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Snowdon National Nature Reserve, near Beddgelert

Wales’s highest mountain is home to rare plants and wildlife

View of the landscape at Snowdon National Nature Reserve

What's here

Mountain access

Parking (accessible)

Parking (charge)

Toilets

Walking trail

Overview

At 1085m (3,560ft), Snowdon - Yr Wyddfa in Welsh - is the highest peak in the Snowdonia range, and the most famous mountain in Wales.

Snowdonia is the only UK home for the delicate Snowdon lily, which grows on ledges and rock faces.

Wildlife here includes feral goats and birds of prey.

The reserve is managed in partnership by Natural Resources Wales, the National Trust, the Snowdonia National Park Authority and local landowners.

National Nature Reserve

Much of Snowdon is a National Nature Reserve.

National Nature Reserves are places with some of the very finest examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.

There are over 70 National Nature Reserves in Wales.

Find out more about National Nature Reserves.

Visiting Snowdon National Nature Reserve

Paths on Snowdon are demanding, rocky and steep in places.

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and check the weather forecast before setting off.

Miners Track (Pen y Pass car park)

Get a taste of walking on Snowdon without going all the way to the summit.

This path is wide and even, and climbs gradually at first.

Return via the same route, once you have reached the second lake, if you do not wish to take the steep climb to the top.

Other routes to the summit

There are several routes from various car parks.

The Watkin Path is the other main access point to the reserve, but it is one of the most challenging paths to the summit.

Find out more from the Snowdonia National Park Visitor Centre in Betws-y-Coed or the Snowdonia National Park website.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway Train goes to the summit from Llanberis.

Closures and diversions

Please note:

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or forest operations
Occasionally we may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff
Please always follow any instructions onsite and make sure you follow any temporary diversion signs in place

How to get here

Pen y Pass car park is 6 miles south of Llanberis.

Directions

Take the A4068 from Llanberis to Capel Curig and the Pen y Pass car park is on the right, opposite the Pen y Pass youth hostel. The car park is managed by Snowdonia National Park Authority.

OS grid reference SH 647 557 (Pen y Pass car park)