Wadi al-Aqlah - Lush valley at the foot of Jabal al-Lawz

 In some way Wadi al-Aqlah is similar to Wadi al-Deesah, but it is also very different at the same time. There are water pools and cascades fed by a stream, lush vegetation, steep rock walls. However, the mountains are made of granite here, not sandstone. These ranges consist of smooth red rock faces and the wadi floor is also hard rock, not soft sand. The vegetation is also different. You find many trees like the wild fig that bears tiny black fruit, but no date palms. There is also an abundance of different herbs in the wadi next to the stream, including the wild mint (habaq). Wadi al-Aqlah is the start of one of the ways to Jabal alLawz, the highest peak in northern Arabia. It is a beautiful hike that ends at the malaqa, the big smooth granite surface, where the walk seems to come to a cul-desac. 

The hike is easy and only takes a couple of hours depending on how much time you spend admiring nature. 

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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