See the Cherry Blossom Bud Status Below
The area surrounding the Columbian Basin in Jackson Park is home to about 160 cherry blossom trees that typically bloom each spring. Located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry, the peak bloom period for these trees lasts for about 6 to 10 days, and usually happens in late April to early May. Cherry blossom trees can also be found in the Japanese Garden on Wooded Island, a short walk south of the Columbian Basin. The Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of flowers is known as hanami. Visit Jackson Park during the peak bloom period to enjoy your own hanami experience!
MAP
Planning Your Visit
Parking
Car – Paid metered parking is available in the Music Court lot which is southeast of the Columbian Basin. Free parking is available in the lot at Hayes & Cornell Dr. which is southwest of Wooded Island. Street parking is available along many streets around the park.
Bike – bike racks are located in a few areas around the park. Look for the bike rack icon on the map for locations.
Getting to the Cherry Blossom Trees
From the Music Court parking lot - walk north to access the cherry blossom trees located on the east side of the Columbian Basin.
Please note: Due to the Darrow Bridge construction, access is not available to the cherry trees located west of the Columbian Basin or to Wooded Island, from this lot.
From the Hayes & Cornell parking lot - walk north through Wooded Island (enjoy the beautiful walk along the way). At the end of the island, continue to walk north to access the cherry trees located on the west side of the Columbian Basin. The walk from this lot to the cherry blossom trees is about 10-15 minutes. The Darrow Bridge construction prevents access to the trees on the east side of the basin from the lot at Hayes & Cornell.
Additional Sites to See in Jackson Park
There are a number of other delightful things to see in Jackson Park. We encourage you to explore the following sites.
Within walking distance of the cherry trees:
- Wooded Island Natural Area
- Japanese Garden (within Wooded Island, northeast area)
- Skylanding sculpture by Yoko Ono (within Wooded Island, west of the Japanese Garden)
- Purple Martin Houses (southeast of the Columbian Basin)
- Perennial Garden (at Midway Plaisance and S. Cornell Dr.)
- Bobolink Meadow (east of Wooded Island and the lagoon)
- Museum of Science and Industry
Within a short bike or car ride from the cherry trees:
- 57th Street Beach
- 63rd Street Beach & Natural Area
- Statue of the Republic
Please Note:
- No dogs are allowed on Wooded Island.
- Please clean up after visiting the park.
- Be mindful of the native vegetation plantings located directly around the perimeter of the Columbian Basin. Please do not walk on them.
If you come out to see the cherry blossoms, share your photos on social media with this hashtag: #CHICherryBlossoms. We hope you enjoy your visit to Jackson Park.
Learn more about:
2019 Cherry Blossoms Watch
We're keeping a close eye on the buds. Look for status updates, including updated photos, below.
Bud Status Legend
Still closed: The buds are still in the process of growing and have not yet begun to unfurl their petals.
Opening: The buds are now beginning to show signs of opening. The petals will start to be visible within the next few days!
Open: Many, if not most, of the buds have opened and now have their white and pink petals exposed!
Full bloom: Nearly all of the buds have opened and the trees are now in their most beautiful state. This won’t last long, 3-8 days depending on the weather, so plan your visit to Jackson Park soon!
Bloom almost finished: Many of the flower petals are beginning to fall off the trees. The ground is covered in white and pink. The last of the flowers will be gone within a few days.
Bloom finished: The trees are done with their spring show for this year. Nearly all of the flower petals have fallen and blown away. Spring is here now in full swing, and the park is bursting to life with green leaves sweeping through the nearby tree canopies. Be sure to plan your return to see the cherry blossoms again next year. Every year is a different show, and every year is beautiful.
June 8, 2019 Update
Status: Bloom Finished
The limited bloom that took place this year is over. The cold and wet spring dramatically affected the trees this season. As each year is different, we're hoping for more ideal conditions next year to support a full bloom.
June 6, 2019 Update
Status: Almost Finished (limited amount)
The limited amount of flowers that were present are starting to fall off the trees. There are not many cherry blossoms to see but it's still worth a visit to see Wooded Island and the other Jackson Park sites listed above.
May 30, 2019 Update (see photos below)
Status: Open (limited amount)
Some buds are open with flowers present but the majority are still closed and will likely not open this season. The cold and wet spring we've had has dramatically affected the trees this season. Each year is different. We're hoping for more ideal conditions next year to support a full bloom. It's still worth coming out to see the blossoms that are open and the other beauty that exists in Jackson Park.
May 29, 2019 Update
Status: Opening (limited amount)
Some buds are opening but the majority are still closed. We are still expecting it to be a small bloom this year.
May 24, 2019 Update
Status: Majority Still Closed
While some buds are opening, the majority are still closed. We will continue to monitor the progress, but with the cold and wet spring we've had, it will likely be a small bloom this year.
May 14, 2019 Update (see photo below)
Status: Still Closed
Many trees have begun leafing out. A few small petals are appearing at the tops of the trees, but we still have a ways to go. Estimating about a week or so until peak bloom.
May 6, 2019 Update (see photo below)
Status: Still Closed
Leaves are emerging from some of the Cherry Blossoms. Buds are still quite small and tight, which helps protect them from the rain. Estimated bloom is one more week.
May 2, 2019 Update
Status: Still Closed
Due to the recent cold weather, the buds have not begun blooming yet. We anticipate that happening in the next 7-10 days.
April 23, 2019 Update (see photo below)
Status: Still Closed
The buds have appeared but they are not blooming yet.
