Making it to the upper parking lot for Buckeye Lake Trail cuts the majority of mileage off of the route. It's a pretty gnarly 4wd road to this upper trailhead (the same forest road that serves as the hiking/ski trail), but a lot of 4wd cars can make it. Just know that there is no roadside parking on the way up; it's either park at the bottom or make it all the way up.
There is a gate at the top of the road next to a stream crossing. This marks the start of the short singletrack section up to the lake.