July 2020
The White Divide
13
The 650-kilometre Jordan Trail spans the full length of the country, from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south, and can be completed in around 40 days. It takes in the full breadth of Jordan's landscapes, as well as connecting some of its major historical sites like Um Qais, Jerash and Petra.
We only had a week so chose to tackle possibly the most spectacular section of the Trail, from Dana to the global tourist-mecca of Petra. This section takes four days and offers some breathtaking scenery: the vast and desolate Araba valley, a crossing of the remote Jordanian highlands and the dramatic 'backdoor' path to the ancient sandstone city of Petra. Be aware this is an unmarked trail - a GPS device is essential - and the hiking conditions are fairly tough - the path can be rough in places, the walking is hot and unshaded and water is scarce. So if you are travelling without a guide, this is one for more experienced and confident hikers. However, while it may not be the most comfortable of trips, the rewards are great: dramatic and rugged terrain, deep yellow rock and blazing Arabian sunsets, tea with Bedouin nomads and arriving from the desert at one of the wonders of the modern world .
Transport:
It's very likely you will want to start in Dana and finish at Petra (i.e. travel north to south). Both ends of the trail are accessible by public transport. I took a direct flight from London to Amman, from where we took a bus to the town of Dana (around 3/4 hours) and then a short taxi ride to Dana Reserve, where the trail begins. We thought we would need to get a bus to At-Tafilah, the largest nearby town, and then catch a local bus or taxi but in fact there is a bus that goes directly to Dana from Amman. The bus station is in the south part of town (tell your taxi driver you are heading to Dana and he should know which station to take you to). Be aware that most of the buses in Jordan don't have a set timetable and simply leave when full - we waited around an hour for our bus to set off - so ensure you leave enough time. The town of Dana is set back a little from the reserve - the bus should drop you at the turn-off - and you can catch a taxi for the short drive to the hotels and campsites at the rim of the valley. Our bus driver had actually (without our knowledge) called ahead and there was a driver waiting for us. Jordan has a way of providing.
Dana, on the edge of a valley carved into sandstone, is a lovely spot to spend a night. After arriving, we spent a couple of hours wandering along the rim and enjoying a spectacular sunset - the sun sets at the end of the valley. There are numerous accommodation options - we stayed in Dana Guesthouse, which is a pricier option but extremely comfortable. Bear in mind that Dana is fairly high and was quite cold when we were there (in March) - layers and a coat are definitely recommended for the evening.
Once you finish the hike at Petra, there are plenty of transport options back to Amman. We actually hired a private driver to take us so that we could made a number of stops on the way. The main, and most direct, highway back to Amman only takes 3/4 hours. It's a pretty dull and monotonous road. The road we took, via the Dead Sea, takes a little longer but is far more interesting. Our driver charged us 75 JOD, which was actually below the usual rate as he was already making the return journey. Suffice it to say, hiring your own driver is a lot more expensive than the bus.
In terms of accommodation, there are only a few options at Dana so you should definitely book ahead. We camped the first two nights of the trek at 'campsites' marked on the GPS, at the base of the mountains near Wadi al-Malaqa and by the spring in Wadi Feid. In reality, there is nothing at these 'campsites' except for the fact they are pretty suitable spots for camping. On the third night we stayed in a touristy Bedouin 'camp' just outside Little Petra. In an ideal world, we would have camped again but we hadn't been able to pick up any water during the day and once we arrived at Little Petra it was late and our options were becoming limited. At Petra, the main tourist hub and brimming with hotel options is Wadi Musa. We stayed in another small town near to Petra, Uum Sayhoun, in a homey b&b. Wherever you stay at Petra, there are plenty of options but you should book ahead in high season (April - May).
The main issue you'll have is water. Unsurprisingly, it's quite scarce and you need to plan carefully. There isn't any reliable water after Dana until you reach the spring at Wadi Feid, which you should reach toward the end of the second day. So we arranged a water drop with a local Bedouin (whose contact details are listed on the Jordan Trail site) at the Wadi al-Malaqa campsite. He also brought us some cooked dinner, which was actually one of the best meals we had in Jordan. There does appear to be a small artificial lake near the campsite but we did not explore this and I am sure not whether it's usable.
Elsewhere on the trail, there are a few springs marked on the GPS. However, we found these to be mostly dry or non-existent - and we were walking during the wettest time of year. The only reliable source is the spring at Wadi Feid - the spring itself wasn't usable but we could drink from the stream. As always - always always purify the water you drink! From Wadi Feid, there was no water until Little Petra - a very long day's walk.
Little Petra gives you a taste of Petra itself - stunning sandstone carvings and an established tourist vibe. After a long walk, we had a comfortable stay in one of the touristy Bedouin camps nearby. The following day we made a much more relaxed walk along flat ground to Petra, a section of the trail which is more heavily trafficked then elsewhere. After crossing desert flats, you then enter Petra 'by the backdoor' - a stunning path that hugs a cliff edge - and eventually reach the Monastery, one of the largest monuments on the site. A pretty memorable moment after several days in the desert.
Day 1: Maxson Trailhead to North Fork Kings River (, 7 hours)
Day 2: North Fork Kings River to Cathedral Lake (13km, 7 hours)
Day 3: Cathedral Lake to Finger Peak Basin (24km, 10 hours)
Day 4: Finger Peak Basin to lake below Reinstein Pass (13km, 4 hours)
Day 5: Reinstein Pass to Bighorn Lake
Day 6: Bighorn Lake to Portal Lake
Day 7: Portal Lake to Maxson Trailhead (20 miles, 7 hours)
Maxson Trailhead
Hell for sure intersection
Cabin in woods
Ranger station
Plunge pool
Portal Lake
Midway Lake
Cathedral Lake
Finger Peak pass
Tiny lake
Small lake
Finger Peak Basin
Goddard Creek
Large Lake
Small lake / ridge
Reinstein Pass
Valor Pass
Valor Lake
Ambition Lake
Bighorn Lake
Lake tour: Ewe Lake, Battalion Lake, Regiment Lake, Division Lake, Pearl Lake
Maxson Trailhead
Petra can come as a small shock after the isolation on the hike - it's one of the world's biggest tourist attractions and the donkeys, camels and store sellers add a chaotic, circus atmosphere. We took a full day to properly explore and enjoy Petra. Despite the large number of people, it is a huge site and there are many areas where you can escape from the tourist masses and explore alone. Without doubt, Petra makes an unforgettable ending to a long-distance walk.
Little Petra gives you a taste of Petra itself - stunning sandstone carvings and an established tourist vibe. After a long walk, we had a comfortable stay in one of the touristy Bedouin camps nearby. The following day we made a much more relaxed walk along flat ground to Petra, a section of the trail which is more heavily trafficked then elsewhere. After crossing desert flats, you then enter Petra 'by the backdoor' - a stunning path that hugs a cliff edge - and eventually reach the Monastery, one of the largest monuments on the site. A pretty memorable moment after several days in the desert.
Day 1: Dana to Wadi Malaga (23.5km, 7 hours)
Day 2: Wadi Malaga to Wadi Feid (13km, 7 hours)
Day 3: Wadi Feid to Little Petra (24km, 10 hours)
Day 4: Little Petra to Petra (13km, 4 hours)
Petra can come as a small shock after the isolation on the hike - it's one of the world's biggest tourist attractions and the donkeys, camels and store sellers add a chaotic, circus atmosphere. We took a full day to properly explore and enjoy Petra. Despite the large number of people, it is a huge site and there are many areas where you can escape from the tourist masses and explore alone. Without doubt, Petra makes an unforgettable ending to a long-distance walk.
