The Best Uptown Parks to Spot Cherry Blossoms
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
Cherry blossom season is finally here.
The always-eagerly-anticipated time of year typically kicks off in late March and stretches through April.
To help you find the best viewing spots, TCU consulted NYC Parks Department's list of the top parks in the city for cherry blossoms; four are in Upper Manhattan.
Keep in mind that different types of cherry trees bloom at various times—Okame in late March, Yoshino in the first half of April, and the fluffy Kwanzan toward the end of April.
Here are the four uptown parks that made the cut. From south to north, they are:
Morningside Heights Cherry Walk between 100th and 125th Sts
Named after the mix of Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees planted along its path, Cherry Walk runs by the Hudson River from 100th to 125th Streets. A bonus sprinkling of various cherry trees can be found on the Hudson River Greenway between W 135th and W 155th Streets. For a full list, check out this map.
East Harlem Enter from East Harlem by foot or bike via the 103rd Street Footbridge or the RFK Triborough Bridge
Randall's Island has as many as eight varieties of cherry trees that blossom over the course of the season, culminating with a celebration of all its spring blooms at the annual Earth Day Festival on April 25.
Morningside Heights Between W 122nd St and International House & Riverside Drive and Claremont Ave
This peaceful two-acre park with its iconic central pavilion is named after the 2,000 cherry trees that were a gift from Japan in 1912. Take a walk along the recently repaved footpaths to admire the delicate white Yoshino cherry blossoms that tend to bloom in the first half of April.
Central Harlem Between 120th and 124th Sts & Madison Ave and Mount Morris Park West
Receiving an "honorable mention" for cherry blossom spotting, this Harlem park has a gorgeous row of Kwanzan cherry trees near the north entrance on Fifth Avenue and 124th Street.
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