Cherry Creek Falls

Cherry Creek Falls Trailhead

Duvall, WA

The best part of my job is getting to go out and explore. Not only do I enjoy being outside, but it is imperative to me to be knowledgeable about the trails in Western Washington so that I have an idea of which hike will be most appropriate for each individual coming into an intensive with me. Whether clients have differences in physical abilities or stamina, or hold particular concerns or phobias (heights, anyone?), I strive to find the best hike for you so that your intensive experience is deeply healing.

So, let’s dive in! Cherry Creek Falls is outside of Seattle in Duvall, WA. With the exception of a handful of “Private Property” signs, I genuinely had a sense of being “away” once I got onto the trail. Although there were brief sections of elevation gain, it did not feel too strenuous for my* activity level. I was out of breath at times, but I suspect that might have been different had I slowed down. And, let me be real here: I was cookin'. Because of this trail’s location, I was on a time crunch- I had to be home before my son got off the bus. It took me almost a full mile before I realized that I was not enjoying this hike much because I was in my head about being done in time. 

I am so glad that I received that signal.

It gave me a moment to pause and remember why I was there. I cannot preach the ‘healing power of nature’ if I do not let it heal me. So I took my pause. In that moment, I used multiple tools I've learned over years of practice, but in short, it looked like this:

• I started taking slower, deeper breaths.

• I grounded myself by naming what I was looking at, hearing, smelling, and both physically and emotionally feeling.

• I honored my stress by normalizing it.

• I soothed my stress by reminding myself that I had already planned the details of this trip with some precision: I knew about how long it would take to complete, and I’d already built in a time buffer for pictures (because apparently I’m a “shutterbug”), plus an additional buffer for the inevitable traffic I would hit on the commute home.

• I soothed my stress further by reminding myself that I now have a support network who can step in with my son if I were to be late.

• I reinforced that I needed time to slow down and enjoy these moments.

• I asked myself what was bringing me joy in that space.

That ^^^^ laundry list of skills took approximately two minutes (brains are so fast!) for me to complete. And with that, I was able to take a slower pace. I occasionally found myself rushing from time to time along the path, but the list helped me catch it earlier and with more grace. Most importantly, it helped me experience this trail more fully.

From then on, I was able to hear the birds and feel the breeze. I was able to marvel at the treetops and balance on logs along the path. There were two creek crossings along the way before reaching the falls. The first was easy enough to maneuver. The second required slightly more agility: there was a handful of rocks to balance on (I was successful!) until a leap of faith (I was less successful…) would carry you to a log long enough to cross. Fun fact: on my return crossing, I realized there was a much larger log not 20 feet to my left that could have saved me from the soggy socks I would be hiking in for the second half of the trip- you live, you learn…

Up (then down) two-ish steep hills, and I finally reached the falls. There was a wading pool that made me determined to come back in warmer weather, and a picturesque log on which I could sit and chill for a while. I reflected on my journey there- my stress, my internal redirection, and my general feeling outside. I wanted to muster something poetic about the trip, but all that landed was, “This was just... nice.” It was peaceful and pretty, and it was better than literally any other work task I could have otherwise done that day. Not long after arriving, a lovely group of women also arrived at the falls. They were there celebrating their friend’s birthday, complete with Pinterest-worthy individual charcuterie boxes and homemade sourdough (which they very generously offered me, and I very obviously accepted because… bread). The group was kind and uplifting, describing adventuring as both an annual birthday tradition and- as if it were my theme for this hike- as a much-needed and well-deserved break from the daily office grind. Their presence and their sentiments resonated with me and once again reinforced my "why". 

*Enter Soapbox

My "why" for taking this work outdoors is that it is fundamental to our physical and emotional health. It is not “taking a break”- therefore it is not something that you have to earn or “deserve”- so much as it is a different kind of work, a recalibration if you will. When you take your car for service, is your car taking a break? Is it at the spa? No, it is being repaired- or preemptively avoiding repair, depending on what service it is undergoing. When we intentionally go outside to center, we are either healing what is injured or nourishing ourselves to protect against future injury, possibly even both. The moment we start allowing ourselves to take time from the grind (because the grind will NEVER offer it willingly) is the moment we start on a path towards meaningful and sustainable recovery from years of pain.

*Exeunt Soapbox

My hike back to the car was mostly uneventful (read: “serene”)- though I lost the lens cap for my camera, which was a bummer. I was able to stop periodically to enjoy listening to the creek in a few spots, especially as the sun started peeking out and generating some much-needed warmth. By the time I got back to my car, I desperately needed to stretch because I’m over 30, but otherwise I wasn’t worse for wear. I found that I felt calm and upbeat the rest of the evening, which was especially notable on my drive home, because there was just as much traffic as I’d expected. It just did not shake me the way it normally would have. And, fear not, I did make it home before my son!

Overall, I’d say that Cherry Creek Falls was a great trail for outdoor therapy intensives. It was not too strenuous* nor did it have any features that some find intimidating. It was lovely and shaded (which will be especially beneficial in the summer), and although I encountered other hikers along this trail (on a Thursday, no less), there were multiple places where the trail slightly diverged, offering opportunities for therapeutic work in more privacy. This was a great space that I look forward to coming back to again!

Are you interested in joining me? Feel free to check out my services page or contact me!

I am looking forward to going outside with you.

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And always remember: You’ve got this.

Caralie and her Lego alter-ego hitting the trail

#PNWNatureTherapy #AdventureTherapy #MindfulnessInNature #TherapyOutside #NatureHeals #HikeYourOwnHike

*All activity levels are different, and I do not hold anyone- including myself- to others’ standards!

**Opinions shared are based on personal experience and not professional, legal, or medical advice. If you are going outside alone, you are responsible for doing so with sound judgment and with appropriate safety precautions in place.