Roque Nublo

The rock shows up long before you reach it. From much of the island the pillar stands on the skyline above the central mountains, and the name, Rock in the Clouds, fits the way it rides above everything around it.

Up close it is 80 m of bare volcanic stone on a summit plateau, with Roque del Fraile and La Rana standing nearby. The plateau has room to sit on the ground and rest after the climb, and the view runs out across the island's interior in every direction. On a clear day Mount Teide shows across the sea on Tenerife.

The island's pre-Hispanic people held the rock sacred, and it remains one of Gran Canaria's defining landmarks.

• Access can be closed for fire safety, and the closure may only become clear at the trailhead. Check before you set out.
• There are no toilets, bins or drinking water on the trail or at the top. Bring water and carry your rubbish out.
• The trail has very little shade: a hat and sunscreen are essential.
• Wind gets very strong near the top, so bring a layer even on a warm day.
• Buses back run roughly every hour. Check the timetable before you start walking, or face a long wait at the stop.

Buses from nearby towns such as Tejeda stop at the trail entrance, at a stop named Roque Nublo about 1 km from the rock in a straight line. The bus is the easier choice: the mountain roads up here are narrow and winding, and you cannot drive up to the entrance.

Parking near the rock is restricted, and the roadside is clearly marked as no-parking. Car parks lie anywhere from about 1 km in a straight line to about 5 km from the rock. One approach starts from a campsite car park and walks through woodland and past a dam up to the rock.

From the entrance the last stretch is on foot, over a rocky, uneven trail with the pillar in sight ahead.

Best: early morning, or late afternoon towards sunset.

Avoid: the middle of the day.

The early and late hours bring thinner crowds and the best light on the rock, while at midday the sun beats down on a trail with almost no shade. A clear day is worth waiting for: that is when Mount Teide shows across the sea on Tenerife.

Roque Nublo lies inside Nublo Rural Park, a protected area, and entry to the trail is limited and controlled: tickets are checked at the entrance, so arrive with your booking. The area can be closed outright under fire safety restrictions. Parking along the road is forbidden and marked as such. There are no bins on the trail or at the top, so everything you carry in goes back out with you.