Gran Canaria can be called a true cycling paradise, especially in the winter months when the temperature is actually perfect for riding in short-short outfits. Many cyclists therefore know the island from training stages or cycling holidays, but mostly it is then explored on road bikes. Also beautiful, but we have already described that in detail in this article: Winter Destination: Gran Canaria - Cycling Destination Ella van der Veer visited Gran Canaria for the second time in January, and as an avid mountain biker, it was time to try off-road cycling on Gran Canaria good to explore. Get ready for dusty & rocky trails, which every gravel and MTB enthusiast is going to love!
Text and photos: Ella van der Veer
Off-road cycling paradise
We spend a total of eight days in Gran Canaria and three of those we spend 'off-road' Now we have quite a bit of Ardennes & Alps experience and are not afraid of a technical descent. If you like it, there are beautiful, stony singletrack descents to be found but the island is also a real treat for gravel lovers. Since we did not want to take two bikes with us, we rented a mountain bike (fully) from FreeMotion. They also offer guided tours on (e-)MTB, one of which we joined. There are no gravel bikes for rent, but there are very capable hardtail MTBs, should you not go on the very technical singletracks. Of course, bringing your own gravel bike is always an option too!
Read also: Bring your own bike or hire one?
Basecamp Maspalomas
Our basecamp is in Masapalomas so this is also where the routes we ride start. These are built in Komoot. Especially on the gravel tracks, there are photos with them and you can make a good estimation of what you will be presented with. On the singletracks, this is not always the case. Also, some trails have been closed since last year. Due to clashes between hikers and off-roaders, the local government has decided to ban cyclists from some trails. I spoke to a local cyclist about this, and they urge everyone to respect this. This is because they are in talks with the government and don't want to undermine it! Building your own route? Then check with the local guides at FreeMotionEven if you don't hire a bike there. That way, you avoid surprises along the way, which is a shame when you have cycled all the way up and are looking forward to the descent!
Off-road recommendations
If you head northwest out of Maspalomas, you will find the GC-604 there. The first stretch of this road is paved. At times it is quite steep with peaks of 17%. The GC-604, also called the Alto de los Corrales, was never completed and after 19km the asphalt stops. This is where the gravel section begins! It is off limits to road cyclists and cars, so you have the realm to yourself. The off-road section winds much more gradually in terms of gradients through the most beautiful valleys and treats you to the most beautiful views towards the sea. At one point you turn right onto the S60 and it's time for the descent, which is another special landscape. There has been a wildfire here, making it quite bare. The reward: spectacular views over Tenerife and Maspalomas! Some sections are a bit washed out and therefore more technical than the average gravel section but well worth it! This route is about 50km with 1600hm.
Up north
Departing north into the valley on the GC-504, you come to the village of Ayaguares. Here you can cross over a dam to a beautiful gravel road somewhat reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. Here you meander up and down along the edges of the valleys, behind every corner a different view unfolds! At one point you come to one of the most famous climbs from Masapalomas, namely the one towards Fataga. Unfortunately, towards Masapalomas you still have to overcome the climb to the viewpoint, but from there you roll on the tarmac back towards the sea. Do you have an MTB with you? Then be sure to check out the nice flow trails along this road for some extra fun, these are included in the GPX.
A real off-road cycling challenge
For the MTBers among us who do enjoy a challenge, the El Diablo trail is highly recommended. The best place to start is from Cruz Grande. You can cycle there (about 1500hm, which we did) or by taking a taxi/shuttle. Here you cycle up a gravel road which is a nice warm-up before the singletrack starts. After about seven km, you see a singletrack plunging into the depths on the right: do you really need to get off here? The answer is yes! As a lover of stony trails, this is definitely one of the most beautiful but also technical trails I have ridden. Expect steep trails, short hairpin turns and many, many stones of all sizes. It is more enduro than cross country. As I like to say: the bike can do more than you think. We rode a Specialized Epic here and this was just fine. We even came across a hardtail but I wouldn't recommend that. Also, I did wear my own back & knee pads, this gives me more security on the bike. Once you are down, you arrive back in Ayaguares. Here you then again have two choices. You either ride into the valleys described above, or take the road back towards Maspalomas.
But there is more!
As mentioned earlier, there are also plenty of guided tours available at FreeMotion. If you don't want to venture into building your own routes or just want to meet fellow cyclists, this is highly recommended. You can find a tour for every level of technique and fitness, including, for example, the Grand Canyon tour described above for MTB and e-MTB. The routes are more cross-country oriented (more altimeters and kms). This is due to the trail closures I described earlier. As a result, fewer tours with shuttles to the higher elevations are offered. We joined 'The Grit', the toughest and most technical guided tour. Accompanied by guide Lars, we explored the coast around Arguineguin and Puerto Rico.
Gravel climbing
Gravel climbs alternate with singletracks, but you also definitely encounter technical passages up and down. Some climbs are definitely not for everyone, and I too had to walk a bit. There is nothing wrong with a bit of 'hike a bike'. Just before lunch with local bocadillos, which is included in the tour, you cross the most technical part. The surface here is a little less stony, but still very loose. Here you ride over the ridge towards the sea, and here too your skills do get tested! In MTB terms: these are classification S3 routes, to give you an idea of the difficulty level. Don't let this put you off. It is absolutely worth it and great fun to be out on the trail with the enthusiastic guide and fellow bikers! After lunch you follow tracks next to the coastal road ricting Maspalomas, this is very different again and you will partly ride through empty riverbeds. Don't underestimate this tour, mountain experience is required, but worth it anyway. As mentioned earlier, FreeMotion also offers easier tours or you can join them on the e-MTB.
Thick tip for all cyclists
One last tip, make sure you carry enough water/sports nutrition. It is often hot and not densely populated in the interior so you may find yourself cycling for hours without being able to fill up on water. I myself rode with a backpack with a 2.5L water tank. All in all, there are plenty of off-road adventures to be had in Gran Canaria! Don't miss out on a tour or self-made route when visiting the island. Behind every bend is a different landscape, and you sometimes feel like you're alone in the world as you hurtle down the coolest tracks towards the sea.
Off-Road Cycling in Gran Canaria - the Routes
Below is a collection of cycling routes on the island. Off-road routes for Gran Canaria have been incorporated heirin. Enjoy them! If you have any tips of your own, let us know via the comments!
