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Gran Canaria

Hiking in Gran Canaria

Hiking

Photo: HDRforEver (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

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Fancy a subtropical hiking trip with hot beaches, volcanic summits and excellent food? Gran Canaria’s walks will take you up mountains, across sand dunes and through extraordinary forests. In the middle of the Canary Island archipelago and just 90 miles (145 km) off the coast of Africa, Gran Canaria has fantastic walking trails to suit every ability. 

This beautiful, circular island is also home to the incredible Pico de las Nieves. This central peak is a twin to Teide, the giant volcano on neighbouring Tenerife and you can stand on one and look across to the other. 

Hikes in Gran Canaria will have you on gentle beachside trails too, punctuated with pretty bays and glistening beaches. This island rarely gets cold at sea level, even in winter, although if you hike high up into the mountains, you might get the chance to play around in snow. 

Trails in Gran Canaria vary dramatically and you can walk in a different landscape every day of the week. At the end of the day, you can kick off your hiking boots and tuck into the delicious local cuisine.

Expert
01:42
3.03 mi
Expert
02:07
3.69 mi
Expert
03:13
5.83 mi
Intermediate
01:59
3.59 mi
Easy
01:04
2.34 mi
Expert
01:53
3.30 mi
Intermediate
03:04
6.13 mi
Intermediate
04:39
11.3 mi
Expert
03:26
4.42 mi
Intermediate
04:18
8.79 mi
Expert
04:56
8.81 mi
Intermediate
03:54
9.13 mi
Intermediate
03:07
6.63 mi
Intermediate
01:44
3.13 mi
Intermediate
04:06
6.80 mi
Intermediate
01:52
3.52 mi
Intermediate
01:56
3.32 mi
Intermediate
02:12
4.34 mi
Intermediate
03:58
6.98 mi
Intermediate
04:57
5.80 mi

Top 20 best walks and hikes in Gran Canaria

    Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
    1
    1
    01:42
    3.03 mi
    1.8 mph
    625 ft
    625 ft
    Expert

    5.0

    (409)

    1614

    Expert Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
    2
    02:07
    3.69 mi
    1.7 mph
    900 ft
    900 ft
    Expert

    4.9

    (380)

    1412

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
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  • 3
    03:13
    5.83 mi
    1.8 mph
    1,550 ft
    1,525 ft
    Expert

    4.8

    (104)

    399

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
    4
    01:59
    3.59 mi
    1.8 mph
    725 ft
    725 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (466)

    1943

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    5
    01:04
    2.34 mi
    2.2 mph
    275 ft
    275 ft
    Easy

    4.8

    (53)

    289

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    6
    01:53
    3.30 mi
    1.8 mph
    800 ft
    775 ft
    Expert

    4.7

    (49)

    181

    Expert Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
    7
    03:04
    6.13 mi
    2.0 mph
    1,175 ft
    1,175 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (294)

    1115

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    8
    04:39
    11.3 mi
    2.4 mph
    200 ft
    200 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (337)

    1828

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    9
    03:26
    4.42 mi
    1.3 mph
    1,725 ft
    1,725 ft
    Expert

    4.8

    (24)

    102

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
    10
    04:18
    8.79 mi
    2.0 mph
    1,500 ft
    1,500 ft
    Intermediate

    4.8

    (262)

    1318

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    11
    04:56
    8.81 mi
    1.8 mph
    2,550 ft
    2,525 ft
    Expert

    5.0

    (21)

    86

    Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
    View
    12
    03:54
    9.13 mi
    2.3 mph
    500 ft
    500 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (34)

    143

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    13
    03:07
    6.63 mi
    2.1 mph
    925 ft
    925 ft
    Intermediate

    4.7

    (243)

    1035

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    14
    01:44
    3.13 mi
    1.8 mph
    925 ft
    925 ft
    Intermediate

    5.0

    (15)

    59

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    15
    04:06
    6.80 mi
    1.7 mph
    2,325 ft
    2,300 ft
    Intermediate

    4.7

    (7)

    25

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    16
    01:52
    3.52 mi
    1.9 mph
    575 ft
    575 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (382)

    1700

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    17
    01:56
    3.32 mi
    1.7 mph
    1,075 ft
    1,050 ft
    Intermediate

    4.8

    (95)

    447

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
    View
    18
    02:12
    4.34 mi
    2.0 mph
    850 ft
    850 ft
    Intermediate

    5.0

    (80)

    223

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    19
    03:58
    6.98 mi
    1.8 mph
    1,875 ft
    1,875 ft
    Intermediate

    5.0

    (98)

    640

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View
    20
    04:57
    5.80 mi
    1.2 mph
    2,750 ft
    2,750 ft
    Intermediate

    4.9

    (94)

    644

    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
    View

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More Information

Hiking in Gran Canaria’s mountains

Part of Gran Canaria’s appeal for adventurers is its mountainous nature. The only flat parts of the island are its beaches and the capital, Las Palmas, which lies on a peninsula on the northeastern corner. Las Palmas is not just the capital of Gran Canaria, but the joint capital of the Canaries, holding the title with Santa Cruz on Tenerife. 

Hikes on Gran Canaria are mostly of the hilly variety and you’re almost guaranteed phenomenal views wherever you go. Pico de la Nieves (peak of the snow) is the most famous peak on the island and broadly referred to as Gran Canaria’s summit. Its neighbouring mountain, Morro de la Agujereada, is actually fractionally higher. There are stunning trails in the vicinity of both peaks and the nearby Nublo Park has some of the best hiking trails in Gran Canaria, complete with views across to Teide. 

Tamadaba Natural Park is a rugged, mountainous area on the northwestern coastline of the island with even more breathtaking views and trails to die for. Set in sprawling pine forests, the routes here will make the legs ache and the hands reach for the camera. 

Choosing the best time of year to hike in Gran Canaria

The beauty of planning walks in Gran Canaria, or any of the Canary Islands, is that you can go all year round and expect wonderful weather. If you have the flexibility to travel in the off-season (outside of school holidays), you’ll find trails quiet and beaches serene.

In the summer holidays, Gran Canaria is a tourist hotspot but with innumerable hiking trails up in the mountains, it’s easy to escape any semblance of a crowd. The sun can be fierce over the hottest months of July and August, making hiking at sea level a sweaty affair. The sea is always there for a refreshing dip though and the island is never short of ice cream shops. 

In the depths of winter, this subtropical island only dips down to around 16 ℃ (61 ℉) during the day making it long-sleeve weather at worst. Don’t be fooled by sea level temperature though and drive up to begin a trek at altitude wearing only shorts and a t-shirt, no matter the time of year. The temperature at altitude is significantly colder and snow sometimes falls on the highest peaks in winter. In summer, it’s still chilly at the top so always take layers you can add or shed as required.

Gran Canaria's best walks and hikes on the map

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