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Katrina Yentch
Katrina Yentch is a freelance journalist, editor, and copywriter living in Portland. When she isn't writing, she's either napping and cooking in the winter or paddling and backpacking during the summer.
Where to Find Portland Cherry Blossoms
Sakura take over the waterfront each spring; here’s how to enjoy the best of Portland’s cherry blossom season.
Katrina Yentch
Katrina Yentch is a freelance journalist, editor, and copywriter living in Portland. When she isn't writing, she's either napping and cooking in the winter or paddling and backpacking during the summer.
Although I grew up affiliating cherry blossom trees with Japan and Asia, I was surprised to learn that the temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest is also ideal for them. Every spring — typically between mid-March and early April — varying shades of white and pink saturate cherry blossom trees throughout Portland, promising warmer weather and longer days ahead. Here are several of my favorite spots for finding cherry blossoms in Portland.
Know Before You Go
Pulling down on a cherry tree’s branches or pulling branches or flowers off the tree for pictures is considered disrespectful and harmful to the trees. Please be considerate and keep your hands off those beautiful branches!
Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Japanese American Historical Plaza
Cherry trees are all over Portland, but the best-known spot for seeing them is the Japanese American Historical Plaza in downtown Tom McCall Waterfront Park. One hundred perfectly aligned cherry blossom trees line this stretch of the park next to the Steel Bridge. Come springtime, I love biking to the waterfront to take photos and appreciate the scene. Many other people enjoy this, too, so biking or taking public transit helps mitigate some of the crowding.
Portland’s cherry trees don’t have the longest-running history among other cherry blossom sites worldwide. However, they date back to 1990, when the Oregon Nikkei Endowment (now the Japanese American Museum of Oregon) created the Japanese American Historical Plaza to recognize America’s diverse cultural experiences. With help from Portland Parks and Recreation, the Metropolitan Arts Commission and other community organizations, the Japanese Grain Importers Association rewarded their efforts through these remarkable trees. Third-generation Japanese American Robert Murase designed the plaza landscape and the sculptures and granite stones decorating it, which feature poetry by Hisako Saito, Lawson Inada, Masaki Kinoshita and Shizue Iwatsuki.
Portland Cherry Blossoms FAQs
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Portland?
Where can I see cherry blossoms in Portland?
How long do cherry blossoms last in Portland?
Cherry Blossoms in and Around Washington Park
Cherry blossoms thrive throughout Washington Park, particularly within the Portland Japanese Garden. Sitting just above the Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden offers scenery that changes with the season and is worth visiting any time of year. I especially love autumn for its vibrant foliage, but in the spring, it’s equally lush with Yoshino and weeping cherry trees, which can grow up to 30 feet (9 m) tall. They pepper the garden’s paths and cascade over Umami Café, where the aromas of green tea and delicate local confections waft through the air.
Nearby in Washington Park, I love visiting Hoyt Arboretum for its stunning diversity of tree life and extensive paths of easy walking trails. The 12-mile (19-km) network of paths throughout this free botanical garden wind through over 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six different continents. In the spring, spotting cherry trees among the other flowers and plants blooming left and right is practically a challenge. To get right to the cherry blossom source, walk along the Wildwood Trail near the east water tank, where it meets the Magnolia Trail.
East of Hoyt Arboretum (and across West Burnside Road), Pittock Mansion displays a quaint set of some of Portland’s oldest cherry blossoms dating back to 1914. Scattered around the mansion’s grounds, Portland cherry blossoms and other beautiful trees pave the way to one of the city’s most idyllic viewpoints and the endpoint to one of my favorite city hikes.
Gardens Galore
Dig into these perfectly planted gardens across the Rose City.
Finding Cherry Blossoms in Portland’s Neighborhoods
On the other side of the Willamette River in Southeast Portland, Laurelhurst Park is a popular spot for finding Portland cherry blossom trees and other spring blooms. Laurelhurst Park is my favorite in the city for its recurring picnics, events and even summer dance parties. It also has 31 hilly but easily walkable acres (12.5 ha) and over 250 trees — many of which are cherry trees. One of the most charming parts of Laurelhurst may be the labels that identify and describe each tree in the park, made available thanks to the efforts of the Portland Urban Forestry Department.
Cherry blossoms aren’t limited to these parks; they’re also present throughout the city. It’s a delight to stumble upon a row of them along neighborhood streets or scattered around the grounds of a peaceful cemetery. Each experience is a pleasant surprise.
Another unexpected place to enjoy cherry blossoms is on the grounds of the University of Portland in North Portland, near the St. Johns neighborhood. An ambiance of spring blooms and academia greets me when I walk through the campus, taking me back to my own university days. The bright hues of the blossoms contrast with the cloudy skies, creating a sense of peace and optimism during an otherwise busy time as students return from spring break. Although cherry trees pepper the campus, the most picturesque views can be found at the bell tower, where you can see cherry blossoms hemming the university quad.
Spring Activities
Don't let rain showers keep you from enjoying this verdant season in Portland.
Spring Hikes Near Portland
There’s something special about the first spring hike of the year. Enjoy wildflowers, bird watching and breathtaking scenery on these springtime rambles.
Best Spots for Spring Flowers
Find your favorite blooms, from roses to rhododendrons and tulips to trilliums, with our guide to spring flowers in Portland.
Hoyt Arboretum: Portland’s Museum of Trees
Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s “living museum of trees” — and is home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs, as well as 12 miles (19.3 km) of hiking trails in Washington Park near downtown Portland.
Cherry Blossoms Beyond Portland
Portland has a wealth of day trips and excursions beyond its city limits; for those interested in pursuing even more cherry blossom opportunities, a trip to Hood River Valley is in order. Just an hour outside of Portland is the iconic Fruit Loop, a string of over 25 farm stands flanked by flower fields, orchards, vineyards and views of Mount Hood. I always make it a point to take my visiting friends sightseeing along this driving route, where there’s an array of blossoming fruit and cherry trees from March through mid-May.
Starting mid-March, Oregon’s state capitol, Salem — located 46 miles (74 km) south of Portland — transforms into a cherry blossom haven. Join locals under the 151 Akebono cherry trees that line the Capitol Mall in Salem to picnic and partake in Cherry Blossom Day. In 2017, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 146, which marked the third Saturday of every March as the official celebration date. On this day, the Oregon State Capitol Foundation sponsors Japanese cultural demonstrations, art and music that take over the Capitol Mall to honor the impact Japanese culture has on Oregon and to celebrate these symbolic flowers.
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