Jerash, Jordan
The Dibeen Forest Reserve is a forest of Aleppo pine and oak over rolling hills covering 8.5 square kilometres south-west of the ancient city of Jerash, at 500 to 1,000 m, and one of the last remaining pine-oak forests in the Middle East. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) declared it a reserve in 2004 after a 1998 review of protected areas marked it as a priority; with heavy rainfall of about 710 mm a year and limestone soils it is a rare habitat in a country where forests cover only 1% of the land. The vegetation changes with altitude: Aleppo pines lower down, mixed pine and oak in the middle, deciduous oaks on the heights, with orchids, wild pistachio and olive trees. The reserve shelters seventeen endangered species, most famously the Persian squirrel, seen in only a few places in Jordan, as well as bats, the grey wolf and the striped hyena, and perhaps Jordan's last population of the southern banded newt. The forest is under pressure from fires, grazing and logging, which is why visitors are asked to stay on the trails. Families from Amman and Jerash walk the short marked trails among the pines, the best known being the Pine Trail of about 1.2 km in an hour, and a visitor centre introduces the forest.
Dibeen is ideal for a short family outing on the way back from Jerash or Ajloun; spring is best when the orchids flower, and summer brings shade and cooler air than Amman. Keep to the marked trails and light fires only in the designated spots, since wildfire is the forest's greatest threat. The reserve is open daily 8:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and a small car pays about 2 JOD plus tax according to an unofficial 2025 parks guide, so confirm on arrival. Bring your own food, as services are limited; prayer is possible in the open.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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