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Best Spots for Spring Flowers
Admire beautiful blooms at these Portland parks and gardens, and the surrounding area.
Find your favorite blooms, from roses to rhododendrons and tulips to trilliums, with our guide to where to spot spring flowers in Portland and beyond.
Waterfront Park
If you stroll through downtown Waterfront Park in late March through early April the breathtaking sight of 100 Akebono cherry trees popping with pink and white petals might steal you away for a bloom-backed selfie. The trees were given to Portland by a group from the Japanese Grain Importers Association in 1990.
Tryon Creek State Park
One of the region’s earliest blooming native flowers, trilliums area common site in the Pacific Northwest forests. These small, white flowers are abundant in Portland’s only state park, Tryon Creek. So abundant, in fact, that the park hosts an annual Trillium Festival each April. If you miss the festivities, you can still find the flowers yourself and enjoy Tryon’s hiking, biking and horse trails all season long.
Forest Park
Trilliums are also found blooming along many trails in Northwest Portland’s Forest Park, which sprawls over more than 5,000 wooded acres (2,023 hectares) and boasts 70 miles (113 km) of paths filled with fascinating flora and fauna.
Hoyt Arboretum
From Forest Park, follow the Beech Trail to Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park. Home to more than 2,000 species of shrubs and trees, Hoyt has plenty to offer all year-round. Spring highlights include bell-shaped Oregon plum flowers, magnolias, blooming dogwood and cherry blossoms.
Japanese and Chinese Gardens
For cherry trees in a more traditional setting, visit the Portland Japanese Garden, heralded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan itself. And while you’re exploring authentic Asian gardens, don’t miss downtown’s Lan Su Chinese Garden. In spring, fragrant scents of daphne and Edgeworthia enhance this Ming Dynasty-style garden.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Visit Southeast Portland’s Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in April or May to catch its collection of rare rhododendrons, azaleas and hybrids in full bloom. The garden boasts 7 idyllic acres (2.8 hectares), including three waterfalls, two picturesque bridges and tranquil Crystal Springs Lake, where nearly 100 species of birds feed and nest. For an extra treat, visit the garden in April for the annual Rhododendron & Daffodil Show & Sale and in May for its annual Mother’s Day Rhododendron Show & Sale.
Portland Rose Gardens
No flora-viewing adventure would be complete without the City of Roses’ namesake flowers. Both Peninsula Park in North Portland and the International Rose Test Garden boast thousands of rare and beautiful rose bushes. The flowers typically begin to bud in early April. To catch them at their peak, visit in early June and don’t miss the Grand Floral Parade at the annual Portland Rose Festival!
Spring Color Around the Region
Camassia Natural Area
Bursting with color in late April and early May, the Camassia Natural Area in West Linn was carved out thousands of years ago by the great floods, but it’s a natural work of art that’s stood the test of time. A 16-mile (26 km) drive south of downtown Portland, the 26-acre (11 ha) preserve can get muddy in the springtime — but from its trails, you’ll see more than 300 different plant species and plenty of familiar birds flocking overhead (a view worth risking a little dirt on your shoes).
Nearby Cities
In search for the best spring blooms? Look around these nearby cities.
Oregon City
The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities.
Lake Oswego
Whether you’re hitting the links, shopping designer consignment or sipping drinks on a shore-side patio, you’ll enjoy the tranquility Lake Oswego affords.
St. Helens
St. Helens pairs outdoor experiences with antique shops and Twilight souvenirs.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
About 10 miles (16 km) west of Portland, Beaverton’s Cooper Mountain Nature Park features 3.5 miles (6 km) of gravel trails — excellent footing from which to explore the 231 acres (93 ha) of prairies and woodlands. The trails also offer views of the Chehalem Mountains and Tualatin Valley, showing off Oregon’s natural splendor with bursts of wildflowers all around.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
A 45-minute journey south of Portland delivers you to Woodburn’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, home to 40 acres of colorful tulips. The annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival returns every spring, offering wine tasting, wagon rides, children’s activities, a food court and a marketplace with freshly picked tulips and bulbs for fall planting.
Spring Flowers
View gorgeous blooms at these local parks and gardens.
Upcoming Outdoor Events
Enjoy the great outdoors at these upcoming events in Portland.
Corn Maze at Topaz Farm
Check out the incredible ParaNorman kid maze, designed by local Laika Studios. All proceeds support the regenerative farming practices on the farm. Over 130 acres on Sauvie Island, Topaz Farm is committed to no-spray, regenerative practices. Fresh local fruits and vegetables and delicious, seasonal farm foods such as house-made ice cream, grilled corn, hand pies,…
The Corn Maize at the Pumpkin Patch
The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
This old-fashioned fall festival brings together more than 125 vendors offering local produce and food products, plus arts and crafts, wine, cider and beer tastings. Held along the scenic Hood River waterfront, this is the Columbia River Gorge’s biggest celebration of the region’s incredible fall bounty. Festival-goers can load up on boxes of Hood River…
Hollywood Farmers Market
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food, you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season. April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to…
Lents International Farmers Market
Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 5, 2022, and is open every Sunday through November 20, 2020. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.
Run Like Hell Marathon
Join in for this fun, family-friendly Halloween-themed event on Saturday, October 29th. Dress in costume and join in for a Half, 10k, or 5k run/walk. 2022 theme: retro video games. All distances will start and finish at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge and mostly run along the flat, fast and paved Trolley Trail. There is plenty…
BrewLights
Join the annual BrewLights, a ZooLights brew festival experience just for the 21-and-over crowd, with dozens of local beer vendors to sample. Enjoy local food carts and dance to live music. BrewLights tickets include a souvenir cup and ten beverage tastings throughout the zoo. Guests can sample over 100 beer, seltzer and cider options from…
ZooLights
Kids and adults agree: it wouldn’t be the holidays in Portland without a visit to ZooLights. In addition to the classic walk through a dazzling display of 1.5 million lights, you can bring your family and friends to explore the lights by car with a drive-through experience on select nights. Plus, enjoy delicious treats! From…
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