Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant up Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa): route map, distance and time
1,085 m · Snowdonia
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit.
A remote approach up Cwm Glas to the grade 1 North Ridge and the Crib Goch crest. Very exposed, with no easy way off once on the ridge.
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant starts at about 180 m and gains 976 m over 5.3 km to 1,040 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 199 m (20%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 290 m at an average of 29%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.3 km at about 39%. It keeps climbing at 16% to the top. About 54% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant at a glance
| Distance | 5.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 903 m |
| Climb on the track | 976 m up, 113 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 169 m to 1,043 m (summit 1,085 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 39%, from 1.3 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 54% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 40m, down the same way |
| Grade | Scramble |
| Start | Blaen y Nant, Llanberis Pass |
| Start grid reference | SH 620 569 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 609 543 |
| Parking | Limited lay-bys on the A4086 in the Llanberis Pass that fill early. The Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus runs through the pass. |
| Bus | Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain. |
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant 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 Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant 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.
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant 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 | 379 m | +199 m | 20% steep | SH 618 564 |
| 2 km | 670 m | +290 m | 29% steep | SH 623 557 |
| 3 km | 840 m | +170 m | 17% | SH 622 551 |
| 4 km | 988 m | +148 m | 15% | SH 613 551 |
| 5 km | 996 m | +8 m | 1% | SH 608 545 |
| 5.3 km | 1,040 m | +44 m | 16% | SH 609 543 |
How long Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 3h 40m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 25m |
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 13:34 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:32 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Snowdon summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:14.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 33 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Snowdon forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Snowdon?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Snowdonia forecast · Met Office mountain forecast and hazards · Yr Wyddfa ground conditions report.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -6°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 33 mph.
- 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 Snowdon
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit. More about Snowdon, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, historic county top, county top.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Crib y Ddysgl (1,065 m), 0.8 km north
- Crib Goch (923 m), 1.6 km north-east
- Y Lliwedd (898 m), 1.6 km south-east
- Y Lliwedd East Top (893 m), 1.8 km south-east
- Lliwedd Bach (819 m), 2.1 km south-east
- Llechog (720 m), 2.4 km north
Challenges that include Snowdon
- National Three Peaks · 3
- Welsh Three Peaks · 3
- Welsh 3000s · 15
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- Welsh 1000m Peaks · 5
- Snowdonia 900m Peaks · 16
- Snowdon Horseshoe · 4
- Paddy Buckley Round · 47
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- County Tops · 88
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Blaen y Nant, Llanberis Pass
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant up Crib Goch
- Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant up Crib y Ddysgl
Other routes up Snowdon
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis Path | 6.9 km one way | 979 m | 3h 0m | Moderate |
| Pyg Track | 5.3 km one way | 740 m | 2h 20m | Moderate |
| Miners' Track | 6.8 km one way | 770 m | 2h 40m | Moderate |
| Rhyd Ddu Path | 5.9 km one way | 900 m | 2h 40m | Moderate |
| Snowdon Ranger Path | 6.4 km one way | 940 m | 2h 50m | Moderate |
| Watkin Path | 6.5 km one way | 1,015 m | 3h 0m | Hard |
| South Ridge (Allt Maenderyn) | 6.5 km one way | 900 m | 2h 50m | Hard |
| Crib Goch | 5.1 km one way | 880 m | 2h 30m | Scramble |
| Y Lliwedd traverse | 7.0 km one way | 723 m | 2h 35m | Scramble |
| Fox's Path and Crib Goch North Ridge | 6.5 km one way | 723 m | 2h 30m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 620 569, the summit at SH 609 543), 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.
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant: questions and answers
How far is Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant?
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant is 5.3 km one way to the summit of Snowdon, with 903 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.6 km.
How long does Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Snowdon and 3h 40m 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 4h 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant?
The steepest 500 m averages about 39%, starting 1.3 km from the start, and 54% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant climbs 976 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant?
Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant starts from Blaen y Nant, Llanberis Pass. The grid reference is SH 620 569. Limited lay-bys on the A4086 in the Llanberis Pass that fill early. The Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus runs through the pass. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain.
Is Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant suitable for beginners?
No. It is a scramble: you use your hands on rock, often with big drops below. Go with someone experienced, on a dry and calm day, or take the Llanberis Path instead.
What time should I start Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant today?
By 13:34 at the latest. Sunset on Snowdon today is 18:14, Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant takes about 3h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant?
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.