Just behind the hustle and bustle of the tourist-haven Maspalomas, there is a well known route called by some the ‘Grand Canyon’ tour of Gran Canaria. Some of you may already know what I’m referring to just at this mention, but to fill you in, we’re refering to the off road track that connects the quarry below the GC-60 with the dams behind Ayaguares, via barranco de los vicentes.
This has been a popular mountain bike route for a long time, and since the emergence of gravel bikes, these too have frequented this 35km round trip.
Well, up until about 18 months ago, it was distinctly a route that was a lot more enjoyable on the plushy tyres of a real MTB, and the suspension very welcome. Many sections had long stretches of loose hand sized smooth rocks like in a riverbed, there were plenty of rough and eroded sections, including one rough gully section that was probably the most technical of the loop.
Skip forward to 2025, and the trail has completely changed. What was a bouncy and at times frustrating battle on a gravel bike, now has become so smooth that even a road bike could survive the majority of it. For some unclear reason, a major resurfacing project has taken place here, the 3 or 4 isolated fincas along the route perhaps demanding better access to their homes cut off from the firm assurance of asphalt.
Our previous article about the beautiful Chira trail portayed it as the smoothest gravel on the island, however, this accolade has well and truly been passed over in light of these new developments. Indeed, anyone wishing to try gravel on Gran Canaria should now look no further than this loop to dip their toes into the dirt beyond the well worn tarmac.
At the moment (January 2025), the access is still closed for the ongoing ‘road’ works, and one can only hope that it will stay like this for a while longer: for as soon as the access is opened, it seems inevitable that those buggy tours that swarm over the hillsides with their impertinent din and swirling dust clouds will chew up the best laid trail in a flurry of traction-seeking rubber.
Well, one thing that has at least remained constant is the absolutely magnificent scenery along the route; a journey that initially takes you inland past perhaps the most beautiful aqueducts of the island, into a valley that swallows you wholly into its tranquility and grandeur, many swoops and turns unveiling successive depths as you climb (mainly!) and descend (a little!).
Eventually you reach a junction where you can continue to Arteara (near the camel park on the GC-60), or follow our reference route to the left in the direction of Ayaguares. Both directions have been resurfaced and smoothened to inexplicably smooth levels- mainly !
Continuing to the west direction Ayaguares, you weave around to the next barranco, no evidence left whatsoever of the deep, eroded and narrow gully that once challenged riders on this route. You pass a corner where a small reservoir fills up in very wet periods, and shortly after face into the one section of the route on which it still feels like an MTB has the upper hand over a gravel bike. I call it the rainbow rocks section; its mix of ochres, cyan and amarillo hues a beautiful distraction from the rough exposed rock slabs you have to navigate here. This section now remains as the last ‘un-resurfaced’ stretch, but nevertheless, we know of at least one person who has tamed it with 28mm road tyres..!
So, just as Ewa and I have been beginning our MTB adventures, the ‘back-yard route’ has been converted to champagne gravel nearly entirely. We will have to look elsewhere to get our MTB kicks, but if you’re looking for that smooth gravel experience, it is now available right here in the sunny south of Maspalomas.
Here is the strava segment for the offroad part of the loop (the shortest way home is on the road down Ayaguares valley, adding another 10km to close the loop), but there are other options to extend, such as towards Las Tederas- a very worthwhile out and back detour!
Then pictures:
Now (January 2025) pictures:
VeloVegano 