Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Portland (& Other Spring Flowers)

Every spring, Portland’s waterfront and parks bloom into a brilliant display of pink cherry blossoms across the city. The cherry blossoms in Portland are absolutely worth visiting if you live in or near the city, but you need to know where to visit to make the most of your time while the blossoms are in bloom. Below is a list of some of the best spots to find cherry blossoms in Portland, and when to see the cherry blossoms!

Tom McCall Waterfront Cherry Blossoms

• Location:  98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
• When to Go: Mid-March to Mid-April
• Cost: The park is free, but you may need to pay to park

Tom McCall Waterfront Park is easily the most popular place to experience cherry blossoms in Portland. The cherry blossoms can be found on the Westside of Willamette River at the Northernmost end of the park, near the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland. This area includes the Japanese American Historical Plaza, dedicated to Japanese American history and those placed in internment camps during WWII.

The 100 waterfront cherry blossom trees are on a wide grassy stretch of park, perfect to relax and have a picnic under. However, don’t plan to be alone while enjoying the cherry blossoms! If you are visiting on the weekend or after work hours, expect the plaza to be filled with families, photographers, and many others taking in the magical display of color.

To get the best photos or enjoy the park in solitude, visit the park at or just after sunrise. This will be the best time to see the cherry blossoms without many people. There is a parking garage near the North end of the park. Immediately after crossing the street, you will see Steel Bridge. Walk on the sidewalk up towards the bridge to get some great views of the cherry blossoms from above!

Portland Japanese Garden Cherry Blossoms

• Location: 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
• When to Go: Late March to Mid-April
• Cost: $18.95 per adult ticket

The Portland Japanese Garden is known for being one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. So if you can’t visit Japan for cherry blossom season, check out the next best thing!

The garden is filled with many Yoshino Cherry Trees, which bloom slightly later than the ones in the Waterfront Park. You can track their status with daily updates on the Japanese Garden’s website to make sure the sakura (or cherry blossoms) are blooming when you arrive.

The Japanese Garden is located near Washington Park in Northwest Portland. You can take public transit to the garden or drive and park in the garden’s lot or in Washington Park, although spaces are limited.

Cherry Blossoms in Washington Park

• Location: 392-498 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
• When to Go: Mid March to Mid April
• Cost: The park is free, but it is $2/ hour to park

Right next to the Japanese Garden is Portland’s famous Washington Park. There are several beautiful cherry blossom trees here as well. This is a great alternative to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park’s cherry blossoms if you want to visit a less crowded location.

There are fewer cherry trees here than at the waterfront. However, there is still plenty, and they are some of the largest cherry trees I’ve seen! Most will be located near the Tennis Courts and the Rose Test Garden. There may not be many roses this time of year, but the garden is still open for a nice walk. You can sit and eat at one of the picnic tables, under the cherry trees, at the entrance to the garden.

If you drive to the park, you may need to pay to park. If you plan on visiting Portland for long, consider downloading the Park Kitty app. This is common to use to pay for Portland street parking.

More Places in Portland to See Cherry Blossoms

Of course, the above list is not every single place you can find cherry blossoms in Portland. These spring blooms can be found all over the city. Below are a few more popular parks with cherry trees in the city, but you may also see many blooms just walking throughout the city and its surrounding neighborhoods.

• Laurelhurst Park
• Mt. Tabor
• Hoyt Arboretum

When to See Cherry Blossoms in Portland

Cherry Blossoms typically bloom starting Mid to Late March in Portland, and the blooms are best for a little under a week after peak bloom hits (when 70% of blooms are open). The timing of peak bloom varies based on the year’s weather.

You can check the status of the cherry trees by searching for them on social media. Look at recent Google photos, or search the locations on Instagram and view recent posts. This can give you a good idea if the blossoms are near their peak.

Other Spring Blooms Near Portland, Oregon

Cherry blossoms are not the only spring flower you can find near Portland! Portland has a perfect climate for growing flowers and in the spring you can find not only cherry trees but also tulips, trillium, wildflowers, and roses that will also start blooming between April and May.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

• Location: 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
• When to Go: April
• Cost: $20 per adult on weekends

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is not the only tulip field in Oregon, but it is certainly the largest. You will have a great time exploring the 40 acres of tulips found here. The farm has lots of fun activities for kids as well as wine tastings for the adults. On the weekend hot air balloon rides are also available, weather dependent. 

The tulips typically start to bloom in late March or early April, and the festival runs until the end of April. You can track the bloom status on the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm’s website. The tulip farm is just 34 miles from downtown Portland, making for an easy weekend day trip. 

Trillium in Forest Park

• Location: 4099 NW Thurman St, Portland, OR 97210
• When to Go: Late March through April
• Cost: Forest Park is free

Trillium is an iconic flower of the Pacific Northwest. The three-petaled flower starts out as a white flower before slowly transitioning to its purple or pink color. The bloom time varies based on elevation, so while trillium can be found in spring near Portland, it may not bloom until summer up in the mountains.

Forest Park is a great place to find trillium flowers near Portland. There is a designated trail called Trillium Trail, but you are sure to find the flowers also along the 30-mile Wildwood Trail that runs the length of Forest Park. Please do not pick the flowers! You should never pick any wildflower, but trillium in particular can take over 10 years to bloom once planted.

Columbia River Gorge Wildflowers

• Location: Along the Columbia River Gorge
• When to Go: Late April through Early May
• Cost: Free

Unlike the other locations on this list, this flower spot is not a specific destination as much as an area. During the spring, much of the Columbia River Gorge to the East blooms in a vibrant display of wildflowers. Here you will be able to see the yellow balsamroot flowers and purple lupine.

There are several trails containing wildflowers around Hood River and The Dalles. Some of the best include Rowena Plateau, Tom McCall Point, and Memaloose Hills. Starting in 2019, a permit is required to hike one of the best wildflower hikes, Dog Mountain, on the weekends.

Read More: Rowena Plateau’s Wildflowers

Portland’s Rose Garden

• Location: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
• When to Go: Late May through June
• Cost: The park is free, but it is $2/ hour to park

It would be a crime to talk about Portland flowers without mentioning roses. Also known as the “City of Roses”, Portland has the perfect climate for growing roses, and there is no better place to see them than the International Rose Test Garden. 

The Rose Garden is located near Washington Park and the Japanese Garden. There is no entrance fee, so you are free to wander the over 600 varieties of roses found in the 7-acre garden. The roses begin to bloom in late May, and many last all summer. However, June is the best time to visit, during peak bloom and before some roses may become heat damaged. 

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