Basin Lake via Bullion Basin Trail

Basin Lake via Bullion Basin Trail is easily accessible from Crystal Mountain. You’ll get a nice view of Mount Rainier, and you won’t be fighting for space with anyone on this quiet trail. Be prepared for a bit of scrambling, but this bit can be avoided with a detour.

The hike begins from the road beside the chapel, heading out back on the Gold Hill Road East. The first 14 minutes or so are very straightforward. You’ll go through a 5-way junction, taking Bullion Basin Trail to where it crosses Silver Creek and switchbacks before straightening out. Make a quick side trip to look over the basin on your right, then keep left to get onto the PCT. At the junction near Norse Peak, keep right, then keep right again. You’ll drop some elevation and then keep left as you approach Basin Lake. From here, retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

If you want to avoid the scrambly, steep part, continue on the PCT at the Norse Basin junction (stay right). The trail loops around Norse Peak and meets up with the basin trail again on the other side.