The 10 Best Hiking Trails on Gran Canaria: A Guide to the Island's Most Beautiful Paths

Gran Canaria is known for its beautiful beaches and lively resort towns, but the island also hides a true paradise for hikers. With its varied landscape of mountains, ravines, forests and volcanic formations, Gran Canaria offers some of the most spectacular hiking trails in Europe.

During my stay on the island I came across the book Walking on Gran Canaria by Paddy Dillon in my Airbnb, and it quickly became an invaluable source of inspiration. The book is packed with detailed descriptions of the best routes on the island and helped me find some of the most impressive paths. In this guide I share the 10 best hiking trails on Gran Canaria and give you everything you need to know to get the most out of the island.

The 10 best trails on the island

1. Roque Nublo

Roque Nublo is one of Gran Canaria’s most iconic landmarks and one of the most popular hikes on the island. The walk up to this imposing rock formation is relatively short, around 3 km, but rewards you with a fantastic view from the top. If you only have time for one hike on the island, make it this one.

2. Pico de las Nieves

If you want to stand on the island’s highest point, take the trip to Pico de las Nieves. This route is a bit more demanding, but the reward is an outstanding panoramic view over the whole island and across to the neighbouring islands.

3. Barranco de Guayadeque

The Guayadeque ravine is one of the most beautiful valleys on Gran Canaria. Here you can experience cave dwellings, lush vegetation and a rich history of the island’s original inhabitants.

4. Caldera de Bandama

The walk around the impressive volcanic formation Caldera de Bandama is a fantastic experience. The path is well maintained, and the view over the crater and the surrounding landscape is breathtaking. I tracked my own loop of the caldera on my watch, and it remains one of my favourite short hikes on the island.

5. Tamadaba Natural Park

Tamadaba is a protected natural area with some of the most untouched forests on the island. Here you can enjoy a beautiful, peaceful hike far away from the tourist areas.

6. Cruz de Tejeda

Cruz de Tejeda is known as one of the best viewpoints on Gran Canaria. From here you can choose between several different routes leading through the island’s mountainous landscape, which makes it a perfect base for a full day of walking.

7. Los Tilos de Moya

Los Tilos de Moya is a short but beautiful route through one of Gran Canaria’s last laurel forests. Perfect for a quiet day in nature.

8. The Fataga Valley

The Fataga Valley is also called “The Valley of a Thousand Palms” and offers a picturesque hike through one of the island’s most beautiful areas.

9. The Artenara route

Artenara is Gran Canaria’s highest-lying village, and the route from here offers a fantastic view over the mountains and down to the coast.

10. Dunas de Maspalomas

Although Gran Canaria is primarily associated with mountains and ravines, a walk through the spectacular sand dunes at Maspalomas is a completely unique experience. Go early in the morning or at sunset, when the light turns the dunes golden and the sand is cool underfoot.

Practical tips for hiking on Gran Canaria

A few things I learned on the island that will make your hikes better:

• Start early. The midday sun in the interior is intense, and shade is scarce on many of the volcanic trails.
• Carry more water than you think you need. Several of the mountain routes have no reliable places to refill.
• Respect the altitude changes. The island climbs from sea level to nearly 2,000 metres, and temperatures can differ dramatically between the coast and the summits. Pack a layer even on a hot day.
• Get a good guidebook. Walking on Gran Canaria served me brilliantly, with clear route descriptions and honest difficulty ratings.
• Look after your feet. Good socks and broken-in shoes matter as much here as on any long-distance trail. The volcanic rock is hard and abrasive.

Plan your next hike on Gran Canaria

If you love walking and are looking for a bigger challenge afterwards, consider walking part of the Camino de Santiago. Gran Canaria is not part of the classic Camino, but several of the island’s routes deliver a similar experience of long distances and spectacular landscapes, and a week of hiking here is excellent training for a pilgrimage. If that idea appeals to you, start with my guide to the Camino Francés, or look at the shorter Camino Inglés if your time is limited.

Whether you prefer mountain hiking, forest paths or ravines, Gran Canaria has something for every hiker. Remember to prepare well with the right gear and enough electrolytes for the trip. You can find my advice on both in my gear guides.

Gran Canaria is a perfect destination for hikers, and with a good walking guide in hand you can get the most out of your experience. Have you tried one of these routes? Share your experiences in the comments.