Lovely hike with some elevation gain and loss to the falls.
A few sections with downed trees adjacent to the trail to rout around but not blocking. About 8 cars parked along the roadway at 10am on a Friday.

Falls are gorgeous with a nice pool to splash around in and room to spread out a blanket and relax in sun or shade.

Will revisit.

Cherry Creek was a delightful 5-mile hike with a gentle, consistent elevation gain that offers more than just a leisurely stroll—yet remains very manageable for families and kids alike. 😊

We arrived around 9:30 AM, and the parking along Mountain Valley Road was already full. Many hikers were parking about half a mile out to avoid areas marked with “No Parking” signs—definitely something to plan for if you’re heading out on a weekend morning.

The trail itself was quite muddy, with a few downed trees along the way. Navigating these small obstacles kept things interesting and made the hike a bit more engaging. However, it could be challenging for bikers in certain sections where trees block the path and must be crossed on foot.

Scenery-wise, this trail is a gem. Both sides of the path are lined with lush greenery, moss-covered trees, and vibrant, sparkling green underbrush. It’s serene and slightly dramatic, making it a visual treat from start to finish.

The grand finale is a stunning dual waterfall with rushing water. In the summer, once things dry out, the wide, open area at the end would be perfect for relaxing and soaking it all in.

We made a last minute decision to get out of the house on Memorial Day and get an easy hike done in between the rain clouds. We hadn't been to Cherry Creek Falls before so decided to give it try.

Arriving around 11 a.m. on a holiday, we discovered it's a popular hike! We had to park over 1/2 mile away from the trailhead on Mountain View Rd NE. Not a big deal - we just added an extra mile to our hike.

It's defitely a family- and dog-friendly hike as there were many families out with kiddos from infants to teenagers, and many folks also brought their dogs.

The trail was a bit muddy throughout, which makes sense because it had been raining for a day. Despite the mud, the trail was in good condition.

The payoff waterfalls at the end were nice, if not a bit crowded. Be sure to look for the giant tree just before reaching the falls - I'm guessing, but it has to be an old-growth tree that somehow was missed by the loggers when they cleared the area years ago. 

If you're looking for a quite hike in the woods, this isn't the one for you, or go mid-week. It was crowded today. Lot's a young kids having fun, but being loud as kids who are having fun can be, and four or five groups we passed along the trail were listening to music, which can take away from the peacefulness of being for a walk in the woods (sounds like I'm a grumpy old man...I don't think I am, I'm just giving an honest assessment of our visit.) 

Overall, it was a fine short walk - we did 6 miles total - the forest was lovely, the waterfalls were nice, and everyone we saw out there (including us) was having a good time.

Please be prepared to carry out any trash, dog poop bags or toilet paper. I hike the area regularly and within 1 mile of the trail head I found multiple examples of people leaving toilet paper and dog bags (this was 6AM So no one else was out there and they were both coming back to pick it up). There are trash cans south of the trailhead that are paid in cooperation between King County Roads (where you park) and WA DNR (the land managers where the trail is). And as always mentioned, please respectful parking. Two vehicles were towed on Saturday and that caused the road to be blocked for an hour. We have no other way out and this risks emergency services getting to our area.

The elevation gain was spread out enough where the hike was not too intense. There were multiple fallen trees but they were easy to get over. Trail was very muddy in parts and there was a small creek with very slippery rocks and I did fall. It is important to come prepared and to not wear white.