When you need an ice axe and crampons
- Eryri: it is impossible to reach the summit in winter conditions without specialised equipment such as crampons or ice axes, and knowing how to use them.
- Eryri: snow can cover much of the summit, and as it gets compacted it becomes extremely slippery.
- Eryri: winter hikers need advanced skills, including understanding snow and ice, navigating in low visibility and dealing with the cold.
- Carrying the kit is not enough: you need to know how to use it. The BMC recommends learning on a winter skills course with professional instructors.
- Be ready to change plans or turn back if conditions get worse.
Winter conditions possible: late autumn into spring
Pen y Pass pre-booking: around Easter to 1 November
Walkers counted by month, 2025
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Check conditions before you go
- Yr Wyddfa Live: Eryri's ground condition reports, published twice a week (Tuesday and Friday).
- Eryri: about the ground condition reports
- MWIS: Snowdonia National Park forecast
- Met Office mountain forecast: Snowdonia
- BMC: heading up Snowdon this winter? Be prepared
- Mon
- TueReport
- Wed
- Thu
- FriReport
- Sat
- Sun
Live freezing level and summit forecast
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ice axe and crampons for Snowdon?
In winter conditions, yes. Eryri says it is impossible to reach the summit in winter conditions without specialised equipment such as crampons or ice axes, and knowing how to use them.
When is Snowdon in winter conditions?
Whenever there is snow or ice on the paths, which can happen from late autumn into spring. Check Eryri's ground condition reports (Tuesdays and Fridays on Yr Wyddfa Live) and the freezing level in the forecast.
Where can I check Snowdon conditions today?
Eryri's Yr Wyddfa ground condition reports on the Yr Wyddfa Live website, plus the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS for Snowdonia.
Can I walk up Snowdon in winter without experience?
Eryri says winter hikers need advanced knowledge and skills beyond those for summer, including snow and ice conditions, navigating in low visibility and coping with cold. The BMC suggests a winter skills course with professional instructors.
Sources
- Eryri: climbing Yr Wyddfa
- Eryri: Yr Wyddfa ground condition reports
- Yr Wyddfa Live
- BMC: heading up Snowdon this winter? Be prepared
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- Met Office mountain forecast: Snowdonia
- MWIS: Snowdonia National Park
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 20 October 2026.