Raghadan Forest Park

Al-Bahah sits at around two thousand metres on the escarpment above the Tihama coastal plain, and the region keeps stands of juniper woodland on the high ground, a tree line that runs along the Sarawat mountains and is one of the few forest types in Saudi Arabia. Raghadan is the accessible one: a park on the escarpment edge at the city, with juniper and wild olive, walking paths, picnic areas, a viewing platform over the drop and a cable car that has operated at times. The air is cool by Saudi standards, which is why the region fills with domestic visitors in summer while the rest of the country bakes. Mist frequently covers the escarpment.

What you actually see

• Juniper woodland - the high-altitude forest along the escarpment.
• The escarpment viewpoint - the drop toward the Tihama plain.
• Walking paths - the routes through the park woodland.
• Summer visitors - the domestic crowds escaping the heat.

When to go

April to October is the Saudi summer season when the region is at its busiest and coolest relative to the rest of the country; winter here is genuinely cold and often misty. Weekdays are quieter.

Honest expectations

Mist and cloud sit on the escarpment for long periods and remove the view. The park is busy and littered in the summer season. Juniper woodland has been declining regionally from drought and disease. Cable car operation has been intermittent.

Nearby

Dhee Ayn lies below the escarpment; Jabal Shada is south.