PORTLAND, Oregon — Spring officially starts on Tuesday, but one sign of the season is already here: blooming cherry blossoms. Some trees around the Portland metro area are exploding with pink and white flowers following several days of 70-degree highs and sunshine.
Where to see cherry blossoms
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
One of the most iconic spots for cherry blossom viewing in Portland is Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The trees that line the waterfront path were a gift from Japan for the dedication of the Japanese American Historical Plaza in 1990.
Portland Japanese Garden
There are several cherry trees around the Portland Japanese Garden and some of them have started to bloom including the weeping cherry in the Flag Garden and the Yoshino cherry near Umami Café. The garden usually starts to bloom at the end of March and lasts through the first few weeks of April. The status of the blooms are regularly published online.
Hoyt Arboretum and Washington Park
The arboretum and park is home to more than 2,300 tree and plant species including cherries and magnolias, making it an ideal spot to enjoy spring blooms. There are several places to look: the Magnolia Trail, the Winter Garden, the Wildwood Trail between the Magnolia and Hawthorn trails, the Maple Trail and the Overlook Trail.
Mt. Tabor
While there aren't a lot of cherry trees at Mt. Tabor Park, visitors are in for a unique experience. The flowering trees that surround the reservoir on the volcanic cinder cone can be viewed with the backdrop of the city.
Laurelhurst Park
Northeast Portland's Laurelhurst Park is filled with over 1,000 trees including some cherry and magnolia trees. Portland Parks and Recreation has an interactive map where people can find the locations of the different tree species.
Oregon State Capitol State Park
Venturing outside of the Portland metro area to Oregon State Capitol State Park in Salem is well worth it. Paths inside the park are lined with colorful cherry blossoms that are already at peak bloom. The cherry blossoms will be illuminated with Japanese lanterns from 6-9 p.m. each night through April 6.
