Climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch, Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales

Are you thinking about completing the well-known ‘knife-edged’ arête called Crib Goch to reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest point in Wales? Then you’re in the right place. 

Hiking Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch has been on our bucket list for a long time. Well, at least since we climbed Tryfan, Britain’s favourite mountain, which is also located in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

Crib Goch is considered one of the most challenging ways up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and after climbing it I can see why. Therefore, in this blog post, I’ll give you a detailed guide on what to expect when climbing Crib Goch. If you’re just after some generic information about how to reach Snowdon, you can skip to the ‘Ways to reach the top of Snowdon’ section of my blog post.

If you’d like to see our Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hike with some amazing drone footage then make sure to watch our YouTube video by clicking here. (It’s definitely one of our favourite hiking videos!)

Introducing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Crib Goch

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

With an elevation of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales. Apart from the Scottish Highlands, it’s also the highest point in the British Isles. For having rare flora and fauna, Snowdon is designated as a national nature reserve.

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) has a history of volcanic, ice-age and glacial activity. The rocks were produced by volcanoes in the Ordovician period, before the group of mountains were shaped during the Ice Age. During this period the arêtes of Crib Goch to the north and Y Lliwedd to the south were formed along with the pyramidal peak of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). 

There are at least 8 different routes you can choose from to climb to the top. In addition, you can reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via the Snowdon Mountain Railway. You can find further information about the level of difficulty of each route further below.

Fun Fact – Due to its accessibility, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is one of the busiest mountains in the UK. Apparently over half a million people climbed it in 2019, and that’s not including those who took the railway!

Did you know? – Edmund Hillary used Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to train for the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition which was the first confirmed successful ascent of Mount Everest.

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is also part of the National Three Peaks Challenge. As part of the challenge, climbers have to hike the highest point of Wales (Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon), England (Scafell Pike) and Scotland (Ben Nevis) within 24 hours. Altogether, climbers walk about 44km (27 miles) with 3,000m (9,800 ft) of ascent. Many participants use the event to raise money for charities. 

Crib Goch

Crib Goch itself is a ‘knife-edged’ arête, located to the northeast of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). In Welsh its name translates to ‘red ridge’. The ridge’s highest point is located 923 m (3,028 ft) above sea level. 

What’s interesting about Crib Goch is that during the summer months the hiking trail is considered a Grade 1 scramble. However, during the winter months the hike is considered mountaineering where you’ll likely require crampons and ice axes.

What is scrambling? – Scrambling is somewhere in between walking and climbing. In the UK, scrambles are graded from 1 to 3. A Grade 1 scramble requires you to use both your hands and feet, but it’s the easiest one you can do. Grade 2 and 3 are closer to proper rock climbing, where you will most likely require the use of a rope. Needless to say that Grade 3 scrambles are the hardest and you need to have proper experience.

Crib Goch is classed as a Welsh 3000er, which means it’s one of the 15 mountains in Wales that are over 3,000 ft (914.4 m) high. You can probably guess what comes next. Yes, there’s another challenge, called the Welsh 3000s Challenge, where you have to climb all 15 peaks in 24 hours.

How to get to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Crib Goch

By Car

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is located in Gwynedd county in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. For climbing Crib Goch, the most convenient place to park is at Pen-y-Pass car park. Pen-y-Pass is a mountain pass from where three of the most popular routes to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) start. Although its convenient, parking here is pretty pricey and you also have to pre-book it. It costs £25 for 8-12 hours parking. 

Alternatively, you can also park at Nant Gwynant, located just over a mile (1.6km) to the east of Pen-y-Pass. They have designated laybys along the A4086 and A498. The cost for parking is only around £6 all day which is much cheaper than Pen-y-Pass. Whilst you don’t need to pre-book it, I highly recommend arriving early because places fill up very quickly. For reference, we arrived on a sunny bank holiday just before 7AM and it was already packed!

Click here for more information about parking opportunities for your chosen route up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).  

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

By Public Transport

If you’d like to avoid driving or the expensive parking charge, then I recommend using the Snowdon Sherpa bus service. The bus service runs between the 6 main routes up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and it only costs £5. You can buy your ticket on the bus and use it all day. Click here to find further information about timetables and routes.

