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Gran Canaria is an island full of attractions. One of which is undoubtedly the opportunity to go hiking in the many spectacular landscapes the island has to offer!
The volcanic origin of the island means that there are magnificent contrasts in its orography, with large ravines, where the distance from the sea to the interior is made in a short period of time. Along the extensive network of existing trails on the island, the landscapes that we have are of great beauty and variety. For those perhaps taking their first hike on the island or maybe going together as a family, we suggest you take a simple route, which can be done all together and that will take you into the heart of the island, towards one of the best-known symbols of Gran Canaria: the Roque Nublo Natural Monument.
Located in the municipality of Tejeda, it is a unique monolith that was declared a natural monument in 1994. Nearby are other notable rock formations, such as Roque del Fraile and La Rana. In ancient times it was used as a place of worship by the ancient inhabitants of the island. Of volcanic origin, it rises 80 meters above its base and 1,813 above sea level.
Roque Nublo was used as a place of worship by ancient settlers
Given the low technical difficulty of the hike, the equipment to bring is basic: appropriate footwear, water and a hat. As a precaution, a front head light is recommended in the winter, also if the route is done at dusk. A warm jacket will depend on the time of year we go, but we should not forget the potential impact of strong air currents, so it is no harm to have a jacket just in case.
Before starting the trip, it is worth emphasizing again that the landscape is spectacularly beautiful. Therefore, on your way there, we recommend making a stop at a strategic viewing point to enjoy and appreciate the area. The Degollada de Becerra viewpoint is ideal for this, from there you will see the entire Tejeda caldera, the town of Tejeda itself, the rocks and, on many occasions, the Teide peak in the background, on the island of Tenerife.
The trail begins from the parking lot in Degollada de la Goleta. The distance to Roque Nublo is short, just 1.5 km. You go up a cobbled path that rises gently between a magnificent pine forest, the type of forest prevalent in the area, and many plant specimens of the native flora. It is a simple section with a built walkway to make it easy to pass through. You then leave behind a crossroads that goes down to Tejeda, and the trail becomes a natural dirt track, getting a little steeper between tall specimens of Canarian pine.
Continuing the path you soon reach the Degollada del Roque Nublo, where you will be at 1,790 meters high. Shortly thereafter, is a final climb where you will reach an area called El Tablón, a wide space with little inclination where at the end you can see the Roque de la Rana and the Roque Nublo, just having left The Fraile Rock behind. The landscape changes significantly on the route, from at first encountering pine trees, we then pass on to a landscape dominated by stones, with a lunar appearance. Here, is a great time to take photographs, as the stunning landscape view is very wide with the two rocks in the background. In relation to the fauna in this area, you can find reptiles such as lizards, mullets and perenquenes, or birds such as the woodpecker, the blue finch, crows, kestrels or buzzards.
