Barouk Reserve is the portion of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve reached from Barouk village, where some of Lebanon’s oldest cedar stands grow on the high ridge. Trails range from short loops near the entrance to longer hikes toward Maasser and the summits, with interpretive signs on the cedar, the history of protection and the wildlife of the mountain. The reserve was created to stop the long decline of the cedar and is now the country’s flagship nature site of this type. Bring water, start early in summer and stay on marked paths. A visit pairs perfectly with Barouk River below and with Beiteddine or Deir el Qamar on the same day.
