Among the six primary routes up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the Snowdon Ranger Path is one of the most historic and has seen intrepid explorers taking it on since the Victorian era.
On my recent visit to Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), I took on the Ranger Path and, in this guide, I’ll share all of the essential information you need to attempt this route for yourself.
What is the Snowdon Ranger Path?
The Snowdon Ranger Path is thought to be one of the oldest routes up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia).
This path owes its name to John Morton, an intrepid mountain guide known as the 'Snowdon Ranger', who established an inn at the trailhead in the early 19th century called the Snowdon Ranger Inn’. This is now the YHA Snowdon Ranger hostel.
Today, his legacy lives on as adventurers from far and wide follow in his footsteps, guided by the allure of this historic route.
Key Stats
Start location: The Snowdon Ranger path begins at Llyn Cwellyn car park near the YHA Snowdon Ranger hostel.
Distance: 8 miles (13km) round-trip
Elevation Gain: 3071ft (936m)
Time: This route takes about 3 hours each way. It took me exactly 2hr55 from the car park to the summit with a short break halfway and time to take photos en route.
Common Questions
Is the Snowdon Ranger Path Difficult?
The Eryri National Park Authority classify the Snowdon Ranger Path as hard/strenuous, however, this is the same difficulty rating given to all of the paths up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
In reality, this is one of the easier paths to the summit. The path is well-trodden and easy to follow, plus the incline is moderate most of the way (except for a short steep section in the middle).
The terrain is varied, starting with a gravel path. The steep part in the middle is very rocky which requires good footwear. After this, it’s plain sailing to the summit with grass and paving stones. You can see some of the different terrain in these images from our climb:
Is the Snowdon Ranger Path Easy to Follow?
Yes, the Snowdon Ranger Path is very easy to follow and clearly waymarked from the car park to the summit. Some sections are very rocky but the correct route is still obvious.
Is the Ranger Path Suitable for Dogs?
Yes, the Snowdon Ranger Path is a good route for dogs because there are no steep drops and the terrain is reasonable. When I visited, several other groups we passed had dogs on this route. However, those will small legs may need helping over larger boulders at some points.
Parking and Charges for Ranger Path
Parking for the Snowdon Ranger Path is at Llyn Cwellyn Car Park near the YHA Snowdon Rangers hostel. The cost is £3 for 3 hours or £6 for a full day. You will need a full day if you are climbing Snowdon. This is one of the quieter car parks because it’s a quieter route.
- Postcode: LL54 7YS
- What3Words: ///tripling.vegetable.bells
- Google Maps: See pin here
How To Do the Snowdon Ranger Path
Here is a Snowdon Ranger Path map on AllTrails:
Step-by-Step Guide
From the car park, the path starts off moderately steep as the gravel path winds and zig-zags up the hill, but this doesn’t last for long. It soon flattens out as you make your way around the lower slopes of Moel Cynghorion (the neighbour of Yr Wyddfa).
Shortly after this, the path splits into two with the left part heading towards Llanberis. Remember to veer right as indicated on the signpost.
The middle section of the hike is the hardest as you make your way up the cliffs on the northern side of the mountain above Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. This is the part highlighted on this map as the 'accident blackspot'.
This middle section is steep and the terrain becomes very rocky, occasionally requiring you to climb over large boulders so good footwear is essential. This is also the windiest part of the path as it’s exposed on both sides. The below images are from this section of the hike.
Once you’ve made it past the rocky section, you’re onto the final stretch. The path becomes grassy again and by this point, you’ll have stunning views in both directions with the lakes Llyn Coch and Llyn Glas coming into view too.
Shortly before reaching the summit, you’ll cross over the railway tracks and join the other routes that traverse this side of the mountain including the Llanberis path and the PYG and Miners' tracks at Bwlch Glas.
At this point, you lose the tranquillity that the rest of the route offers and you’ll be surrounded by other hikers for the final 15 minutes of the hike.
Pros and Cons of the Snowdon Ranger Path
Pros
- One of the easier routes – This is generally considered to be an easy route to the summit and I tend to agree. Other than a steep section in the middle, the incline was very reasonable.
- Much quieter than the Llanberis path – When visiting in May, we passed around 5 groups of people along the entirety of this path. After joining the Llanberis path near the top, we passed this many people every minute.
- The summit is in view most of the way – I like the motivation of being able to see the summit which is visible for almost all of the route.
- Easy to navigate – There is a clear path for the entire journey which can’t be said about all of the routes up Yr Wyddfa.
- Parking is reasonably priced – Being a quieter route means that the car park isn’t busy, you don’t need to book ahead, and the price for pay and display is reasonable.
Cons
- Rockier terrain than the Llanberis path – You’ll encounter different terrains as you ascend. One part is very rocky and requires decent hiking footwear. It’s about on par with the other routes.
- Not as exciting as other paths – The views on this path are incredible but there are no steep drops or ridges like difficult paths. Some people may appreciate this though.
Related Questions
Snowdon Range Path vs Llanberis: Which is Better?
The Llanberis path is the easier route when it comes to the incline and the terrain. However, it’s also very busy because it’s the most popular route and takes the longest due to the gradual incline.
The Snowdon Ranger Path is slightly more difficult than the Llanberis Path because there is a steep section in the middle, but it is still suitable for beginners and you’ll enjoy a quieter walk and will cut your total journey by about half an hour each way.
Published: 1 June 2023