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Region: Gran Canaria
Climbing effort: 1445 cep
Elevation meters: 2248
Steepest kilometer: 10.0%

Steepest 250 m: 12%
Foot: 55 m    Top: 1939 m
Mean slope: 4.0%
Length: 46.6 km

From: Playa del Inglés
Road conditions (2022): average
Other race bikers: 10-25 per hour
Motor vehicles: 60-180 per hour
Scenery and road: (3/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: no

PHOTOS    
SW NE LF W NW SIDE     Download gpx

         

Other climbs Gran Canaria

On this website the climb from Playa del Inglés is the longest (46.6 kilometers) of all climbs to the Pico de las Nieves. I didn't find the traffic disturbing but there was a lot more traffic here than during most other climbs that I biked on Gran Canaria. The description can be divided into three parts.

On the first 24 kilometers from Playa del Inglés (55 m) to San Bartolome de Tirajana (890 m) the well paved (in 2022) road (GC-60) runs mostly through a valley heading straight northward. The first 8 kilometers (3-9%) take place in a desert-like landscape and are a bit boring but they are followed by a very beautiful descent (122 meters in altitude) from the Degollada de las Yeguas (mare pass) down to the aforementioned valley. The valley is bordered by steep mountains and the road winds downhill along the rock face on the east side. If you look closely you can, already from the Degollada de las Yeguas, see the destination of the ride situated on the ridge at the end of the valley, to the left of the masts on that same ridge. After the descent, the road gradually gains height again. The most difficult (6-8%) are the 4 kilometers after Fataga, characterized by several hairpin bends. After that still three kilometers remain to San Bartolomé. These mostly run through a forest, climb gently at first (1-3%) and demand no more effort during the descent after the Alto de Fataga (loss of 63 meters in altitude). The terraces in San Bartolomé look inviting.

The road surface of the second part of the climb (San Bartolomé-Ayacata; a little more than 11 kilometers long) is miserable (in 2022). Also, the sun usually is merciless here since there are hardly any trees. On the first six kilometers ending at the Degollada de Cruz Grande, the road runs steadily uphill (mostly 6-8%). After that there is hardly any climbing (maximum 3%) until Ayacata (1310 m). In the last few kilometers before Ayacata, the landscape with rugged, steep mountains becomes more impressive.

In Ayacata we turn right heading for the Pico de las Nieves (GC-600). The highest point of the road (1939 m) lies just below this peak at a distance of 12 kilometers from Ayacata. On the first 3 kilometers, ending at the parking lot near the Roque Nubio, the gradient is considerable (8-10%) while the surface of the road is miserable again. Beautiful mountains still surround the road. Everything changes after the parking lot. The mountains become rolling instead of steep and a forest of tall conifers replaces the low vegetation. The road also generally gets much less steep, drops a bit at times but also includes some steep sections (two 250 meter strips at 11%). After leaving the GC-600 the road surface is in very good condition again. In clear weather you can overlook almost the whole island from the summit.