1st time hiking this trail, and we took the alternate listed in this guide accessing from the Crystal Mountain Resort parking lot.

With the recent development at the resort, the chapel mentioned in the direction is no longer there. From the parking lot A, facing the entrance staircase, look to your left. As of today, there is a big yurt where the connecting trail (Blue Bell Loop) to the Henskin Lake Trailhead starts which is marked with temporary signs (laminated print signs) that guide you to the trail. This connecting trail runs behind the Silver Skis Charlet Condominium.

On perhaps the last bit of summer-ish beautiful Labor Day weekend, the trail was definitely busy and we passed and saw many groups with or without their four-legged companions (we saw not just dogs but also goats with carriers on the back). All dog owners we encountered today kept theirs on leash - thank you! - and with such narrow trail, it was really felt that this rule truly is important to pass each other safely without mis-stepping or risk falling.

Some parts of the trail require careful footing with loose rocks, roots, and crossing the creek, but overall the trail is in good condition.

There were some remaining wildflowers and huckleberries. We saw a pair of sooty grouse closer to the lake and a couple hoof print by the lake. There were lots of tadpoles and tiny frogs in the lake, which my kid enjoyed watching.

We enjoyed dipping our feet in the lake to cool off and some groups we shared the lake with were waddling and jumping in.

There's not much space to sit down for rest or snack along the trail and trail is narrow throughout once you pass the gold hills ski slope. There's plenty space to sit down and enjoy the crystal clear water of the lake once you get to the lake.

With our ten years old, it took about 3.5 hours including figuring out the way to the trailhead as it wasn't super clear, occasional breaks and good 30-40 min at the lake.

I began at Crystal Mountain Resort at 0700. I followed the Silver Creek Trail to the Henskin Lake Trail. I rounded Henskin Lake to the Crystal Mountain Trail to the PCT. I followed the PCT northwards until I reached Pickhandle Point. I had great views of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Instead of doing the true loop, I went back the way I came other than I followed the Silver Creek Trail instead of returning to Henskin Lake. I arrived at the parking lot around noon. There are a few down trees that I had to scramble over. There were very few people. I only ran into people on my way down.

We (my wife and I and a friend, all in our early 70s, and two doodles) drove to Crystal Mt. Ski Area, parked in front of the Silver Skis condos and hiked up to the beginning of the trail.  We arrived about 9:30 or so.  We saw no other hikers that were apparent, parked where we were.

We hiked up to the Gold Hills road  to the trailhead sign for Silver Springs Trail/Henskin Lake.  After traversing across the Gold Hills ski run we followed the trail into the woods.  After a half mile or so, we came across an elk skeleton with some of the fur still attached, in the middle of the trail. 

We successfully kept the dogs from being too interested in it and proceeded to the junction of the trail, at 2 miles according to my Garmin eTrex GPS, with a spur leading to the PCT, signed for 3/4 mile up the spur, and went on the trail toward Henskin Lake.  At the lake, we followed the shoreline trail to find some logs suitable for sitting and eating lunch at 2.5 mi., where the dogs could leap in muddy water and splash us.  A good time was had by all. It's a pretty little lake - a pond, really - with a few fish leaping and maybe a duck or two.  The temperature was about 70 degrees F by this time.  Our average speed was 2.3 mph moving average.

After lunch, we retraced our steps to the junction, where we took the spur 3/4 mile almost to the PCT.  One of our party had foot problems so we turned back and returned to the car.  

Total distance: 6.37 mi. Moving average 2.3 mph. Total ascent: 1,462 feet.  High Point:  5,764

It was about 75 F at the car, at Wapiti Outdoors in Greenwater, and all the way to and through Enumclaw and Auburn.

On the entire hike, we saw only one other hiker, a man, when we were about 2/3 of the way back to the car.

We are happy to be in Rainier country for a few days of hiking, and took this trail as a warmup after driving from Bellingham for four hours. Leaving from the Crystal Mountain Ski area, we took the Silver Creek trail to Henskin Lake, a 6 mile RT jaunt. The first .3 miles is a steep, rocky road bed, which felt almost exhilarating after our drive. Wildflowers were abloom in the meadow that came after, including paintbrush, pearly everlasting, some lupine, and a few columbine, also penstemon in places. From this meadowy stretch, there are nice views of the ski slopes and foothills, with shadows cast by the clouds. Henskin is another couple miles from the meadow, and though you gain 1000 feet and the trail is dry and scrabbly in places, it feels like an easy-ish hike-- if you're used to hiking. The lake was lovely today, peaceful, green. Saw only one group of 5, a family visiting from Israel. The man was downright ecstatic at how beautiful the lake was, throwing up his hands and laughing in glee. He and a young son plunged in and screeched with joy, the water colder, I'm sure , than anything at home. We live in an amazing place,  indeed. Happy and safe hiking, Everyone!

Hiked to Henskin lake from the Resort parking lot. The first half mile up from the parking lot is rocky and steep but after you get to the silver creek trail that crosses the ski run it becomes much better, a few places that are steep and rocky but overall quite pleasant through the forest. Some bugs at the lake but not many. Very few people on the trail. Most everybody seems to be going up the gondola. There were at least 100 cars in the parking lot when I returned around noon. It was helpful to have my all trails GPS of trail, since no trail signs from the parking lot.  
It’s obvious Crystal Mountain resort is all about their winter sports and their gondola rides in the summer because there’s not much effort into making a nicer trail from the resort up to the Silver Creek Trail .