Most people come to Gran Canaria for the beaches and discover the mountains almost by accident. The centre of the island rises to nearly 2,000 metres, a landscape of volcanic peaks, deep ravines, pine forests and cave villages, and on clear days you can see Mount Teide on Tenerife floating above the clouds. In a single day you can walk around a crater, stand beneath Roque Nublo and be back on the coast for dinner.
This guide covers nine trails, from short walks to a full day's effort, with realistic distances and times, the new rules for Roque Nublo and how to reach each trailhead. For the island's interior by tour, see our best excursions in Gran Canaria guide; for everything else, our Gran Canaria guide.
Quick Guide: Which Trail Fits You?
Pick the experience you want, then jump to the trail.
The Icon
The island's symbol, on a short trail — with a reservation.
Easiest Big View
A huge volcanic crater twenty minutes from Las Palmas.
Forest & Waterfall
Pine forest, sea cliffs and a waterfall pool above Agaete.
All 9 Trails at a Glance
| Trail | Area | Difficulty | Distance (round trip) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roque Nublo | Tejeda · summit | Easy–moderate | ~3 km | 1–1.5 h |
| Pico de las Nieves | Summit | Easy | Short walk from the road | 15–30 min |
| Roque Bentayga | Tejeda | Easy | ~2 km | 45–60 min |
| Caldera de Bandama | Near Las Palmas | Easy (rim) · moderate (floor) | ~3–4 km | 1–2 h |
| Barranco de Guayadeque | East · Agüimes/Ingenio | Easy–moderate | 4–7 km | 2–3 h |
| Tamadaba | North-west | Moderate | 5–9 km | 2–3.5 h |
| Charco Azul | El Risco de Agaete | Easy–moderate | ~4–5 km | 2–2.5 h |
| Barranco de los Cernícalos | East · near Telde | Moderate | ~6–7 km | ~3 h |
| Playa de Güi Güi | West · Tasartico | Hard | ~10 km | 4–5 h |
Distances and times are approximate, for average fitness in dry conditions. Allow extra time for photos, heat and children.
The Summit: Roque Nublo, Pico de las Nieves and Bentayga
I. Roque Nublo
The symbol of Gran Canaria is a volcanic rock monolith around 67 metres high, standing on a plateau at about 1,800 metres. It was a sacred place for the island's pre-Hispanic inhabitants, and it's still the single image most people associate with the island. The trail from the Degollada de la Goleta is short and well made, climbing gently through pine forest for about 1.5 kilometres to the base of the rock, with views across the Tejeda caldera to Roque Bentayga and, on clear days, Teide.
The 2025 rules. Between 9:00 and 17:00, you need a free reservation with a QR code, and the car park at the trailhead is closed to private cars. Park in Tejeda or at Cruz de los Llanos and take the Global line 18 shuttle (about 10 minutes from Cruz de los Llanos), or walk in. Outside those hours no reservation is needed, which makes sunrise and sunset visits possible — but you still walk in from the car parks, so bring a headlamp. Don't park along the GC-600: fines are common. Our Roque Nublo guide explains how to book.
II. Pico de las Nieves
The highest point of Gran Canaria, at 1,949 metres, is reached by road, and the summit itself is occupied by a military radar station — so this is a viewpoint rather than a hike. The mirador beside it looks straight down onto Roque Nublo, across the island to Teide and, on very clear days, out over the sea of clouds. Nearby, the old snow wells that give the peak its name were used for centuries to store snow and ice. Combine it with Roque Nublo, or come at sunset: it's one of the best places in Europe for stargazing.
III. Roque Bentayga
Roque Nublo's quieter neighbour stands alone in the middle of the Tejeda caldera, at around 1,400 metres. A short path from the Roque Bentayga interpretation centre leads to an archaeological site with an almogarén — a ritual site of the island's pre-Hispanic people — and caves once used as dwellings and granaries. It's easy, rarely crowded, and the views back towards Roque Nublo and Tejeda are superb, especially in the late afternoon.
