Pico de las Nieves

Pico de las Nieves is, at 1,949m, Gran Canaria's highest mountain. It can be reached by road, which we will say nothing more about other than that this makes for a busy summit. 

The most-used approaches are from its west and north.

From the north: You can make a delightful circuit from the picnic area by the sharp bend in the GC-600 road to the north-east. An interesting steady climb through pleasing open pine forest and across rocky platforms (think Utah) gets you to the major track junction at the Dellogada de los Hornos, between El Montanon and the Pico de las Nieves ridge. You turn east to makes the delightful steady ascent of the ridge to Nieves, enjoying gorgeous pine and shrub clad slopes, gaining staggering views over the abyss to the south. Then briefly follow the road down from the summit, to branch off due north to descend steeply but comfortably on pine needles, then turn-west along a pretty valley bottom, back to your start. 2hrs or so.

The ridge to the east can be followed on minor roads and tracks, which consistently command fine views abeit marred in places by military installations.

The long, sheer southern cliffs are impenetrable but for a steep 1,000m path – and avoided by the superb mule track from Cruz Grande, which climbs to the Dellogada de los Hornos, where you turn east to climb the Nieves ridge (see above). You can then either return south to your start (roughly 5hrs return), or if you can arrange transport, you can walk on north or east.

West to east traverse: You can make a long but demanding walk taking in the whole ridge, starting with a climb to Roque Nublo, crossing El Montanon then Nieves then continuing along to any of a number of villages to the east, although you will need to find those linked by bus or arrange other transport. This would be the walk if you have the time and energy. Circa 20km, depending on where you stop.

These walks are all well described in the Cicerone book.

This is demanding walking in serious and waterless mountains: prepare.

See our Gran Canaria page for more walks, photos and detailed general information.