Crater Lake: Sun Notch Trail

Hiking the Crater Lake Sun Notch Trail

Crater Lake is one of the most visually stunning places I have ever been. The 21 mile lake looks good from any angle but a lot of people gather in the same spots to see take pictures and take in the majesty. If you are looking for a different perspective and the best of one of the most unique features of the lake, the Crater Lake Sun Notch Trail might be just the spot for you.

The short hikes biggest attraction is the viewpoint for the Phantom Ship Island. A small island that takes on the look of an old pirate ship, especially on foggy days. In bright sunshine the “ship” is just as stunning as it sticks up 170 feet above the water. Crater Lake is so big that if you don’t visit the Sun Notch trail, you might not even recognize the Phantom Ship anchored in the South Eastern corner of the water.

The Hike

The good news is that the Sun Notch trail is pretty easy. There isn’t too much to the loop that is under a mile long. I was surprised to see so much snow on the trail in early July, but I was still able to manage the hike pretty well. There is a large open field in the middle of the trail and when you aren’t looking at the water, there are plenty of peaks to keep your attention.

There are a couple of good views of Crater Lake from the trail, including the Phantom Ship Overlook. While the ship is the attraction, I really liked having a different perspective of the lake itself. Most of my visit was spent on the other side, so seeing the lake from the East side was really cool.

There is a little easter egg on the Sun Notch trail as well. While most people just stick to the outer rim and looking at the lake, there is actually a small pile of rocks close to the viewpoint, but on the inside near the field. In this stack of rocks is a geological marker. I think these are cool and always love finding them on my hikes but most people I saw around didn’t venture this far away from the views!

Phantom Ship

Now for the main draw. The Phantom Ship is definitely worth of it. The viewpoint gives the best view but there are other views around the trail of the island.

To be honest, I had no idea what the Phantom Ship was when I started this hike. Then I saw this little island and thought, Hey that looks like a ship and realized what the viewpoint was for!

The lake is so large, it is hard to take it all in. Wizard Island is the biggest feature and easy to spot but it makes it hard to put it in perspective. I feel like the Phantom Ship being smaller, really shows just how massive the lake is while also showing the diversity of plants and rock formations that have made it through the hundreds of thousands of years.

The Sun Notch Trail was my last hike of the day at Crater Lake and I am very glad that ventured up the East Rim to see the lake and this island in a new perspective.

Video of the Crater Lake Sun Notch Hike

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Crater Lake Sun Notch hike so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

f you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around .90 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 131 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 7,167 feet. I was also moving for a total 24 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The Sun Notch Trail at Crater Lake National park is relatively easy. The trail is pretty easy to follow, although, when I visited the first week of July, there was still a decent amount of snow on the ground that blocked the trail. The hike is at or around 7,000 feet of elevation so if you haven’t hiked at elevation it could be more challenging and harder to catch your breath. However, as this is a short hike and has little elevation gain, I am going to rank it as an easy hike.

Terrain

The Sun Notch trail is well maintained and easy to follow. In the snowy season it can be a challenge to follow the trail but for the most part it is easy to follow. There is a good amount of shade on the trail but does have some exposed areas. Make sure to have sun and weather protection, especially because of the altitude.

Access to the Sun Notch Trail at Crater Lake

The Sun Notch trail is part of Crater Lake National Park and there is a fee to enter the park. The trailhead is located on the East Rim Road. When I visited, in July of 2025, this was as far as you could go on the East Rim road before it was closed for construction. Please check with park officials about any closers before trying to access this hike.

Wrapping up the Crater Lake Sun Notch Trail

I was completely blown away by Crater Lake National Park. The Sun Notch Trail was kind of a last minute decision and my last hike of the day at the park. I can’t believe I almost missed this great little hike with such amazing views and my introduction to the Phantom Ship.

The hike isn’t very challenging and it is away from the most popular areas of the park. It was a nice way to get away from the crowds (while still busy) and enjoy the lake and peaks that surround it. While this wouldn’t be my first choice if I could only see one thing at the park, it definitely is worth being added to the list.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Crater Lake Sun Notch Trail