wadi al-Aqlah | "Real Mount Sinai" 

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