If you’re coming from further afield, I recommend getting a bus or a train to the places from where the Snowdon Sherpa bus service operates. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

Good to Know Before You Go

Disclaimer! – Although this post is all about Crib Goch, I decided to quickly run through the different routes you can choose from to reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). But before I do that, I’d like to emphasize that we haven’t fully completed any of these routes.  However, as part of our chosen Crib Goch route, we had to walk along sections of the Pyg Track, Llanberis Path, Watkin Path, Y Gribyn and the Miners Track. 

Hence why the below section will only be a quick summary of all the potential routes, their length and elevation. This will hopefully help you decide which route is the best for your level of experience. I dive into Crib Goch in greater detail after the following section.

Ways to reach the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

As mentioned before, there are many ways you can reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Depending on your level of experience here are some of the well-known paths you can choose from:

1. Llanberis Path – With a roundtrip length of 14.4km (9 miles), this path is the longest, but the easiest route up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). It opened in 1832 and follows the path of the railway providing a gradual climb up to the top. Your elevation gain will be 975m (3,199 ft).

2. Snowdon Ranger Path – Starting at the ‘Snowdon Ranger’ youth hostel, this 12.8km (8 miles) roundtrip is a straight forward one. It is claimed to be a relatively easy way up, apart from a steep section in the middle. Your elevation gain will be 936m (3,071 ft).

3. Miners’ Track – This 12.8km (8 miles) roundtrip starts at Pen-y-Pass. The first section is known to be easy with the second half being steeper after passing Llyn Llydaw. Your elevation gain will be a total of 723m (2,372 ft).

4. Rhyd Ddu Path – Starting from Rhyd Ddu car park this 13.6km (8.5 miles) roundtrip is claimed to be the quietest one. I read that it’s mainly straight forward, but around Bwlch Main you’ll run into some steep sections and you’ll need to traverse a bit. Your elevation gain will be 895m (2,936 ft). 

5. Pyg Track – Starting from Pen-y-Pass this route is slightly shorter (11.2km (7 miles) roundtrip) but it has a pretty steep start. (I can confirm that!) It joins with the Miners Track towards the end, providing a very popular circular route. Your elevation gain will be 723m (2,372 ft).

6. Watkin Path –  Although this path is similar in distance to others (12.8km (8 miles) roundtrip) it’s one of the toughest ones after Crib Goch. It has a lot of ascents and your elevation gain will be 1,015m (3,330 ft).

There are other routes you can incorporate, such as Crib Goch, Y Gribin and Y Lliwedd. These aren’t the main routes up, but definitely harder and could be more fun for those who enjoy scrambling and rock climbing.

Snowdon Mountain Railway – We can’t forget the fact that you can reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via a small mountain railway. You can take the rack and pinion railway from Llanberis. It was constructed between 1894 and 1896 and has been operating ever since. 

Length of the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hiking trail

The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hiking trail we chose is an over 15km (9.3 miles) long circular route. Depending on your speed, how long it takes to complete the Crib Goch section and how long you’re spending on top of Snowdon, this route could take anywhere between 7 to 9 hours. The scenery is just breath-taking, so inevitably you’ll want to stop every 5 minutes to admire it, and also to catch your breath.

For reference, we got to Nant Gwynant around 7:30AM and it was hot and sunny already. Since it was also crowded, the Crib Goch section of the walk took us a lot longer to complete than anticipated. We just tried to enjoy the scenery and the sunshine whilst having to stop regularly. We also got a bit lost trying to find the start of the Y Gribyn path which added an additional 30 minutes to our roundtrip. Although we were the only ones descending via the Y Gribyn path, it requires some wayfinding, which again made the completion time slightly longer. At the end, we completed the walk around 5PM.

I would definitely allow enough time to complete this particular walk and suggest starting earlier rather than later. If you’re buying a parking ticket, I recommend paying for all day parking so you’re not in a rush. 

Level of Difficulty of the Crib Goch trail

The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch route is rated as difficult. However, this really depends on your fitness level, scrambling/hiking experience and even the weather conditions.

I really don’t recommend attempting Crib Goch without any prior hiking or scrambling experience. The length of the trail might not seem too long, but there are many steep sections straight from the start. Walking along Crib Goch will require you to be alert and focused at all times which can tire you out quicker. Even after completing Crib Goch, you need to watch your step as many accidents happen from people being tired and less focused.

