Hiking trail · Khor Fakkan, Sharjah
Wadi Shees
A short, green loop through an old mountain village, its falaj and palm groves.
- Distance
- 1.8km
- Elevation gain
- +40m
- High point
- 402m
- Time
- 1–2 h
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Route
- Loop
Trail summary
The Wadi Shees hike at a glance
The Wadi Shees hike is a 1.8 km loop in the mountain village of Shees, off the Khor Fakkan road in Sharjah, UAE, with about 40 m of climbing and a high point of about 402 m. Most groups take 1 to 2 hours. We grade it Easy: steady walking on a clear path, with no scrambling.
Updated 10 November 2026
Route
The map and the climb
Route shown for orientation. Your leader carries the full GPS track. Move along the profile to follow the climb on the map.
About the trail
What to expect
Shees is a small village high in the Hajar Mountains, just off the Khor Fakkan road. Its marked nature trail starts by the car park, climbs a flight of steps into the old stone village and loops back through date palms, terraced farms and pools fed by the falaj, the old irrigation channel that still carries spring water through the valley. Information boards explain the village and its plants along the way.
It is the gentlest walk we run, with shade, water running beside the path and very little climbing. When the group is keen, we add the gravel track down the wadi to the Oman border sign, about a kilometre further on, and walk back the same way.
What you'll see
- The stone houses of the old village
- The falaj channel and its spring-fed pools
- Date palms, terraced farms and the Hajar peaks above
Good to know
- People still live and farm in the village. Stay on the path and dress modestly, covering knees and shoulders.
- Swimming in the falaj or the pools is not allowed.
- Uneven ground and about a hundred steps, so wear closed shoes, not sandals. Shees Park, with its waterfall and café, is a short drive away.
Trailhead
We send the exact meeting pin on WhatsApp the evening before. Meeting time 07:00.
Photos
Photo credits for Wadi Shees
- Wadi Shees 01, Sharjah Emirate by Altafokz104, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shees falaj 01 by Angela Manthorpe, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wadi Shees Natural Water Spring 02, Sharjah Emirate by Altafokz104, CC BY-SA 4.0
From Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized. Some show the area around the trail rather than the route itself.
Questions
Wadi Shees hike FAQ
How long is the Wadi Shees hike?
1.8 km, loop, with about 40 m of elevation gain. Allow 1 to 2 hours at a steady pace, including breaks.
How difficult is the Wadi Shees hike?
We grade it Easy: steady walking on a clear path, with no scrambling.
Where does the Wadi Shees hike start?
At the car park by the old village of Shees in Sharjah, near 25.29150, 56.24480. We send the exact meeting pin on WhatsApp the evening before, and groups meet at 07:00.
When is the best time to hike Wadi Shees?
Between October and April, starting at first light. From May to September it is too hot to hike safely.
Can I join a guided group on the Wadi Shees hike?
Yes. Trails runs guided small-group hikes on this route most weekends from October to April. Send us your name, WhatsApp number and how many people, and we get back to you with the next dates. AED 99 per person, and your first hike is free.