Wadi Hasa (Upper)

not verifiedpermit unconfirmed 2026-08-19 ACA 3C High flood risk Karak, JO

A natural water park between Karak and Tafilah: short rappels, slides, jumps, and pool swims in a warm limestone gorge that drops toward the Dead Sea via Wadi Afra's hot springs.

Trailhead sits between Karak and Tafilah. Optional 4 km shuttle for the upper section. The full lower Hasa is a serious 9 mi committing descent reserved for experienced parties; do not confuse the two. Wadi Afra hot springs sit downstream on the confluence side.

Logistics

Manager	Open desert, no formal reserve
Permit	RopeWiki's Red Tape section is empty and its infobox carries no Permits field, so access here is unverified rather than confirmed free.
Distance	1.2 mi (upper section); the full Hasa descent to the Dead Sea is much longer
Elevation	~328 ft loss on the upper section
Time	4 to 5 hr (10 min approach, 2.5 to 3 hr descent, 35 min to 2.5 hr exit)
Technical	Limestone water park style canyon. ACA 3C II (v2a3 II per ropewiki). Short rappels (longest about 5 m / 16 ft), swimming, natural water slides, and downclimbs. The lower Hasa (9.3 mi, 9 hr) is a separate full-day commit; the upper is the typical day-trip section.
Season	Spring and fall; wetsuit recommended in winter
Flood risk	High. Hasa drains the highlands between Karak and Tafilah; storms upstream raise the water fast. Cancel on rain in the upper catchment.
Vehicle access	Dirt road approach, HC helpful
Crowd	Solitude likely
Coordinates	30.9857, 35.6614

Sources

lower: https://ropewiki.com/Hasa_(Lower)
ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/Hasa_(Upper)