Plan your day
1. Pick a path
2. Pick a day
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Best day this week
Our own guide, not an official rating: a weather score from the same rules of thumb as the warnings (gusts, rain, cloud, wind chill, freezing level), lowered on days that are usually busy. Busyness uses Eryri's 2025 walker counts by weekday and month, so it shows a typical pattern, not a crowd forecast. Tap a day to see it.
Sunrise hike: what time to start
- You will walk up in the dark: carry a head torch with spare batteries, and a second light. Eryri advises carrying a torch and whistle in case you are caught on a summit after dark.
- It is much colder before dawn and at the top: pack extra warm layers.
- Navigation is harder in the dark: know the path, and carry a map and compass and the skills to use them.
- Early buses may not run yet: check the first bus time, or the parking rules, before you plan the start.
- Go with others, tell someone your plan, and turn back if the weather is poor.
Hour-by-hour forecast: Yr Wyddfa summit (1,085 m)
Wind and gusts in mph. Freezing level in metres above sea level. Forecast data: Open-Meteo.
Before you go, also check the Met Office mountain forecast, MWIS and Eryri's ground conditions reports.
3. Getting there
Map
The route map (OpenStreetMap) loads when you scroll here.
How busy it gets
The six main paths up Yr Wyddfa
| Path | Distance | Ascent | Time | How busy | Start | Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llanberis Path | 14.5 km | 975 m | 7 hrs | Popular | Far end of Victoria Terrace, Llanberis | S1 S2 |
| Pyg Track | 11 km | 895 m | 6 hrs | Popular | Pen y Pass car park | S1 S2 S5 |
| Miners' Track | 13 km | 723 m | 6 hrs | Popular | Pen y Pass car park | S1 S2 S5 |
| Watkin Path | 13 km | 1015 m | 6 hrs | Not popular | Pont Bethania car park, Nant Gwynant | S4 |
| Rhyd Ddu Path | 12 km | n/a | 6 hrs | Not popular | Rhyd Ddu car park, off the A4085 | S3 |
| Snowdon Ranger | 13 km | 936 m | 6 hrs | Not popular | Llyn Cwellyn car park, off the A4085 | S3 |
Distances are there and back. Times are Eryri's estimates for fit, experienced walkers. Eryri grades all six Hard/Strenuous. Eryri does not publish an ascent figure for the Rhyd Ddu Path.
Distance km
- Llanberis Path14.5 km
- Pyg Track11 km
- Miners' Track13 km
- Watkin Path13 km
- Rhyd Ddu Path12 km
- Snowdon Ranger13 km
Ascent metres
- Llanberis Path975 m
- Pyg Track895 m
- Miners' Track723 m
- Watkin Path1,015 m
- Rhyd Ddu Pathnot published
- Snowdon Ranger936 m
Time hours (Eryri)
- Llanberis Path7 hrs
- Pyg Track6 hrs
- Miners' Track6 hrs
- Watkin Path6 hrs
- Rhyd Ddu Path6 hrs
- Snowdon Ranger6 hrs
Busiest months on Snowdon (2025)
One-way walker counts on the Miners', Pyg, Rhyd Ddu, Snowdon Ranger and Watkin paths in 2025 (Llanberis Path not counted). August is the busiest month with 56,869 counts; December the quietest. Saturdays are the busiest day of the week.
Parking and buses at a glance
- Pen y Pass: pre-book until 1 November 2026, £25 up to 8 hrs.
- Nant Peris park and ride: £5 a day, then the bus to Pen y Pass.
- Other car parks: Rhyd Ddu, Llyn Cwellyn and Pont Bethania £8 a day.
- Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus: S1–S5 to all six paths, £7.50 adult day ticket.
Price for a full day £
- Pen y Pass car park£45
- Nant Peris park and ride£5
- Rhyd Ddu car park£8
- Llyn Cwellyn car park£8
- Pont Bethania car park£8
- Park at Nant Peris£5 a day, card or contactless
- Sherpa S1, S2 or S5£7.50 adult day ticket
- Pen y PassStart of the Pyg Track and Miners' Track
- Walk, then bus backCheck the last bus time
More ways to plan
Other Eryri walks
- Minffordd Path: 9 km, about 6 hrs (Cadair Idris)
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant): 10 km, about 5 hrs (Cadair Idris)
- Cwm Idwal: 5 km, about 2 hrs (Ogwen)
- Tryfan: a scramble for experienced hillwalkers
- Compare them
Distance km
- Minffordd Path9 km
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)10 km
- Cwm Idwal5 km
Ascent metres
- Minffordd Path788 m
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)727 m
- Cwm Idwal140 m
Time hours (Eryri)
- Minffordd Path6 hrs
- Pony Path (Tŷ Nant)5 hrs
- Cwm Idwal2 hrs
Stay safe
- Ask the AdventureSmart three questions: do I have the knowledge and skills, do I know what the weather will be like, and am I confident I have the right gear?
- In an emergency, dial 999 or 112, ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.
- Register your phone for emergency texts before you go: text register to 999.
- Do not walk on the Snowdon Mountain Railway track. Keep dogs on leads near livestock.
- Turn back if the weather turns or you are behind time. The summit will still be there.
Kit checklist
· · Ticks are saved on this device only.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the easiest path up Snowdon?
The Llanberis Path has the most gradual climb and is the usual first-time route, but it is the longest (14.5 km there and back, about 7 hours). Eryri grades all six paths Hard/Strenuous.
How long does it take to walk up Snowdon?
Eryri estimates 6 to 7 hours there and back for the six main paths (11 to 14.5 km). Visit Wales suggests allowing 6 to 8 hours. Slower walkers should add more.
Where do I park for Snowdon?
Pen y Pass (for the Pyg and Miners' tracks) must be pre-booked on JustPark until 1 November 2026, from £25 for up to 8 hours. Nant Peris park and ride costs £5 a day. Rhyd Ddu, Llyn Cwellyn and Pont Bethania cost £8 a day. Eryri car parks take card or contactless only.
What time should I start walking up Snowdon?
Work back from sunset: subtract the path time and at least an hour's buffer. This planner does it for you using the live sunset time and your pace.
When is Snowdon busiest?
August, then May and April, on the paths Eryri counted in 2025. Saturdays are the busiest day. Go early on a weekday for quieter paths.
How high is Snowdon?
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is 1,085 metres (3,560 ft), the highest mountain in Wales.
Is there a bus to the start of the Snowdon paths?
Yes. Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses (S1 to S5) stop at the start of all six main paths. A day ticket costs £7.50 for an adult.
Sources
- Eryri: choosing the right path up Yr Wyddfa
- Eryri: parking in Eryri (prices and payment)
- Eryri: Pen y Pass car park
- Eryri: Sherpa'r Wyddfa bus service
- Eryri: Visitor Monitoring Report 2025 (PDF)
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- Met Office mountain forecast: Snowdonia
- MWIS: Snowdonia National Park
- AdventureSmart UK
- Mountain Rescue England and Wales: how to call out Mountain Rescue
- Eryri: Yr Wyddfa
- Visit Wales: walking Yr Wyddfa
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. Live weather comes from Open-Meteo. We do not show live parking availability: check JustPark.