Choosing Between Many Hiking Routes to Summit Snowdon

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During my stay in Wales this summer, summiting Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) obviously topped the list of things I wanted to accomplish. There were other areas of Snowdonia National Park that I was excited to explore too, but as a hiker, no visit is complete without attempting the tallest mountain in Wales (and England). 

Having never been to Wales before, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the terrain. When locals who are used to another environment describe a trail, you never quite know what their scale of easy vs. hard means to them. What makes summiting a Welsh nuttall different from other mountains?

At 3,560ft (1,085m), Snowdon is not as tall as our American 14ers, but I know from hiking in the Smokies and North Cascades that altitude isn’t what matters. The real question is about prominence; how much elevation change is happening per mile? And as I learned after hiking to Castell y Gwynt in Snowdonia, how much scrambling is required?

Prefer a one day guided group hike to summit Snowdon? Check out these cool options, including a sunset hike, a sunrise hike, and this tour on one of the less crowded, quieter paths. If interested in a multi-day guided group tour, Adventure Tours UK has a 5-day trip that includes Snowdon.

Which Trail Should I Hike to Summit Snowdon?

There are several hiking routes you can choose from to summit Snowdon, including the Llanberis Path, Pyg Track, Miners Track, South Ridge, Crib Goch, Watkin Path, Snowdon Ranger Path and Rhyd Ddu Path. In choosing which path(s) to take, I found this article and this article about the pros/cons of each route to Snowdon to be very helpful. It comes down to what you’re looking to get out of the hike; do you want the easiest, hardest, most scenic, or most secluded path?

Personally, because I hike often and feel strong but I also have reservations about exposed edges and scrambles, I decided to take the Pyg Track and the Miners Track loop (or as they’d call it in the United Kingdom, “circular”). I didn’t want to take the easiest route (Llanberis) nor the hardest routes (Crib Goch or Watkin), and rather than retrace my steps out-and-back, I wanted to experience two different trails.

Crib Goch looks absolutely terrifying to me. This is a an offshoot from the Pyg Track – be sure not to accidentally end up on Crib Goch if that wasn’t your plan! Download the offline GPX tracks for the Pyg and Miners Tracks to a navigation app like GAIA beforehand.

After researching online to find out which direction people recommend, I decided to take Pyg Track up and Miners Track down. I’m glad I did. Pyg Track is very steep and had me breathing hard, but it provides wonderful views the entire way and includes more scrambly sections (however brief) than Miners. I would not have preferred to go down Pyg. Miners is much more gradual, which is good for a descent because I tend to have trouble with my knees on steep descents. After a tough summit, taking Miners Track down was easygoing and allowed some peaceful recovery time. You also walk right next to the lake by taking Miners; pack a swimsuit and reward yourself for summiting Snowdon by going for a wild swim!

While the Pyg Track is only 3.5 miles (5.6km) one-way and Miners Track is 4 miles (6.4km), you are ascending from about 1,178ft (359m) elevation at the Pen-y-Pass trailhead up to the 3,560ft (1,085m) summit over those 3.5 miles. That’s 2,382ft of elevation change over 3.5 miles. That’s at least as steep or maybe even steeper than going to the South Rim from 3 Mile Resthouse in the Grand Canyon.

I used to train a lot for my hikes, but this summer because I’ve been traveling and spending extended time in cities, I’ve been lax about it. Boy did that come back to bite me on this trail! The amount of breaks I had to take on Pyg Track to catch my breath truly humbled me. 

Getting to the Trailhead

As alternatives to Betws-y-Coed, you could also base yourself in Caernarfon, Bangor, Llanberis, Nant Peris, or Porthmadog and still catch the Sherpa bus.

There are facilities at the trailhead if you need to use the bathroom or fill up your water before embarking on the trail.

The Route

Pyg Track to Miners Track Circular is a very well-maintained route with the exception of a couple short scrambly places. As someone who doesn’t usually like scrambles, I didn’t find these sections to be harrowing and in fact quite enjoyed them. That said, please step carefully and take the route seriously.

