Pico de las Nieves is the roof of Gran Canaria — the island's highest point, and one of the great viewpoints of the Canaries. At around 1,950 metres above sea level, this breezy summit looks out over the whole rugged interior: a sea of pine-clad ridges and deep barrancos, the great rock monoliths of the central massif, and — on a clear day — the snow-topped cone of Mount Teide floating across the water on Tenerife. Best of all, you can drive almost to the top, making it one of the easiest big views on Gran Canaria.
The view from the top
The "Peak of the Snows" earns its name: in a cold winter snap it can genuinely dust with snow, a surreal sight on a subtropical island. But it's the panorama that draws people. From the viewing area you gaze straight across to Roque Nublo, the island's iconic volcanic monolith, standing proud on its plateau with the slimmer pinnacle of El Fraile beside it. Beyond and above them, when the trade-wind clouds part, the vast silhouette of Teide rises over a sea of cloud — the classic, unforgettable Canary Islands view, with two islands in a single frame.
Turn around and the whole of Gran Canaria seems to fall away beneath you: green in the north, golden and dry towards the south, a landscape the writer Miguel de Unamuno famously called a "petrified storm". It's the best possible introduction to the wild, mountainous heart of the island that most beach-goers never see.
Time it for a clear sky. The summit often sits above or within the clouds. Early morning is usually clearest, before cloud builds over the peaks, and late afternoon can bring beautiful light on Roque Nublo and Teide. Check the mountain forecast, and if the coast is cloudy don't give up — you may well climb up above the cloud into brilliant sunshine.
Photo: Toni Teror · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · converted
A word on the military area
Pico de las Nieves has a quirk worth knowing: the very highest ground is occupied by a military installation, with antennae and fencing, and is not open to the public. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about — there's a public viewpoint and car park nearby that give you the full, glorious panorama. Simply follow the signs and stick to the marked public areas rather than the fenced military zone, and you'll get everything you came for.
Respect the restricted zone and the mountain conditions. Don't attempt to enter the fenced military area. And remember you're nearly 2,000 metres up: it can be much colder, windier and cloudier than the coast, with a real chill even on a warm day. Bring a windproof layer, take care near the exposed edges, and drive the mountain roads slowly — they're narrow, winding and sometimes shrouded in cloud.
Getting there and driving up
You'll need a hire car to reach Pico de las Nieves. From the southern resorts around Maspalomas it's roughly a 60–90 minute drive up through the mountains; from Las Palmas in the north, count on a similar time over the summit roads. The route is spectacular but demanding — a ribbon of hairpins climbing through pine forest — so allow plenty of time, take the bends gently, and be ready for cooler air and possible cloud up top.
The great advantage over some viewpoints is that a road runs almost to the summit and there's parking close to the lookout, so you don't need to hike to enjoy the view. That makes Pico de las Nieves ideal for families and anyone who'd rather not tackle a long walk — though keen walkers will find plenty of hiking trails radiating from the central peaks.
Combine it with the island's heart
Pico de las Nieves is the natural high point of a day exploring the interior. It sits directly above Tejeda, routinely voted one of Spain's prettiest villages — a cluster of white houses spilling down a green ridge, with almond groves that blossom pink in late winter and lovely spots for lunch with a caldera view. From there it's a short drive to the base of Roque Nublo for the island's classic short walk.
String them together — Pico de las Nieves for the panorama, Roque Nublo for the walk, and Tejeda for lunch — and you have one of the finest days out on Gran Canaria. It's a slower, greener, cooler island up here, and a brilliant contrast to a holiday spent on the southern coast.
Two islands, one view: from the roof of Gran Canaria you look across to Roque Nublo and Teide floating above the clouds — the Canaries at their most magnificent.
Set aside half a day, pack a warm layer and your camera, and drive up to the roof of the island. For more mountain and viewpoint ideas, browse our things to do across the Canaries.