In this section we would like to share with you the most beautiful trail routes in Gran Canaria so that you can enjoy running in the mountains while discovering the island. They are really intermediate and advanced hiking trails in Gran Canaria that are perfectly suitable for trail running.
Best trails for running in Gran Canaria
Of the trail running routes in Gran Canaria that we have done, we will tell you about the ones that we think are the most beautiful and spectacular to discover the island. The network of trails on the island is super extensive and, as we do more, we will post them here. In our English newsletter we will be sharing all the routes and places to visit in Gran Canaria in case you want to sign up. Here are our top 4 trail routes in Gran Canaria. Below you have them all 🙂
1) Circular Montaña Alta-Monte Pavón
This route through Monte Pavón is one of the greenest on the island and one of the most recommended in winter so that you can teleport yourself to the Ireland of Gran Canaria. Along the trail you will find a diverse landscape of meadows, flocks of sheep, Canarian pine forests, traditional cheese dairies, among others.
Both before and after the route you can take advantage of the fact that you are in the area to visit the Casa del Queso and go up to the viewpoint of Montaña Alta. If you want to do it, click on the name of the route above for more details.
| Distance | 13,4 km |
| Estimated duration | 3-4 hours |
| Total ascent | 671 m |
| Circular | Yes |
| En-route provisioning | No |
2) Circular Firgas-Azuaje ravine
This circular route leaves the village of Firgas and runs through one of the ravines that carries water all year round, the Azuaje ravine. So you can imagine its greenery. It leaves from the village of Firgas and passes a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the ravine that reminds me of Jurassic Park (obviously without the dinosaurs hehe).
Note that there are certain parts of the route where you will have to climb with ropes on two specific steps, nothing that you can’t do if you are an agile person. This is something we understand if you are a trail runner. While you’re in the area, we recommend you take a look at our article on places to visit in Firgas. Here is a brief summary of this trail suitable for trail running.
| Distance | 9,4 km |
| Estimated duration | 2-3 h |
| Total ascent | 533 m |
| Circular | Yes |
| En-route provisioning | No |
3) Circular Puerto de Las Nieves – Agaete Valley – Berbique
This route has become one of our favorites because of the views it offers for a large part of the trail over the entire Agaete Valley and the north coast of Gran Canaria. The highest point is the Era de Berbique at 635 metres, which is also beautiful. In fact, the surrounding mountains are reminiscent of Yosemite in the United States.
On the other hand, on the way down you will have views of the rugged coastline known as the “dragon’s tail” and of Tenerife (on clear days). Moreover, as it is a circular route, it starts and ends at Puerto de Las Nieves, one of the most famous places to visit in Gran Canaria.
| Distance | 16,5 km |
| Estimated duration | 4-6 hours |
| Total ascent | 777 m |
| Circular | Yes |
| En-route provisioning | No |
4) Three dams route
We loved this route through the Three dams of Gran Canaria, which starts in Chira and passes through Las Niñas and Soria. It also passes through the Soria ravine, one of the most beautiful places on the island. If you do it after the rainy months you will also see a lot of water as small waterfalls and, if you are lucky, the dams are full! Below you can see the technical details, especially the total ascent.
| Distance | 17,5 km |
| Estimated duration (running/hiking) | 4-7 hours |
| Total ascent | 1.237 m |
| Circular | Yes |
| En-route provisioning | Yes, but at the 10 km |
5) Way of St James of Gran Canaria
I don’t know if you knew that there is a Way of St James in Gran Canaria. If not, you already know it. In case you are looking for a long trail running route of medium-high difficulty, this is the best option. The trail has a total of 66 kilometres and is usually divided into three stages of different lengths and gradients. We recommend that you read the article with all the detailed information by stage, as it requires some organisation as it is not a circular route.
Gran Canaria trail running routes by season
On the other hand, there are other trail running routes in Gran Canaria whose beauty is highlighted during certain times of the year or which are only accessible at certain times of the year. These are the following:
- Circular Tajinaste Azul in Valsequillo with the tajinaste in flower from February to April approximately.
- Circular of Charco de La Paloma hike in Tejeda with the almond tree in blossom from January to March normally
- Fuente de Los Azulejos by the Inagua Nature Reserve, only accessible with a permit from October to May. The rest of the months it is forbidden because it coincides with the breeding season of the blue chaffinch, an endemic species of Gran Canaria in danger of extinction.
Finally, there are also other easy routes on the plain that we recommend for those who are just starting out on trail routes. This is the case of the Los Giles circular route with views of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
We hope that some of these trail running routes in Gran Canaria will help you to train and get to know the island at the same time. Remember that all these trails can also be done walking. And, if you like to compete in trail running races, every year there is a well-known mountain race in Gran Canaria, the Transgrancanaria. It has different modalities, the longest being 128 kilometres and the shortest 13 kilometres. We invite you to do a little research so that you can choose the distance that best suits you.
First time Trail Running in Gran Canaria
- Weather forecast. It is important to check the weather forecast for the area through which the route passes. The island has different microclimates, and past a certain altitude there can be freezing temperatures in winter and it is advisable to take warm clothing. The same goes for the other way around, if you are going to run in a hot area, take sun protection cream, as well as sunscreen for your head.
- Provisioning. During many routes there are no shops to buy food or drinks because you are in the middle of nature. Take enough food and drink for any unforeseen eventuality.
- Goretex trainers. There are areas in the interior of Gran Canaria that are very wet and muddy, we recommend shoes with Goretex (waterproof material) for routes on rainy days or after rainy days.
- How to follow a track. If you have never done trail running or hiking outside your home area, here’s how to follow a track with your mobile phone or navigator.
Guides to Gran Canaria
Finally, if you want to discover more places on the island without having to worry about what to visit or where to eat, you can save time in planning with our Gran Canaria guides. They’re all just a click away below.
