More about Hiking Crystal Mountain:

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The Silver Creek and Bullion Basin hiking trails (which are also snowshoe and back-country ski trails in the Winter) pass directly behind and above Crystal Chalets. 

To access them from the condos, there is a small trail that leads up behind the Black Tusk Building (on the Crown Point building side) to a larger access trail to both.  After following the small trail up, turn left on the access trail and you will reach the Silver Creek Trail (a wide trail to the right).  Follow the switchbacks higher up the mountain, and you will be on the Bullion Basin Trail, which is also used by horses. 

The wider, more gentle trail to the right (the Silver Creek Trail), will lead you above the Base Area, under the Gold Hills chair, past an abandoned mine entrance, and eventually to Henskin Lake.  Along the Silver Creek Trail, at a junction known as JimTown on a pleasant stream (1.7 miles from Crystal Chalets), you will find access to Bear Gap (2.5 miles from Crystal Chalets) and the Pacific Crest Trail through slopes of stunning wildflowers in July and August.   For calculating how much you will climb, Crystal Chalets is at approximately 4350 feet of elevation.