I underestimated the diversity of this hike. After reading reviews that stated it was on an old logging road, I figured it would just be a boring walk to a cool ending. This hike had it's ups and downs (literally), multiple forks to keep you on your toes, and the falls at the end were absolutely beautiful. Don't take my "trail issues" to seriously, just know that you should wear a good pair of boots to trek through the mud. If it's a warm day bring a towel and bathing suit as well! You won't want to leave the falls! This hike makes my Top 5!

Idyllic pockets of nature, often tucked away and preserved on public lands, are sometimes overlooked in favor of expansive vistas and remote alpine lakes. We may forget that some of these areas are relatively close to urban areas and make excellent hiking destinations. Recently we had the chance to check out one such area when we headed out Marckworth State Forest to explore the Cherry Creek Valley and find Cherry Creek Falls. Because Cherry Creek Falls is a little under the radar for how close it is to Duvall and other nearby urban centers, don’t expect too much company during most of the year – except during the high summer when the falls become a popular swimming area. Once you get past the hassle of finding the falls, this is a very easy and accessible hike. The route is almost exclusively along logging roads, making a fairly level and smooth grade as you travel through a wide range of forest including everything from vine maples and alders to aging hemlock and Douglas fir. This makes it perfect for kids or first-time hikers, offering a little bit of backcountry feel that almost anyone can reach. To read the full report, check out: http://www.hikingwithmybrother.com/2012/05/cherry-creek-falls.html Jer

With the WTA information and all the trip reports for this hike, we headed out to discover Cherry Creek Falls. We did, indeed, find the falls and what an absolutely magical place! A Northwest version of Shangri la and an idyllic summer swimming hole all in one. The hike to find the falls was not easy, however. Like another reviewer, we managed to got in a loop initially, which added probably a mile to our adventure. We did finally find the right turn off the main trail (Note: a sign on a tree at this fork indicates something about forestry area to the left. Go right.), which after a brief uphill, turned into a long downhill leading to the junction where one turns left onto a very muddy little trail, just as described in the reports. What no one mentions, however, is that a ways down this trail one reaches a fork. We took the right hand fork (appearing to stay nearer the river)which proved to be a faily rough and overgrown trail, but took us to the large cedar tree by the falls. The left hand fork, which seems to go uphill and away from the river, is definitely the easier route and does indeed turn back into a road. This is the route outlined in the hike description and the one with the cairn and purple tape marking the turn-off to the camp site and the falls. So, beware the fork in the trail! Overall, the forest hike was delightful and the falls a wonderful reward for our efforts.

It was a gorgeous day and the trail was pretty dried up after 2 weeks of solid sunshine. We were on a hunt for wildflowers, but it seems to be passed wildflower season already :-( The trail was not crowded, with only two other groups (both with dogs). For the directions, do follow them exactly as written, otherwise it is easy to get lost. I would amend them at the end, once you cross Hannah Creek (the biggest creek you come to) you almost immediately turn right. Somebody had built a rock cairn that pointed us towards the path, otherwise we would have missed it. There are other paths that branch off from this along the way, but stick towards the creek and then you will finally be able to hear the sound of the falls, which will lead you to the fire pit and the falls.

There were four of us today including my hiking partner of 2 years ago who hadn't been out in a long time for various reasons and my current hiking partner who brought her daughter along for the first time. For these reasons I picked an easier hike this time out after really going at the last two times I went out this month. This trail was easy enough to find out of Duvall and starts at a blue gate. There was some parking on the side of the road and a gravel parking lot nearby. The trail, which is mostly old roads was easy enough to hike too but our party got a little switched around and probably added a mile to the 5 mile round trip hike getting our bearings straight. The directions provided on the WTA site on here are good but I think we would have been better off if I had printed them out and brought them along with the multitude roads and side trails on the DNR land here. We wandered around getting a signal on my phone so I could pull up the website and look at the directions again. Getting to the falls is pretty easy but expect what you would expect on any NW trail this time of year. Mud, water and creek crossings along with mosquitoes that were out but not ravenous yet. We forgot the bug spray and it would have helped. To reach the falls stay on the road until you cross the bridge at Margaret Creek, then go to the top of the hill and take the road that continues uphill on the right, the main road goes left. Follow this down a long hill to the bottom where it goes right and left. Go left, it looks more like a real trail now but turns back into an old road soon enough. After rolling along and crossing 2 wide creeks on logs start watching the right for a purple ribbon on a tree and a trail leading into the woods. You will hear the water! Follow this side trail down and to the right and you come down on a camp spot above the falls and a side trail that leads to a nice beach across the pool from the falls. Cherry Creek Falls was pretty and set in some nice green forest. It was full of rushing water from spring runoff. While we sat and ate our lunch we were visited by a pair of merganser ducks, they were pretty too! We had the place to ourselves while at the falls but counted 16 people out and about while we were hiking. Most of them were going to the falls but we did see 4mountain bikers and 2 girls on horseback so be prepared to run into people who aren't just hiking. This is a great hike for when you're waiting for the mountain stuff to thaw out, I look forward to another trip here in the future.