Pico de las Nieves (GC)

Overview

Roque Bentaiga, Pico de Las Nieves and Roque Nublo

Gran Canaria is the second largst of the Canary Islands. Like all its neighbours it was created by volcanic activity. In contrast to neighbouring Tenerife however, the volcanos are not active anymore. The most recent outbreak dates back 2000 - 3000 years. The island is circular, beautifully documenting its volcanic history. It rises about 4000m out of the seaboard with its highest peak, Pico de las Nieves (=Snow Peak), 1951m high.

The summit is part of both the rims of Caldera de Tejeda to the west and the Caldera de Tirajana to the south. It forms the boundary between these two huge erosion craters (up to 20km in diameter!) which are the result of large landslides as well as the more regular activity of wind and rain. Due to its central location, however, Pico de las Nieves is home to a milityry base (radar and radio installations, restricted access, watchdogs) as well as a lot of TV- and radio masts on neighbouring Roque Redondo. Another side effect of the military base is that the summit can be reached by car and there are lots of visitors at almost any time of the day.

Though the summit itself is off limits there is an interesting alternative: in the Pico de las Nieves south face, which drops some 800m into Caldera de Tirajana, there is a spur, a knife-edge rige, which runs out far into the caldera, culminating in a broad tower. This ridge can be reached from the mirador at the end of the highway, which leads to the mountain. After a few steps you are on the top of a little side summit. More adventurous visitors can hike out the ridge, scrambling up and down some minor (2m) walls until they reach the base of the broad tower. On the way they walk above a large rock window on the separating ridge.

360° Summit Panorama

360° panorama not quite from Pico de las Nieves' summit

Getting There

View from Pico de las Nieves: Roque Nublo, Tenerife hovering above, Roque Bentaiga, Altavista, Tamadaba and Los Moriscos

As one of the major european vacation getaways Gran Canaria can be reached from all major European airports. There are almost no regular flights but lots of charter flights. The airport of Gran Canaria is in the western part of the island. From the airport take freeway GC 1 northward to the exit Telde, turn westward onto GC 10 and then in Telde take GC 130 in the direction of Pico de las Nieves. Near the top a side road turns left towards the summit and here you have to follow the signs to Pozo de las Nieves. The parking lot is at the end of this road. As for the two tours described as routesayou get to the trailheads as follows: Vega de San Mateo:

• Again take GC1 northward towards Telde.
• At the exit Telde get off and head in the dierection of Valsequillo on GC41.
• Some 15 km after Valsequillo you will reach Vega de San Mateo.

Cruz Grande:

• Take GC1 southwards but get off immediately at the exit Carrizal.
• Take GC196 towards Ingenio.
• Turn left onto GC100 until you reach Agüimes.
• Leave onto GC551, which turns into GC65, direction San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
• Here turn onto GC60 and some 4km after you leave the town you will reach the pass at Cruz Grande.

Red Tape

You won't be able to reach the real summit of Pico de las Nieves because of the military installations on top. Otherwise there are no limits, no permits, no restrictions.

When to climb

Roque Nublo and Pico de las Nieves above Morro de Pajonales and Morro de la Negra

This is an all year destination. Contrary to its name (=Snow Peak) there is hardly ever snow on Gran Canaria. You should take care of the trade wind clouds however, wich often cover the summit. And why go up there without being able to see?

Accomodation

Gran Canaria has a lot of options for accommodation. Most visitors book hotel rooms from their travel offices or over the internet. However, you will most certainly end up in the ugly tourist centres along the south coast. Therefore a much better solution is to rent a holiday home, most often a rural finca. This can also be done by travel office or internet. Camping is a bit of an issue on all the Canary Island. There are designated camping zones but getting a place often involves some bureaucracy. The closest campground is al Llanos de la Pez between the trailheads at Pico de las Nieves and La Goleta. Wild camping is not permitted anywhere on the island.

Weather conditions

Panoramic view from Pico de las Nieves towards El Campanario

The following table gives a rough general overview over the weather on Gran Canaria, at sea level.

The Canary Islands (as well as Madeira) are located in the trade wind zone. You almost always encounter northeastern winds which carry a lot of humid air. Being forced to climb to higher altitudes this moisture condenses into clouds. This in return means that most of the time the northeastern part of the islands is covered in clouds from altitudes of 1000m through 1500m.

The mountainous region in the centre of the island is of the same alltitude and higher and thus stops the clouds. While the northern parts of the islands can be foggy and rainy the southern parts most often are sunny and hot. On Gran Canaria the north-eastern part of the island collects almost all moisture. However, unlike on the other Canary Islands no cloud forest remains. The laurisilva fell victim to the agricultural development of the island.

Maps & Books

Regular Maps

• Gran Canaria Kompass Map WK237 Kompass Verlag 1:50000 ISBN 3-85491-114-9
• Gran Canaria North Public Press Map 442 1:50000 ISBN: 978-3-89920-442-1
• Gran Canaria South Public Press Map 443 1:50000 ISBN: 978-3-89920-443-8

Digital Maps

Kompass is the only company known to me which offers GPS digital Maps. In addition for those of you with Garmin GPS receivers there is a map source map set of all Canary islands out there.

• Gran Canaria Kompass GPS4237 Kompass Verlag ISBN 978-3-85491-219-4
• Islas Canarias Map Source custom map By Manfred Pepper downloadable zip-file

Books

My recommendation is a guidebook by Rother Verlag, available in English and German. The book is an excellent hiking guide covering all the interesting areas of the island. Since it comes with small maps for each excursion it might even be used without a map to support them.

• Gran Canaria Izabella Gawin Rother Verlag ISBN 978-3-7633-4816-9 (English) ISBN 978-3-7633-4000-2 (German)

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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Rafa Bartolome - Aug 3, 2005 2:20 pm - Voted 10/10

Untitled Comment

As curiosity this peak is the highest point of the province of Las Palmas. The spanish region of islas Canarias had 2 provinces: Tenerife (with the high point in Teide) and Las Palmas (with high point in Pico de las Nieves).
For more information about the highest points of provinces of Spain see:
-Moncayo (see section highest points)
-Peakbagger.com

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