North East Ridge up Y Garn (Snowdonia): route map, distance and time
947 m · Snowdonia
Y Garn is a pointed Glyderau summit above Llyn Idwal, with a classic view down to the Ogwen valley and Tryfan.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park.
The North East Ridge starts at about 307 m and gains 604 m over 2.6 km to 913 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 115 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 334 m at an average of 33%, with a 500 m stretch from 1 km at about 40%. It keeps climbing at 25% to the top. About 58% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
North East Ridge at a glance
| Distance | 2.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 640 m |
| Climb on the track | 604 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 307 m to 913 m (summit 947 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 40%, from 1 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 58% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park, LL57 3LZ |
| Start grid reference | SH 649 603 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 630 595 |
| Parking | Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park; the postcode is approximate |
North East Ridge map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the North East Ridge GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
North East Ridge kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 422 m | +115 m | 12% | SH 641 600 |
| 2 km | 756 m | +334 m | 33% steep | SH 633 600 |
| 2.6 km | 913 m | +157 m | 25% steep | SH 630 595 |
How long the North East Ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 15m | 1h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 35m | 2h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 35m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14. Start by 15:09 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 15:07 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Y Garn summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Overcast, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 43 mph gusting 54 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for the North East Ridge: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 30 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 1% (Low), best around 06:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Y Garn forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Y Garn?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -4°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Y Garn
Y Garn is a pointed Glyderau summit above Llyn Idwal, with a classic view down to the Ogwen valley and Tryfan. More about Y Garn, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Foel-goch (831 m), 1.7 km north
- Glyder Fawr (1,001 m), 2 km south-east
- Mynydd Perfedd (813 m), 2.4 km north
- Elidir Fawr (924 m), 2.6 km north-west
- Castell y Gwynt (972 m), 2.7 km south-east
- Glyder Fach (994 m), 2.9 km south-east
Challenges that include Y Garn
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Welsh Skyline · 9
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge up Carnedd Dafydd
- South-west ridge from Ogwen and Carneddau ridge up Carnedd Llewelyn
- Ogwen via Y Garn and Mynydd Perfedd up Elidir Fawr
- Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Senior's Gully and Ridge and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Y Gribin and plateau traverse up Glyder Fach
- Bristly Ridge up Glyder Fach
- Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du up Glyder Fawr
- Senior's Gully and Ridge up Glyder Fawr
- Y Gribin up Glyder Fawr
- Bristly Ridge and plateau traverse up Glyder Fawr
- South-west ridge from Ogwen up Pen yr Ole Wen
Other routes up Y Garn
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogwen via Llyn Clyd | 4.4 km one way | 741 m | 2h 5m | Hard |
| Devil's Kitchen / Twll Du | 4.3 km one way | 670 m | 2h 0m | Hard |
| Llwybr y Carw / Afon Las | 3.6 km one way | 800 m | 2h 5m | Hard |
| Elidir Fawr, Mynydd Perfedd and Foel-goch | 7.5 km one way | — | — | Hard |
| Marchlyn via Elidir Fawr and Mynydd Perfedd | 7.6 km one way | 870 m | 3h 0m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 649 603, the summit at SH 630 595), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
North East Ridge: questions and answers
How far is the North East Ridge?
The North East Ridge is 2.6 km one way to the summit of Y Garn, with 640 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 5.2 km.
How long does the North East Ridge take?
About 1h 35m to the summit of Y Garn and 2h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 2h 35m for the round trip.
How steep is the North East Ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 40%, starting 1 km from the start, and 58% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The North East Ridge climbs 604 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the North East Ridge?
The North East Ridge starts from Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park (postcode LL57 3LZ). The grid reference is SH 649 603. Llyn Ogwen / Ogwen Centre car park; the postcode is approximate
Is the North East Ridge suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start the North East Ridge today?
By 15:09 at the latest. Sunset on Y Garn today is 18:14, The North East Ridge takes about 2h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the North East Ridge?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.