El Carrizal

Approach

From the airport take freeway GC 1 northward to the exit Telde, turn westward onto GC 10 and then in Telde take GC 41 in the direction of Vega de San Mateo. There turn left on GC15, direction Cruz de Tejeda, where you meet GC 60, which you follow through Tejeda. Some 3 km after Tejeda a side road leaves for Roque Bentayga and some of the hamlets in the center of Caldera de Tejeda.

Route Description

Altitude difference: 700m
Duration: 7h
Trailhead: Roque Bentayga parking lot

This is a rather long but worthwhile tor with lots of different views on Roque Bentayga, Roque Nublo and Roque Palmés. Most of the pictures on the main page were taken on this tour.

You start out at the parking lot of Roque Bentayga. First climb the rock by following the trail that leads steeply along the eastern flank and then switches to the northeastern side. Enjoy the views towards Roque Nublo, Tejeda and Artenara.

Descend again to the parking lot and follow the road for a couple of turns. A Camino Real (King's Path), one of the old trails that interconnect the hamlets and villages on Gran Canaria starts to the right hand side. It cuts short a lot of turns of the road between Tejeda and El Chorillo. At the bottom of the Barranco, near the village of La Solana, turn into the road (which follows the old Camino) and climb it towards El Chorillo.

At the parking place at the end of the road turn back right onto the Camino real that now leads to the turning point, the village of El Carrizal. Here you have a very nice view into the Caldera de Tejeda with all its peaks, rocks and gorges.

From El Carrizal take another Camino Real, which in the end leads you to the village of El Toscón. Here you can admire another of Gran Canaria's famous rocks, Roque Palmés (see the pictures of this section). After leaving the village turn back right onto the Camino and head for Degollada del Asserador. The last part of this section has to be hiked by road (not much frequented).

From Degollada del Asserador follow GC 60 for about 1.5 km to Cruz de Timigada, then follow a trail along a broad ridge downward to the intersection of GC 60 with the road to Bentaygaand get beck to your car.

Essential Gear

Hiking gear and water!

Images

View El Carrizal Image Gallery - 5 Images