Snowdon Ranger Path 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.
One of the oldest paths up, zig-zagging from Llyn Cwellyn and then climbing beside the cliffs of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu.
The Snowdon Ranger Path starts at about 150 m and gains 898 m over 6.4 km to 1,040 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 132 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 240 m at an average of 24%. It keeps climbing at 17% to the top. About 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Snowdon Ranger Path at a glance
| Distance | 6.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 940 m |
| Climb on the track | 898 m up, 5 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 150 m to 1,043 m (summit 1,085 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 27%, from 4.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 30% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 10m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger), LL54 7YS |
| Start grid reference | SH 564 550 |
| Summit grid reference | SH 609 543 |
| Parking | Small pay car park by the Snowdon Ranger halt on the Welsh Highland Railway. It fills early. |
| Bus | Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain. |
Snowdon Ranger Path 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 Snowdon Ranger Path 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.
Snowdon Ranger Path 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 | 282 m | +132 m | 13% | SH 568 553 |
| 2 km | 387 m | +105 m | 10% | SH 577 553 |
| 3 km | 452 m | +66 m | 7% | SH 586 556 |
| 4 km | 602 m | +150 m | 15% | SH 594 555 |
| 5 km | 842 m | +240 m | 24% steep | SH 602 553 |
| 6 km | 966 m | +124 m | 12% | SH 607 547 |
| 6.4 km | 1,040 m | +73 m | 17% | SH 609 543 |
How long the Snowdon Ranger Path takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 25m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 50m | 4h 10m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 30m | 5h 5m |
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 13:04 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:12. Start by 13:02 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 10m 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 the Snowdon Ranger Path: 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 Llyn Cwellyn car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Snowdon Ranger via Foel Goch and Foel Gron up Moel Eilio
- Snowdon Ranger and western foothill paths up Foel Gron
- Snowdon Ranger via Bwlch Clogwyn up Moel Cynghorion
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 |
| 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 |
| Crib Goch North Ridge from Blaen y Nant | 5.3 km one way | 903 m | 2h 35m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SH 564 550, 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.
Snowdon Ranger Path: questions and answers
How far is the Snowdon Ranger Path?
The Snowdon Ranger Path is 6.4 km one way to the summit of Snowdon, with 940 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.8 km.
How long does the Snowdon Ranger Path take?
About 2h 50m to the summit of Snowdon and 4h 10m 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 5h 5m for the round trip.
How steep is the Snowdon Ranger Path?
The steepest 500 m averages about 27%, starting 4.2 km from the start, and 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Snowdon Ranger Path climbs 898 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Snowdon Ranger Path?
The Snowdon Ranger Path starts from Llyn Cwellyn car park (Snowdon Ranger) (postcode LL54 7YS). The grid reference is SH 564 550. Small pay car park by the Snowdon Ranger halt on the Welsh Highland Railway. It fills early. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses link all the main starts round the mountain.
Is the Snowdon Ranger Path suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start the Snowdon Ranger Path today?
By 13:04 at the latest. Sunset on Snowdon today is 18:14, The Snowdon Ranger Path takes about 4h 10m 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 Snowdon Ranger Path?
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.