Mount Makmal rises above Ehden to 2,876 metres, the dominant peak of this section of the northern Lebanon range. The mountain is not technically difficult, but routes to the summit involve serious altitude gain and the upper slopes can hold snow well into June. The views from the ridgeline — down into the Qadisha Valley on one side and out towards the Mediterranean on the other — are among the finest in Lebanon.
Several trails start from the edges of the Horsh Ehden reserve, pushing up through the treeline onto open rockier terrain above. A guide is advisable for routes to the summit, as the upper mountain is trackless in places and weather can deteriorate quickly. The lower slopes of Makmal, around the reserve boundary, can be walked independently. Spring and early autumn are the best seasons; summer is possible but hot on the exposed upper mountain.