Although I hike a lot, I even struggled on the first section of the Pyg Track. Once I got my breathing right and my body adjusted to the exercise, I was fine climbing up to Crib Goch and along the ridge. 

You also need to have a head for heights. The ridge is very narrow, super exposed and trust me, the drop is big! Please note that once you’re on the ridge there’s no chance to turn around, so you have to complete it.

Top Advice – Since you won’t really be able to pass people along the ridge, you have to be patient with slower hikers. Even experienced ones could be paralysed with fear or cragfast. If you happen to be the slow one, then make sure to just take your time. Don’t try to rush it because of others as rushing could lead to an accident. 

Speaking of accidents, the mountain rescue team unsurprisingly receives callouts to Crib Goch on a regular basis. Although most callouts are due to people being cragfast along the ridge, unfortunately, quite a few calls are due to people falling off the ridge which in most cases results in death.

Best time to climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch

You’ll be in North Wales, where the weather conditions can change quickly. I personally recommend planning your climb between the end of spring and start of autumn. Decent weather conditions are a must for hiking Crib Goch. My biggest advice is to check the weather forecast even on the morning of your planned hike. 

I think if you’ve scrambled before, it’s doable in less ideal weather conditions. However, low visibility, rain and wind can make the climb more dangerous, therefore, I would proceed with caution. You really only need one wrong step!

You also want to have a relatively clear day, as missing out on the views would be a shame. 

As a general rule of thumb, unless you’re an experienced mountaineer DO NOT attempt climbing Crib Goch during the winter or in snow!!! Remember, the terrain was used as training for climbing Mount Everest, so it’s not your usual winter hill walk.

As I mentioned above, it’s one of the busiest mountains in Wales. We went on a hot bank holiday and it was packed by 7 in the morning. We had to queue just to get onto the trailhead at the Pyg Track and also on top of Crib Goch. People at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) were waiting for at least 30 to 40 minutes just to touch the trig point. Therefore, I recommend coming on a weekday if you can. I would also try to avoid bank holidays and busier school holiday times if you’re after a quieter experience.

On the day of your hike, I suggest you start as early as possible. Car parks can fill up very quickly, and you might want to avoid a traffic jam along the ridge too. 

Facilities Around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Crib Goch

Cafés and Picnic Spots – If you’d like to grab a drink or something to eat after your hike then you can do that at Caffi Gorphwysfa Café at Pen-y-Pass car park. Alternatively, there’s a café on the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), called Hafod Eryri. In 2009, the building with the café replaced the one that was built back in 1930. The café normally opens when the railway is running, however, at the time of our visit it was closed. After a quick internet search, I noticed that the café will be closed until 2022. 

I highly recommend bringing your own picnic with you. You can find a great spot to eat anywhere on top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or at the grassy mountain pass at Bwlch Coch. You’ll be treated with the most amazing views! 

In addition, you can also spend some time relaxing at the lakes especially if you’re in the area for more than a day. 

Toilets – There are toilet facilities available at Pen-y-Pass car park at the start and end of your walk. There should be a toilet available on top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), however, you might find it still closed. Otherwise, you’ll need to find a private spot along the trail which might be slightly difficult (but not impossible) if it’s crowded. 

What to wear and bring with you?

At the time of our visit the weather was unusually hot and sunny. Normally North Wales is rather wet and conditions can change quickly the higher you go. Therefore, I recommend weather appropriate clothing when going on the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hike. You’ll be exposed along the majority of the trail. Therefore, make sure you check the weather forecast before you set off and have a few layers with you. You might feel a bit cooler along the ridge but warmer lower down or whilst your ascending. 

Many accidents happen due to not wearing proper walking/hiking shoes or boots. Therefore, I can’t emphasize enough to wear hiking appropriate footwear when attempting the Crib Goch route. During wetter conditions the rocks can become extremely slippery so you want shoes with good grip. Even the easier paths are pretty rocky so you want shoes with thicker soles. 

I also suggest packing your own lunch and snacks and having plenty of water and hot drinks with you depending on the weather. During your ascents you’ll sweat a lot more, so you want to keep hydrated and have enough energy to carry on.

During the summer months many people just walk to the lakes and spend a relaxing day there. So, if you’d like to have a dip in the water after your hike, then take some swimsuits and towels with you. If it’s a sunny day make sure to have sun-cream on you!

