These are the routes on the cards that come with Sahra Trail orders. Each one is a specific walk from a named start, not a general area. Where no source gives a figure, the page says so.
Easy
Easy · 1Wadi Shees Nature Trail
Shees (Shis) village in Wadi Shees, in the Hajar Mountains near Khor Fakkan, on the Sharjah east coast side of the Khorfakkan Road (S142).
1.8 km · 30 to 40 min (allow 1 h)
Easy · 2Al Taiba Trail
Tayyibah (Al Taiba) village in the Hajar Mountains near Masafi, Fujairah, off the Dibba to Masafi road (E89).
4.5 km (operator) · 1.5 to 2 hModerate
Moderate · 3Al Rabi Tower Trail
Above Khor Fakkan town on the east coast, starting at Al Rabi Tower and climbing the mountain behind the town to the summit flag.
about 5 km return · 2 to 3 h
Moderate · 4Al Rafisah Dam to Al Suhub Rest House
Al Rafisah Dam, Wadi Shie, above Khor Fakkan on Sharjah's east coast in the Hajar Mountains
about 6 km return · about 3 hDifficult
Al Riham Trail
Wadi Saham, in the Hajar Mountains about 15 to 20 km southwest of Fujairah City, Fujairah emirate. The route climbs Jebel Riham (also spelt Raham).
7.7 km (operator) · 2 to 3 h (operator)
Difficult · 6Wadi Shah Trail, Jebel Jais
Wadi Shah, on the lower Jebel Jais mountain road above Ras Al Khaimah city, starting near Jebel Jais Base Camp (Bear Grylls Explorers Camp), about 4km by straight line below Jais Viewing Deck Park.
11.6 km loop · about 5 hHow we grade
One scale across all six. Where a trail operator or authority publishes a grade, we start from it and say so on the route page; otherwise the grade rests on distance, climb, ground and how hard the way is to find.
- EasyUnder 5 km on a marked or obvious path, with steps or a short climb. Two hours or less for most walkers.
- ModerateAbout 5 to 8 km with a sustained climb of roughly 300 to 500 m on a marked path. Half a day.
- DifficultGraded Hard or Challenging by the trail operator, or more than 8 km with 450 m or more of climbing on rough ground where finding the way is part of the work.
Before any of them
- The season is roughly October to April. In summer the heat makes these routes dangerous.
- Start at first light, carry more water than you think you need, and tell someone your route and return time.
- Stay out of wadis in rain or when rain is forecast: they flood fast.
- Police 999, ambulance 998.
More in our guide to hiking in the UAE, and our kit for it: Sahra Trail.