Hiking: Scrambling Jebel Zaghouan via NW ridge

Distance: 7km
Hiking up and down: 660m
Level: Moderate - technical sections
Time: 3hrs
Notes: bring your head for heights: scrambling sections!
GPS tracks

Start at the farm (aka as the marabout). Ask the farmer if you can park your car at the marabout premises. You could even start at a lower level, doing the farm track hike first. Backtrack the tarmac road for about 300m in the direction of Jebel Zaghouan (south). At the sharp bend in the road, get off it and enter the forest where the cattle clearance is. Past this a small but well visible trail follows the dry rocky river bed, first on the right side and crossing over to the left after 100m. Keep following the trail staying close to the river bed for a few hundred metres and get back to the right again. At the first grassy patch, make a sharp right turn and take one of the cattle trails that goes steeply in westerly direction. The trails are a bit vague, but keep going up and you'll meet with a major trail again (the one described in the Zaghouan Pass Long route).

Turn right and stay on this trail until you reach the bottom of the ridge leading to the summit of Jebel Zaghouan. The southwest aspect of the slope should be visible, as this is the line you'll be hiking to the top. Hit the slope, and don't focus on finding trails, as there aren't real trails going up. Find the way of least resistance, but stay close to the actual ridge rathe than straying too much to the right. The terrain is rocky and at times covered in vegetation. Still, the going shouldn't be too hard. At some point you'll encounter more rocky outcrops. In some cases it's necessary to go right around, but if it's possible to scramble give it a go!

The last section towards the summit involves a bit more scrambling (which is at this point not avoidable). Not quite suitable for people with vertigo. Shortly after you'll reach the summit of Jebel Zaghouan (1295m).

It is not recommended to descent the same way you came up. Go down more in a westerly direction, essentially the same route as the other summit route. There is one small scramble down, after that it is steep hiking on the broad rocky slope pointing west. When the slope gets less steep, move towards the right (northern) side. At the saddle, start descending the vague trail through the low trees. You will come across a proper trail a bit lower down. Take this into the direction of the ridge you climbed earlier.  Below you can see the stone circle, used to keep animals. This is where you're headed for. From the stone circle, take the trail heading north (seeing the marabout at 2 o'clock) which leads to the tarmac road. At the road, turn right and follow the road until you're back at the car. Spectacular yet short hike!

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Hiking: Around Jebel Zaghouan

Distance: 10km
Hiking up and down: 560m
Level: moderate
Time: 3.5-4.5hrs
Notes: one section with difficult trail finding
GPS track

This rarely done hike is one with great variation. From the big plain on the south side to the lush, green forest on the northern flanks of Jebel Zaghouan. The best time to do it is in spring time, when the fields are green and covered with wild flowers.

Park your car near the mosque in Sidi Medien, on the western end of the Zaghouan Massif. From here, start walking by following the road for 100m southeast. At the sharp bend move up the settlement left (not a real trail but follow the left side of the houses). After another 150m keep left on a vague dirt track that goes through a bit of wasteland. This gets very muddy after rain! 5 minutes later you will see a dwelling on your left hand side, a bit higher up. Aim for that as the soil is better and the views of the south side of the mountain ridges is pretty spectacular.

Spectacular rock faces on a foggy day

Now you head into north eastern direction, following the south side of the Zaghouan massif. At times there is no clear trail, but the terrain is easy enough to walk on. Ahead of you you can see Jebel Zaghouan, the highest peak in this small mountain range (1303m). You'll pass beautiful rock formations and steep, jagged walls. At the highest vertical section of the Jebel, you will see a distinct rock pinnacle (you will reach it in roughly 1hr20 of walking). Pass this pinnacle and make sure you stay at the same altitude. Contour your way towards the Shepherds Pass, making a subtle bend to the left. After a few hundred metres of scree and indistinct trail, you will find a clear path going up steeply in the direction of a small, red limestone wall. Here the steep trail continues and bends around this wall up the last section towards the pass. In front of you is a massive, intimidating wall. Going up should take you about 20 minutes.