Please Note! – Whatever you bring with you, make sure you either take it home with you or dispose of it responsibly. I suggest bringing a garbage bag with you where you can collect all your waste. (And obviously dispose it in a bin!) Enjoy your time in nature but Leave No Trace!

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch Hiking Trail

If you’re climbing Crib Goch you’ll start your hike along the Pyg Track. At the crossroads, you’ll need to take the right fork towards Crib Goch. After completing Crib Goch the trail will join with the Llanberis Path which will lead you to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). From there you’ll be walking along the Watkin Path before you start scrambling down along the Y Gribyn path. This will join with the Miner’s Track at the bottom of Lake Glaslyn and will lead you back to the car park.

I divided the route we took into 5 main sections as follows:

1. Car Park to Crib Goch via the Pyg Track

If you parked at Nant Gwynant, you’ll need to follow the footpath running parallel to the A4086 all the way to Pen-y-Pass car park. You’ll need to be on the Pyg Track, so take the path on your right. Right from the start this section of the trail will be pretty steep with a ton of steps. 

Take it easy to allow your body to adjust to the sudden incline. You’ll have some great views of the valley to your right so make sure to enjoy it. 

In about a mile you’ll come to a fork in the road. To your left will be Craig Fach Path, straight ahead is the Pyg Track and on your right will be the route to Crib Goch. You’ll be able to see the quite tall section you need to climb, so at this point you can still decide to opt out. Once you’re ready, you’ll need to walk up a steep path. Look behind you to see the stunning views of Llyn Lydaw and the mountains beyond the lake. This is a fantastic spot to catch your breath and have some water or coffee. 

The next section, called the ‘bad step’, will be a full on scramble before you reach the ridge of Crib Goch. The distance you’ll climb will only be about 500m but you’ll gain about 200m in elevation. This section is the first part that requires your full attention and it will definitely challenge your arms. Although you’ll need to do some wayfinding, you’ll have a ton of hand and footholds. If you’re a bit shorter like me it might take you a bit longer to find the best route up. Luckily this section wasn’t too exposed and you’ll have some small clearings where you can rest for a bit. 

2. Crib Goch to Bwlch Coch

After the ‘bad step’ section you’re basically on top of the Crib Goch ridge. This section is actually wider than I thought it would be. Since the trail was super busy, we had to queue up to start the ridge walk itself. We didn’t mind it, since the 360-views from here are definitely worth stopping for. From this angle, you’ll have a good view of Crib Goch, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Y Lliwedd. 

The ridge itself is pretty flat which was welcome after all the climbing. The walk will only be about 200m but it won’t be a walk in the park. You’ll be pretty exposed here, with sheer drops on both sides. The ridge will also get narrower and narrower as you make your way across it. 

Some people just casually walk along the crest, whereas some might find it easier to use the crest as a handrail and walk along on the left just below it. I personally did a mixture of walking along the top and holding on with everything I had.

Top Tip – Always check if the rock is stable before you fully step on it.

The summit of Crib Goch should be around half way through, but I must admit we probably missed that.

You’ll soon reach the section along the ridge called the Pinnacles. Once again, you’ll need to scramble across these three rock-pinnacles. Descending from them might be a bit tricky in places especially if you’re not as tall. But don’t worry – if I managed it you will too. You’ll reach a grassy col or mountain pass at Bwlch Coch. It’s a great place to stop, fuel your body and enjoy the views of Crib Goch. At this point I really appreciated just how massive this arête was.

3. Bwlch Coch to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

Make sure to give your arms and legs a little rest, because you’re not done with climbing just yet. You’ll need to climb Crib y Ddysgl which after tackling Crib Goch might seem like nothing. But I would still proceed with caution. This will lead you to Carnedd Ugain, which at 1065m (3494 ft), is the second highest point in Wales. From here you’re pretty much at Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

If you thought Crib Goch was busy, then wait until you get to the junction where the Crib Goch path meets Llanberis Path, the Snowdon Ranger Path and the Pyg Track. I couldn’t believe just how busy from that point to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) was. It’s still a bit of a walk to reach the trig, but you’ll see the Snowdon Mountain Railway on your right and the views on the other side of the mountain.