Near Las Palmas and the East
IV. Caldera de Bandama
A volcanic crater around a kilometre across and some 200 metres deep, twenty minutes from Las Palmas — the easiest big view on the island. You can drive up to the Pico de Bandama viewpoint for a look straight down into the caldera, walk the rim, or take the steeper path down to the crater floor, where an old farmhouse and fig trees survive. The surrounding slopes are wine country, and the rim is shared with the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, the oldest golf club in Spain. There's little shade, so go early or late in summer.
V. Barranco de Guayadeque
This deep ravine between Agüimes and Ingenio is as much a cultural visit as a walk. Its walls are full of caves — some were burial sites of the pre-Hispanic population, some are still homes today in the hamlet of Cuevas Bermejas, which even has a cave chapel — and at the head of the road, several restaurants are built into the rock. An interpretation centre near the entrance explains the site. Walk the path along the ravine floor among almond, palm and fig trees, then finish with lunch in a cave.
VI. Barranco de los Cernícalos
Near Telde, starting from Lomo Magullo, this protected ravine is the closest Gran Canaria gets to a green, waterfall-fed walk: willows, ferns and remnants of laurel forest along a stream, with small cascades in the upper section. But it depends entirely on rain — after a wet winter it's beautiful, while in late summer the water can be reduced to a trickle. The path includes rock-hopping and stream crossings that get slippery when wet.
Flash floods. Like every Canarian barranco, Los Cernícalos can flood suddenly during or after heavy rain. Don't go in if rain is forecast or has fallen heavily upstream in the last day.
The North-West: Tamadaba and Charco Azul
VII. Tamadaba Natural Park
Above Agaete, the Tamadaba massif holds one of the best-preserved Canarian pine forests on the island, and walking here feels like a different island: cool, shaded, often touched by Atlantic cloud. Several circular routes start from the recreation area in the forest, leading to viewpoints where the massif drops almost vertically towards the sea and the coast of Agaete, with Teide across the water on clear days. Junctions can be confusing, so download the route before you go.
VIII. Charco Azul, El Risco de Agaete
One of the island's favourite short hikes. From the small village of El Risco, on the road between Agaete and La Aldea, a path climbs into a ravine inside the Tamadaba Natural Park to the Charco Azul, a pool at the foot of a waterfall framed by red rock. Like Los Cernícalos, the waterfall depends on recent rain, but the walk is beautiful all year. Wear shoes with grip: the final section has rocks to scramble over.
The Wild West
IX. Playa de Güi Güi
The hardest hike in this guide, and the most remote. From the hamlet of Tasartico, in the west, the path climbs to a pass and then descends into the Güi Güi nature reserve to a wild beach with no road, no facilities and often nobody else. It's around 10 kilometres round trip, with a long climb in each direction and no shade at all. Start early, carry plenty of water and plan to be back well before dark. The sea here can have strong currents, so swim only in calm conditions.
For the beach itself, see our best beaches in Gran Canaria guide.
Safety and What to Pack
The interior has its own climate. It can be 10 degrees cooler at the summit than on the coast, windy and cold in winter, and very hot in the ravines in summer. Bring layers, proper shoes with grip, at least 1.5–2 litres of water per person, sun protection and something to eat — there are no shops on most trails. Mobile signal drops in places, so download offline maps and tell someone your plans for longer routes.
Closures and emergencies. In periods of high fire risk, usually in late summer, the authorities can close interior trails and recreation areas at short notice — check before you drive up. In an emergency, call 112.
Where to Stay for Hiking
For the summit trails, the best base is the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda, at the geographical heart of the island, with a spa and an infinity pool facing Roque Nublo and Bentayga — you'll be on the trails before the day visitors arrive, and perfectly placed for stargazing. For Tamadaba and the Charco Azul, stay in Agaete at the four-star Hotel Puerto de las Nieves, a spa hotel by the harbour. If you prefer the coast, both main bases work for day trips: Santa Catalina in Las Palmas for Bandama and the north, or Lopesan Costa Meloneras in the south. More options in our best hotels in Gran Canaria guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
If you only do one hike, make it Roque Nublo — book your slot, or go early or late — and add Pico de las Nieves and Bentayga for a perfect summit day. With less time, Bandama gives the biggest view for the least effort. For something different, spend a day in Guayadeque with lunch in a cave, or head to Agaete for the Tamadaba forest and the Charco Azul. Save Güi Güi for when you're fit, prepared and ready for a long, hot day.