Bullion Basin

The Bullion Basin trail starts off Crystal Mountain's Upper Parking Lot C. Follow the path as it climbs into the woods. In 150 feet, ignore a cleared snow machine path and continue up the hill, marked the Blue Bell Loop snowshoe trail, to Gold Creek Road and turn right uphill. Come to another junction with a Crystal Mountain Trails kiosk, where a Forest Service sign (left of the kiosk) points up the overgrown trail uphill (Mary Lee snowshoe trail), or simply stay left on the road as it ascends past first switchback to trail crossing. Continue on the trail making your way north-northeast up the hillside, through a meadow with kiosk, and follow the trail as it shortly crosses a little bridge over Silver Creek. 

Continue long switchbacks up the ridge until the forest opens onto Bullion Basin. You may spot a shortcut trail running due east up to the Pacific Crest Trail from this point. Descend to the equestrian camp. Behind the first hitch rail on the right you will find a path to a nice wilderness toilet back in the woods, courtesy of an Eagle Scout project. 

Head south down 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. 

Extend your hike

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.