The Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve protects around 1,000 hectares of mixed forest on the slopes of Mount Makmal, at elevations between 1,400 and 2,000 metres. The canopy is an unusual mix for Lebanon: ancient cedars, Cilician firs, junipers, wild apple and pear trees, and patches of mountain oak. Walking through it feels genuinely old, the trees substantial enough to have been here long before the current village existed.
Wildlife in the reserve includes wolves, wild boar, red foxes, and stone martens, plus more than a hundred bird species. The reserve is closed during the winter months (typically November to May) and entry requires a small fee. Walking trails range from short loops near the entrance to longer routes that push up towards the ridgeline. The best time to go is early morning in summer, when the light filters through the canopy and the village below is still quiet.