Northwest Heights Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

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There is something extremely quiet and peaceful about the Northwest Heights neighborhood located in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon. The multimillion dollar homes sit perched on a steep hill, so steep you feel as if you might fall off the tip of it, and the winding roads leading up to the neighborhood keep the residents of Northwest and Nob Hill neighborhoods down below in awe and mystery of what is up there. Sitting up in the hills is this quiet, residential neighborhood with fantastically built homes that make your jaw drop. Because it is so secluded by the trees of nearby Forest Park, it is its own secret haven where there is complete safety and comfort of children playing in front yards and writing on the sidewalks with chalk. The balconies of homes point towards views of valleys and coastal mountain ranges in the distance, giving the neighborhood its very own backdrop for family and neighborhood parties.

Location

Northwest Heights is located just west of Forest Park with bordering areas such as Linnton, Forest Heights and Northwest neighborhoods. Though Northwest Heights is primarily residential, locals can take a quick trip down to Nob Hill where the trendy NW 23rd Avenue lies with all of its boutiques, bars, restaurants and cafes. And if locals are looking for something else to do, they can enjoy the endless paths and hikes that the nearby Forest Park offers. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country and it is a popular destination for Portlanders of all areas.

Neighborhood Vibe

The neighborhood is very quiet, and you would never think you were just five minutes from downtown. The upscale homes sit on the neighborhood’s steep hills, on large plots of land with lush, green, well-manicured lawns. It is definitely a neighborhood that is community conscious, and one that keeps the family in mind. There are plenty of kids running around their front lawns with neighbor kids. Most families are more well-off than not, the bills for these homes require of it since they are so beautiful and in such a great location for accessibility. There is a sense of seclusion, that this neighborhood is set apart from the rest of Portland and it enjoys that fact. But it is also close enough to other busier areas that it’s not considered remote or out of the way.

Schools

Students in the neighborhood attend Forest Park Elementary, West Sylvan Middle and Lincoln High School. Forest Park Elementary is the newest school in the Lincoln District of Portland Public Schools.

Parks & Recreation

Forest Heights Park is nearby in the Forest Heights community, which is a great place for parents to take small children to play on the play structure or walk along the nearby trails. The park is a small cut out of nature in comparison to the over 5,000 acres of Forest Park which is located nearby.

Forest Park, located in the West Hills, boasts over 70 miles of trails along with its 30 mile Wildwood Trail, a part of the city’s 40-mile loop connecting pedestrians of urban life into this massive urban park. With an abundance of wildlife and trails, the park is a great place to venture into with family or friends.

A hop and a skip over to the West Hills neighborhood of Arlington Heights, locals and visitors will find many other great Portland attractions such as:

Portland International Rose Test Garden features over 6,800 rose bushes and 557 varieties. It is one of the largest gardens in the nations, is internationally renowned and holds Portland true to its name of being called the “City of Roses.”

Portland Japanese Garden is one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan, offering five separate garden styles in its 5.5 acre landscape.

Hoyt Arboretum offers 12 miles of trails among 8,000 trees from around the world.

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum showcases interactive exhibits that explores forests and trees.

Portland Children’s Museum gives kids plenty of opportunities to explore how objects work, create their own works of art, shop for groceries in the Kid’s Cafe and Market, use tools in the Garage and more things that make kids feel like adults.

Oregon Zoo allows families to enjoy seeing animals from almost every continent, as well as enjoying concerts at the zoo’s amphitheater, experiencing the Christmas lights at the zoo during the winter holidays and taking part in other events that the Portland Zoo offers annually.

Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial allows visitors to walk the circular path along the black granite walls that list the names of Oregon residents who either died in Vietnam or are missing in action. The memorial provides a beautiful, serene setting that allows reflection and remembrance.

Homes and Real Estate

The neighborhood consists of mostly newer, upscale homes that cover a variety of architectural styles with characteristics of colonial architecture with large pillars, square symmetrical shapes of Old Victorian and more. Each home offers something else to the neighborhood, and while they are similar in style there are no two homes that are exactly alike.

Summarizing Northwest Heights

This is a neighborhood for the family and community conscious. Enjoy great scenic views from back porches, long hikes up and through Portland’s largest park, and live in an area of Portland that gets the best of both worlds while living in the middle of forested woods with downtown Portland at your back door. This is definitely a great setting for anyone who enjoys the accessibility of fun Portland life while living propped up in a secluded residential neighborhood.
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This post was written by...

Scott Krager – who has written 11 posts on Portlanders.

Scott Krager is the founder of portlanders.com. He lives in Portland, Oregon, spending most of his time writing, coding, and avoiding the rain. Scott doesn't like to run but forces himself at least once a week. Google+ | Twitter | Quora | LinkedIn