Three Dams route in Gran Canaria: Chira, Las Niñas and Soria

The Three Dams route in Gran Canaria (Tres Presas) is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular hiking routes in Gran Canaria. This hike, which is still little known, passes through the dams of Chira, Las Niñas and Soria. During the three dams trail we can highlight the unique beauty of the Soria ravine, as well as the different landscapes of Canary Island pine forests and palm groves. On the other hand, you’ll see the different shapes of the rocks along the way, which we’ll tell you all about below!

The Three Dams route (Tres Presas) in Gran Canariaa

The island has a total of 69 large dams. That is to say, hydraulic works to retain water from ravines with a height of more than 15 metres or a capacity of more than 100,000m3. In case you didn’t know, the presence of such a large number of dams in such a small space makes Gran Canaria unique in the world. Along the Las Tres Presas route you will pass by the Chira dam, the Las Niñas dam and the Soria dam. This track starts at the Chira dam, the largest dam in the Canary Islands in terms of volume and depth. However, as it is circular, you can choose the starting point.

During the trail, you will skirt the entire Soria ravine until you reach its base. A spectacle from start to finish, both for the views from the top and for the beauty of the ravine once at the lowest point.

Once at the bottom, the climb back up to the Las Niñas dam begins. We recommend that you look at the rocks along the path, some of the formations in the mountains reminded us of Egyptian ruins.

Once at Las Niñas, the descent towards the Soria dam begins again, bordering the other side of the ravine with incredible views. Finally, the route ends climbing back up to Chira, where we decided to start this circular route.

Route characteristics and recommendations

Please note that this hiking route is of an advanced level, given its length of almost 18 kilometres and a difference in altitude of more than 1,000 metres. It took us about 5 hours, including a break for a drink in the village of Soria. Likewise, we made several stops to record the route, but on the flats we were jogging. Without a doubt, if you would like to make some trail running in Gran Canaria, this is an ideal track for the practice of this sport. Here are all the technical details.

On the other hand, as for the weather, we did it in February 2023 with short sleeves, but it depends on the forecast. Normally, during the cooler months we recommend taking some warm clothes. In summer it is likely to be a very hot route and less attractive due to the scarcity of water. Remember to bring suitable footwear, water and sufficient food.

Keep in mind that this area is quite arid due to its proximity to the south (it doesn’t rain much) and, even so, we found plenty of water and some little waterfalls. However, both Las Niñas and Soria had very little water reserve. Likewise, as we show in the video, there are some 50 metres during the descent to the Soria ravine where the path is not very clean. If you follow the track you won’t get lost.

Track of the route of the Three Dams in Gran Canaria

Below you can download the track of this Las Presas route in .gpx format so you can follow it on your own without getting lost. If you don’t know how to download it and follow it from your navigator or smartphone with the Guru Maps app, here we explain it to you. The best way to support us to continue creating content about Gran Canaria for you, is to buy some of our tracks, either to enjoy incredible routes or as a donation. Oh, and don’t miss the video we have prepared for you below!

Where to eat during the trail

Note that along the dam route you can only stop for lunch or snacks at the Soria dam (approximately kilometre 10). We took a break right here and had a natural papaya and mango juice at the Casa Fernando restaurant. As we did the walking-running route, we didn’t want to eat anything heavy. If you are walking, you can stop for lunch here or buy food in some of the supermarkets in the area. They are open even on Sundays.

Bear in mind that once you get to Soria, there is a 500-metre climb, so even if you’re walking, it’s best not to eat too much. On the other hand, we don’t know what the food is like here, but it looked good.

Video of the Gran Canaria dams route

Below you can see the full video of this hiking route, a video is much better than a thousand words! The video has English subtitles, so don’t forget to activate them to enjoy! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on the bell to find out about new videos about things to do in Gran Canaria.

Guides to Gran Canaria

Finally, if you want to know more about the best things to do in Gran Canaria and where to eat, there is endless content available on this page. If you prefer not to waste your time looking for information here and there, in our guides you will find all our recommendations for things to do and restaurants. You can see them all below.