The steep approach to the Shepherds Pass having passed the distinct pinnacle in the distance

From the top of the pass traverse to the other (western) side of the valley. Numerous goat trails head this direction, just take one of them but make sure you descend as you go. At some point you should meet the clear trail (also described in the Zaghouan Pass Long Route) that rounds the slopes of Jebel Zaghouan first into north western direction and later on towards the southwest. Follow this trail until you reach a big stone circle that is used for livestock.  Keep heading southwest for the descent towards the Sidi Medien Valley. This is the trickiest part of the hike as the trail is disused and therefore overgrown. It starts on the right side as you go down. You may find yourself bushwhacking a little bit. Lower down you will see an old mining dirt road on the left side. Keep going down, passing a ruin. 30 vertical metres down there's another disused remains of a dirt track (washed away in the bend). Take the left part of it. 150 metres further there's more ruins. Here, you leave the "road" and descent steeply on the heavily eroded path. First it zigzags down, at times difficult to stay on it. Then it will traverse to the south. Eventually you aim for the big ruined structure, remains of the mining industry in the early 1900's. From this ruin, follow the path southwest again. It's 20 minutes more back to Sidi Medien.

Dramatic mountain scenery on the south face of Jebel Zaghouan

Around Jebel As-Stah

time: 3-4hrs

distance: 9km

altitude difference: 370m

difficulty: easy

GPS track

View of the first part of the route

This gem of a walk takes you around the jagged mountain ridge of Jebel As-Stah, in the north western corner of the Zaghouan Massif. The trail is a mix of quite roads and dirt tracks. Take in stunning views of the northern plains, explore a small gorge and enjoy the sight of Jebel Zaghouan looming over the fertile valley of Sidi Medien.

From Temple des Eaux drive up the mountain road in westerly direction. After approximately 5km, at the switch back, park your car at the obvious car park (a dirt tracks continues towards the west).

The Sidi Medien Valley with Jebel Zaghouan on the left

The route follows the dirt track, that runs parallel to the ridge of Jebel As-Stah. Keep following this track for about 45 minutes until it meets the tarmac country road. Turn left and follow the country road in the direction of Sidi Medien. After roughly 20 minutes a vague track (it looks more like a river bed) starts on the left side of the road. You could follow this or stay on the road (they meet after 1km again). Before the road starts climbing, passing a hill the right side, turn left into the small gorge. Follow the dry river bed. It’s a little bit overgrown in places, but it’s still easy to walk it. When the landscape opens with Jebel Zaghouan dominating the view (at the concrete slab), the river bed meets a path. 100m further it evolves into the dirt track that climbs up again towards the upper tarmac mountain road. Turn left at the road and a half an hour descent takes you back to your car.

Half way the route, a small and lovely gorge

Hiking Zaghouan: To the summit of Jebel Zaghouan

Distance: 6.4km
Altitude difference: 820m
Time: 3-5hrs
Level: hard
Highest point: 1303m (Jebel Zaghouan summit)
GPS data

The route to the summit of Jebel Zaghouan as seen from Sidi Medien

The climb up the highest peak of the Zaghouan Massif, Jebel Zaghouan, is a tough one. Most of the route is steep hiking up vague goat tracks with a small scramble to get up the actual summit. The reward is obvious: 360 degrees views of the plains surrounding the mountain.

Panorama from the summit of Jebel Zaghouan

Park the car near the mosque in the hamlet of Sidi Medien. A steep dirt track goes up on the right of the mosque. After the small craggy ridge on your right there's a track that stays close to the enormous, Dolomite like ridge. Keep following this track, that gradually gets smaller. You'll pass a fairly big pasture with a big boulder on your left hand side. Keep going until you get to what looks like a small pile of gravel. There you take move towards a dip on the left. A goat track goes down the dip.

Scrambling the last bit to the summit

From here things get a bit more difficult. There is no clear trail, only vague goat tracks. Zigzag up until you are at the broad ridge. The summit is (visibility permitting) constantly visible. The ridge is littered with rocks and is quite steep in most places. The summit itself is craggy all around. A little scramble is involved, no matter what side you approach it from. Once you tackle the scramble you're pretty much on the summit. Jebel Zaghouan has two summits of exactly the same altitude. It is worth traversing to the other summit, which has a 400m drop on the south side! Enjoy the wonderful views all around! Go back the way you came, and take care. Scrambling down is harder than up.