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

Steepest 250 m: %
Foot:  m    Top:  m
Mean slope: %
Length:  km

From:
Road conditions ():
Other race bikers: per hour
Motor vehicles: per hour
Scenery and road: (/5)
Restaurant or bar near top:

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Other climbs Gran Canaria

This ascent from the southwest to the Pico de las Nieves is utterly varied in terms of the gradient and the type of road and leads through a superbly beautiful and fascinating landscape. Like most other climbs to the Pico de las Nieves this one leads through the three typical landscape zones of the southwestern half of the island, namely first the semi-desert near the coast, then the rugged mountains and finally the forests of the highest part of the island. The ride can be subdivided into three parts.

The first part (11 kilometers) runs from La Fillipina (231 m) to the Cruz de San Antonio (968 m). Before they get to La Fillipina, most cyclists, assuming that they start near the coast in Lomo Galeon, probably already pedalled 14 kilometers on the GC-505, which runs gently uphill (average 1.5%). These 14 kilometers lie in the valley of the Barranco de Arguineguín, oriented almost due north-south. Some fascinating mountains, looking like gnarls, lie on both sides of the road. I have not seen a drier landscape on Gran Canaria. Shortly after La Fillipina, the road starts to wind and becomes significantly steeper (4.5 kilometers at 7-9%). Just before reaching Barranquillo Andrés, the gradient decreases (6%). When you turn left in Barranquillo, the character of the ride changes. Over the next 4 kilometers ending at the three-way junction with the GC-605, the road is very narrow and after the first few hundred meters the road surface becomes really poor. There is also a warning sign with the text "Use this private road at your own risk". Some parts are very steep (250 meter sections at 11 and 13%). A kilometer and a half after the three-way junction the Cruz de San Antonio is reached .

Over the next 14 kilometers, which connect the Cruz de San Antonio with Ayacata, only 340 elevation meters are overcome. It's not really steep anywhere with a maximum of 6% in the last 3 kilometers before Ayacata. However, this is one of the most scenic sections that I cycled on Gran Canaria. The landscape is most beautiful in the green forests, when brown and orange-colored rocks line the road and high steep mountains rise above it. Road conditions are typical for Gran Canaria: partly fantastic, partly miserable.

In Ayacata we turn left 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.