Day hiked this several times to just get away in 1988 ,1989, I worked at Lake Yellowstone Hotel so have to get away from the crowds. I also passed this peak on trips to Mt Doane and a day hike to Langford. Beautiful place.
Communications site preventative maintenance with Dave, Dan and Trent. Perfect day! No wildlife, though, anywhere in view.
ywardhorner - Jun 29, 2014 2:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
Easy and Fun
Climbed it with Matt Lemke and another friend. Snow was in great condition most of the way, but rotten on top.
Matt Lemke - Jun 11, 2014 8:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
Nice hike with good snow
West right up the snow from the road. No post-holing!
wyomtman - Jun 11, 2014 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2014
Corn!!!
Touched the top on the way back from Doane, snowboared a line in the northwest bowl all the way back to the parking lot, just enough snow… Tons of spring skiing options!
jdarr67 - May 14, 2014 10:01 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2014
Snowy Spring
Climbed with Trent and Dustin for work. Ascended ridge about a mile west of summit. Traversed down about 300 vertical feet, then went up west ridge, all on snowshoes. Snow is set up nicely. Depth of snow at summit is 3 meters. Huge cornices all over these ridges. Ski tracks on all aspects. Great weather. Great day.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2012
Multiple Times
Climb it every year at least once for work. Easiest way is bushwhack from road west of Eleanor Lake and follow the creek into the bowl. Climb the bowl at it's lowest point and stroll up to the summit. NPS uses it for public safety repeater.
As Lake Hotel employees we've done this multiple times. All you have to do is follow the water, and in my opinion it's easier than Avalanche Peak (Across the Street).
musicman82 - Aug 15, 2011 5:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2011
Fun and short
Did this early on a clear summer afternoon with my friend Justin; it was a nice easy one after Doane and Silvertip in the previous week!
I've climbed Top Notch several times using the routes mentioned in the text. The first time was in 1976 when I was working at Yellowstone Lake Hotel; the most recent was August 20, 2012. I've continued down the fabulous ridge to Mt. Langford once. I think it took about 6 hours round-trip from the top of Top Notch.
Because Top Notch is such an overlooked gem among Yellowstone hikes, I created this page to replace an earlier one that was deleted from SP. I'm indebted to the folks who posted photos on that earlier page, which I've reused.
freedeep - Mar 22, 2020 12:33 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 1988
Skied from the summit in MayWith co-worker from Old Faithful, on our day off boot-kicked our way to the summit. Skied the north face, not too difficult. Well worth the hike.
tlockling - Mar 26, 2016 4:13 pm
Hiked several timesDay hiked this several times to just get away in 1988 ,1989, I worked at Lake Yellowstone Hotel so have to get away from the crowds. I also passed this peak on trips to Mt Doane and a day hike to Langford. Beautiful place.
jdarr67 - Sep 26, 2014 6:19 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2014
Work, work, work!Communications site preventative maintenance with Dave, Dan and Trent. Perfect day! No wildlife, though, anywhere in view.
ywardhorner - Jun 29, 2014 2:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
Easy and FunClimbed it with Matt Lemke and another friend. Snow was in great condition most of the way, but rotten on top.
Matt Lemke - Jun 11, 2014 8:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2014
Nice hike with good snowWest right up the snow from the road. No post-holing!
wyomtman - Jun 11, 2014 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2014
Corn!!!Touched the top on the way back from Doane, snowboared a line in the northwest bowl all the way back to the parking lot, just enough snow… Tons of spring skiing options!
jdarr67 - May 14, 2014 10:01 am Date Climbed: May 13, 2014
Snowy SpringClimbed with Trent and Dustin for work. Ascended ridge about a mile west of summit. Traversed down about 300 vertical feet, then went up west ridge, all on snowshoes. Snow is set up nicely. Depth of snow at summit is 3 meters. Huge cornices all over these ridges. Ski tracks on all aspects. Great weather. Great day.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2012
Multiple TimesClimb it every year at least once for work. Easiest way is bushwhack from road west of Eleanor Lake and follow the creek into the bowl. Climb the bowl at it's lowest point and stroll up to the summit. NPS uses it for public safety repeater.
SummitWolvesYNP - Jun 10, 2012 4:14 pm
Multiple TimesAs Lake Hotel employees we've done this multiple times. All you have to do is follow the water, and in my opinion it's easier than Avalanche Peak (Across the Street).
musicman82 - Aug 15, 2011 5:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2011
Fun and shortDid this early on a clear summer afternoon with my friend Justin; it was a nice easy one after Doane and Silvertip in the previous week!
chugach mtn boy - Sep 30, 2010 4:19 pm
A few timesI've climbed Top Notch several times using the routes mentioned in the text. The first time was in 1976 when I was working at Yellowstone Lake Hotel; the most recent was August 20, 2012. I've continued down the fabulous ridge to Mt. Langford once. I think it took about 6 hours round-trip from the top of Top Notch.
Because Top Notch is such an overlooked gem among Yellowstone hikes, I created this page to replace an earlier one that was deleted from SP. I'm indebted to the folks who posted photos on that earlier page, which I've reused.