“Wales’s Snowdonia National Park is perilous in spots and also incredibly busy. The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team works around the clock answering over 200 calls annually, from mild injuries to fatal falls. The park averages eight deaths per year, mainly due to two specific black spots: Crib Goch and the Pyg and Miner’s Track scrambles.”
– Explorer’s Web, The Most Dangerous Places in the UK

Pyg Track

Pyg Track starts out steep from the get-go. Rocky stairs will bring you around a bend until you are no longer on the side of the mountain range that allows you to see the road; instead, you’ll enter the valley where Llyn Llydaw rests between mountain peaks (“llyn” is the Welsh word for “lake”). You do get a small break from the incline during a stretch between Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn, but once you are beside Llyn Glaslyn (the second lake directly at Snowdon’s feet), the ascent becomes relentless.

You’ll follow switchbacks for the rest of the ascent up to the ridgeline. Try your best not to estimate how many more switchbacks await you; each new section of trail you imagine to be the “final stretch” will soon reveal itself to be just another switchback. Everyone I came across on this part of the trail was moving pretty slow, which made me feel better.

Snowdon Summit

When you finally reach the ridgeline atop the Pyg Track, you will have views over both sides of the mountain range, but you’re not quite at the summit yet. You’ll follow the Snowdon Mountain Railway track up to the real summit, where you can immortalize your accomplishment by taking a photo at the golden summit marker (you will likely need to wait in line). From here you will have 360 degree views over Snowdonia National Park and Wales.

Miners Track

To return back to Pen-y-Pass via the Miners Track, you’ll start by retracing your steps on the Pyg Track. During your earlier ascent, you will have noticed where the Miners Track joins Pyg. When you get to this junction, split off onto the Miners Track and begin your descent towards Glaslyn.

You’ll need to get your hands on the rocks to steady yourself in a few places initially, but once you get to Glaslyn it’s very leisurely walking the rest of the way. I really wish I had brought something to swim in so I could jump in the lake! Instead I just dipped my feet and my head in, which felt glorious after a long hot day.

Miners Track will bring you near ruins and barracks from the old mining days, plus other lakes in addition to Glaslyn (Llyn Teyrn and Llyn Llydaw), before finally curving back around to the carpark.

Special Considerations When Summiting Snowdon

☀️ There is absolutely no shade from the sun anywhere on the Pyg and Miner’s Tracks. Be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen and bring plenty of water.

👪 Hundreds of thousands of people summit Snowdon every year. To avoid crowds, try to pick a weekday morning and go during a month when kids are usually in school, maybe September. I summited Snowdon in June and had clear, wonderful weather (if a bit hot), but came across lots of large hiking parties full of schoolchildren, likely Scouts. I was quite impressed with them; if they can do it so can we! Although most of us don’t have the benefit of being encouraged on by chaperones. I overheard one kid, upon arriving at the junction from Miners to Pyg, exclaim, “hey, there’s no money tree here!” and the adult replied “we haven’t reached it yet, it’s just up ahead”.

❄️ Going in winter conditions requires an ice axe and other special equipment and should only be attempted by very experienced adventurers. May to September is generally the ideal time to hike in terms of weather.

🏕 If you need any gear, clothes, or to stock up on snacks for the trail, Betws-y-Coed has it all. They have a SPAR and more outdoor gear shops than I can count. The town is totally walkable, so you should be able to handle all your shopping, eating, accommodation, and transportation needs quite easily. I stayed at Fairhaven Guest House which was really cozy and not as expensive as some of the other options. It’s obviously cheapest to camp, though. There are plenty of campsites to choose from along the road between Betws-y-Coed and Pen-y-Pass.

🐶 Dogs are allowed on the Pyg and Miners paths. If you plan to bring your dog, keep them on a lead and be aware that there are sheep on Snowdon. Dogs are known to pull and run after sheep.

✈️ Coming to Wales from further afield? Use an Airalo eSIM for affordable international cell data and don’t forget to protect your investment with travel insurance.

I fell in love with the rugged Welsh mountains during this trip. Hiking in Snowdonia National Park was unique amongst my experiences trekking around the world and it’s nothing like hiking in the nearby manicured English Peak District or South Downs national parks, or along Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re looking for more day hike or overnight trekking itinerary ideas in northern Wales or the United Kingdom, check out these posts:

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