On the day of our hike, people were queuing at least 30 to 40 minutes just to touch and take a photo with the trig. It was a super hot day so we decided to skip the queue and start our descent from Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Some might say that we didn’t reach the summit, but we didn’t want to stand still for a long time and start stiffening up. We still had a long way to go which included more scrambling. 

4. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to Miner’s Track via Watkin Path and Y Cribyn

During the first section of your descent you’ll be walking along Watkin Path for about 0.6 miles. The path was named after Sir Edward Watkin who was a Member of the Parliament and also a railway entrepreneur. He had a house at the start of the path and was involved in creating the path to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

From Watkin Path you should start your scramble down Y Gribyn. There are two things I should highlight here. Firstly, finding the start of the path might be harder than you think. We got a bit lost and walked too far along Watkin Path, nearly reaching the point where it joins together with Y Lliwedd. We had to turn back which added an additional 30 minutes to our completion time. To avoid our mistake, you should only be on the Watkin Path for a short while and start scrambling down on Y Gribyn as soon as you see the ridge towering above Llyn Glaslyn. If you stand closer to the edge on the top you’ll just about be able to see where you should be heading. 

Secondly, since it’s a ridge hike, the path won’t be clear and once again you’ll need to use both your hands and feet to descend from it. It’s not easy, especially after you’ve been hiking for quite some time. However, we were the only ones along this path which was very nice after being in a traffic jam since the early morning hours.

Whilst it’s only a half a mile downhill, I recommend taking your time climbing down here. Once you’re down, the path will join together with the Miner’s Track at the bottom of Llyn Glaslyn.

5. Miner’s Track to Car Park

If the weather conditions are great, I recommend dipping your toes into the lake or have a quick dip. It was very refreshing to splash some of the cool water on my face and my – by then – very burnt arms. (Yes, I put sun-cream on in the morning, but clearly didn’t rub it in properly…)

The Miner’s Track was originally built to carry copper from Llyn Glaslyn all the way to Pen-y-Pass. From there it was transported to Caernarfon. Whilst the mining ended in 1916, you’ll still see some remains from the work along the trail.

You’ll be walking along this trail for about 2.7 miles until you reach Pen-y-Pass car park. It’s an easy path and pretty level all the way. However, it’s very rocky so you need to watch your step as you can slip easily. After hiking and scrambling all day, I personally felt like this path was taking forever. On the other hand, the scenery was beautiful. You’ll walk around Llyn Llydaw with the views of Crib Goch on your left, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) behind you and Y Lliwedd to your right. 

Once you’ve passed the big lake, there will be a smaller one called Llyn Teyrn on your right. There might be cows grazing in these fields and around the path so just be careful when passing them. Once you reach Pen-y-Pass car park, you’ll just have to take the footpath next to the A4086. Once you’ve reached your vehicle you’ve successfully completed the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hike. 

Additional Hikes in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park is full of amazing hikes. We’ve walked and hiked around Eryri (Snowdonia) many times and can always find a new trail to complete. 

If you enjoy ridge hikes and scrambles, I highly recommend hiking up Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley or hiking the Glyders via Bristly Ridge.

You can also browse for more hiking trails in the UK and around the world in my Hiking Adventures Series.

Additional Ridge Hikes in the UK

If you enjoy ridge hikes and scrambles, I highly recommend checking out the following ridge hike posts: 

• A Guide to Hiking the Pen Y Fan Horseshoe, Brecon Beacons, South Wales 
• Hiking Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, Lake District, England
• The Ultimate Guide to Climbing Ben Nevis via Carn Mor Dearg Arête, Scotland

Final thoughts on the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch hiking trail

I love ridge hikes and scrambles, so for me Crib Goch was a really fun experience. The weather conditions definitely made the hike easier and more enjoyable. I’m sure if I had completed the hike in slightly worse weather conditions, my overall thoughts would be different. Although it was crowded on the day, nothing could get rid of the smile on my face. Being high up in the mountains always fills me up with a lot of energy and positivity.

Whilst I personally think Crib Goch is the best way up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), I really don’t want you to underestimate its difficulty. It’s a tough scramble and can challenge you both physically and mentally. If you’re just thinking about scrambling and ridge hikes, try to find a less challenging one first. Completing Crib Goch with prior scrambling experience will feel much more rewarding. 

Have you ever hiked up to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) before? If so, which route did you take and how much of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.