Numeira
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| | Difficulty:2A II (v1a1 IV) Raps:0
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring, Fall (avg for this region)
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31.1305, 35.5334
31.1328, 35.5321
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Introduction[edit]
This is an impressive walk-through canyon with walls soaring up to 150m tall just 5m apart. A short and quick approach from the Dead Sea Highway makes this a "must visit" attraction for any visit to Jordan.
The canyon conditions do change frequently due to flash floods. e.g. some sections are simply a walk on gravel one month, then next month, these sections may require climbing to surpass large boulders washed in. In the 1990's there was an impassable 3m waterfall but in 2026 the obstacle is buried under gravel.
The 2 images below demonstrate the changing conditions - the photos are taken a few metres apart, about 50m upcanyon from the chockstone. The car is slightly closer to the bend and a few metres higher caused by the gravel bed.
Approach[edit]
The simplest and most popular visit is an out-and-back return walk from the Dead Sea Highway.
You can turn off the Dead Sea Highway at some large tyres embedded into the ground on either side of the dirt road (31.136388060071408, 35.527684691518395), then drive 600m south-east along the dirt road to the end, passing several bedouin tents with their inhabitants watching you, then park at the end of the road next to the canyon mouth (31.13255277326352, 35.532285282001986).
It is possible to access the canyon from the top but it's more involved. It is much easier to access the canyon from below.
Descent[edit]
Walk 50m down into the the gravel bed of the canyon, then walk upcanyon. You may pass the local inhabitants tending to their irrigation pipes in the first few hundred meters - you will notice several water pipes. You may find some large boulders around this area that you'll need to scramble over/around.
The quintessential photo of Numeira is a chockstone high above the canyon floor at the first corner where the canyon makes a 90-degree bend left, then immediately on the other side of the chockstone the canyon takes a 90-degree bend right. Then you'll likely find more large boulders to scramble over/around.
Canyon conditions can vary widely, as demonstrated by the 2 images below, taken in almost the same spot before the chockstone:
Shortly thereafter, the canyon will turn left to enter a magnificent section of narrows, tall walls with the canyon floor hidden from the sun.
You will pass through 2 or 3 wonderful sections of narrows.
Eventually, the canyon walls give way and you enter a scree filled valley with no walls. This is the turn around point (31.12506413930151, 35.54648381989149).
Exit[edit]
Turn around and retrace your steps.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Descente-Canyon.com : Hudeira
Canyon.Carto.net : Numeira Siq; Nimrin; Hudeira
Trip reports and media[edit]
Barranquistas.es : WADI HUDEIRA- Uno de Aventuras : Trekking en el Mar Muerto: Wadi Numeira, 2019