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La Cumbre · Vega de San Mateo, Gran Canaria

Pico de las Nieves

Everything you need to know before you go: Getting there, parking, prices, best time.

Last checked: September 2026

Common questions, answered

Does it cost anything?No, €0Free viewpoint, no booking.
How do I get there?~1 h from Las PalmasBy car, last stretch on the GC-134. No bus to the top.Where do I park?At the viewpointFree, but OpenStreetMap lists only 8 spaces. Full at sunset.When is it best?Above the cloudsJams at sunset. The Cabildo closes the GC-134 for ice and snow.
Roque Nublo from the viewing terrace (2011)
Photo: H. Zell, License: CC BY-SA 3.0

A stone semicircle right below the Air Force radar dome, almost at the top of the island. To the west lie Roque Nublo, Roque Bentayga and the Caldera de Tejeda, with Teide on Tenerife behind them on clear days. On cloudy days the sea of clouds hangs in the ravines below you.

Straight talk

What to know before you go.

  • You are not standing on the very top. The summit plateau belongs to the Air Force, with the radar dome behind the wall. The viewpoint sits just below, and the true highest point is a different rock. For the view it makes no difference.
  • Sunset means a traffic jam. Every evening dozens of cars try for a handful of spaces. Unlike at Roque Nublo, nobody manages access here.
  • Cold, even in summer. At almost 2,000 m it is much colder than on the coast. The Cabildo recommends warm clothes and sturdy shoes, even though the walk is short.

Getting there

The viewpoint sits at the end of the GC-134, a short spur off the GC-130. Winding mountain roads lead up from every direction.

By car

From Las Palmas
~1 h
From Maspalomas
~1 h 15 min
From Cruz de Tejeda
~15 min
Road
Paved, narrow, no centre line
  1. 01From Las Palmas take the GC-1 to Telde, head towards Valsequillo and climb the GC-130 into the Cumbre.
  2. 02From the north and west take the GC-15 to Cruz de Tejeda, then the GC-150 to the GC-130.
  3. 03From the south take the GC-60 to Ayacata, then the GC-600 past Llanos de la Pez to the GC-130.
  4. 04Turn off the GC-130 onto the GC-134. It leads to the viewpoint car park below the radar station.

The GC-134 closes completely for ice and snow, as it did in December 2025 and March 2026.

Route to the car park

Public transport

  • Line 18 to Cruz de Los Llanos

    Global line 18 between Faro de Maspalomas and Tejeda stops at the Cruz de Los Llanos car park. From there it is about 3.1 km on foot, around 45 minutes, partly along the road.

  • No bus back after sunset

    The last bus passes too early to get back after sunset. To see the sunset you need a car.

Check before you go

For ice and snow the Cabildo closes the GC-134 and often other roads into the Cumbre. On wildfire alert days forests and trails are closed to visitors; if a fire breaks out nearby, access roads such as the GC-130 are closed too. Check on the day you go.

Parking & arriving

Car park at the viewpoint
8 spaces (OSM) · €0
Right next to the terrace. At sunset it is not enough: cars wait, turn and back up on the narrow road.
Car park at Pozo de Nieves Grande
10 spaces (OSM) · €0
On the GC-135 towards Los Pechos next to the large snow pit, about 470 m east of the viewpoint as the crow flies.

On site

A walled semicircle with an information panel, facing west over the Caldera de Tejeda: Roque Nublo, Roque Bentayga, Tamadaba to the north-west and Teide on clear days. Two restored 17th-century snow pits are close by.

Time there
~20–30 min, ~1 h with the snow pits
Walk from car park
a few steps from the car park, steps at the end
Toilets
None at the viewpoint; nearest at the Llanos de la Pez picnic area, ~1.3 km
Wheelchair
Not accessible, steps up to the terrace

When is it worth it?

The viewpoint has no opening hours. Clouds, light and the evening crowd decide your visit.

00–07Night

An official stargazing viewpoint. Looking south you see constellations that never rise over mainland Europe, such as the Southern Cross. It is cold at night.

07–13Morning

The sun is behind you and the view west to Roque Nublo and Bentayga is in full light. On cloudy days the sea of clouds fills the ravines.

13–17Afternoon

The sun moves west over the Caldera de Tejeda and the view towards Teide slowly turns into backlight.

17–21Sunset

The semicircle faces due west and the sun sets over the Caldera de Tejeda. That is exactly when everyone comes: the car park fills up and the access road jams.

21–24Evening

After sunset the stars come out. Dress warmly.

Based on experience and the way the viewpoint faces, as of September 2026.

Dec – Mar

Ice and snow are possible. The GC-134 was closed in December 2025 and March 2026.

Jun – Sep

Wildfire season. On alert days forests and trails are closed. In September 2026 a fire near Cazadores closed the GC-130.

Forecast

    Open full forecast ↗

    Facts

    Height
    Source: IGN · 09/2026
    1,949.98 m at the Pico de las Nieves survey point
    Highest point of the island
    Source: GRAFCAN · 09/2026
    Morro de la Agujereada, 1,956 m, about 150 m south
    Radar station
    Source: Ejército del Aire · 09/2026
    Air Surveillance Squadron 21 of the Spanish Air Force, restricted military area
    Snow pits
    Source: Cabildo · 09/2026
    Pozo de Los Canónigos (1669), ~250 m; Pozo Grande (1694), ~540 m. Restored, signposted and open to visit
    Bus
    Source: Nublo bus timetable · 09/2026
    Global line 18, stop Cruz de Los Llanos. Last listed departure 18:36
    Night temperature
    Source: Turismo Gran Canaria · 09/2026
    Winter average 3 °C, often near 0 °C. Summer average ~15 °C
    Sunset
    Source: Own calculation · 09/2026
    ~18:10 in December to ~21:00 in June
    Road information
    Source: Cabildo · 09/2026
    X @carreterasCabGC, emergencies 112

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