Bullion Basin

The Bullion Basin trail starts just east of the Crystal Mountain Gondola. Follow the path left past the yurt and above the Silver Skis Hotel as it climbs gently into the woods. After 200 yards, you'll come to a cleared snow machine path — turn right and continue up the hill. Come to another junction with the old trail (which descends steeply on the right) near a Crystal Mountain Trails kiosk. Follow the trail uphill just left of that kiosk. Cross the gravel Gold Hill Road once (where the Silver Creek Trail heads south to Henskin Lake), and continue uphill on the trail that parallels the road.  Then cross the road again and continue to make your way north-northeast up the hillside, through a meadow, and follow the trail as it eventually crosses a little bridge over an unnamed creek. 

Continue long switchbacks up the ridge until you come to the equestrian camp and a beautiful spring-fed pond area where Bullion Basin starts. There is a shortcut trail running due east up to the Pacific Crest Trail from this point. Near the horse hitching rails, you will find a sign for a toilet and a very nice wilderness toilet back in the woods, courtesy of the Forest Service and an Eagle Scout project (no view though, unfortunately!). 

Head south past the horse camp and keep right directly after a creek crossing. Walk up through a narrow meadow again, keeping right where the trail splits, following the better-maintained trail path. Walk through one more, larger meadow and then climb the final switchbacks to the main viewpoint. Views of the White River drainage to the northwest, Rainier due west over the Crystal ski runs and Mount Adams to the south are all quite good. Continue past the viewpoint southeast and climb one final hill up to the main junction with the PCT. 

For a longer, more strenuous, 7.7-mile loop, continue south on the Pacific Crest Trail past Crown Point, through Pickhandle Gap, past Pickhandle Point to Bear Gap where you can hang a tight right and drop down toward Henskin Lake and return to the Crystal Mountain resort area on the Silver Creek Trail.

WTA Pro Tip: Restrooms are available at the Crystal resort when open. The Crystal gift shop also offers some hiking supplies - handy if you forget your bug spray. Check the Crystal Mountain website for hours of operations, summer season dates and scheduled events that may bring larger crowds to the area. The nearest gas station is the Greenwater General Store 20 miles west on Highway 410.