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Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights

This four-mile Walking Portland loop features two distinct NW Portland neighborhoods—Northwest District and Willamette Heights–plus Balch Creek Gulch Bridge and the Lower Macleay Park entry to the trails of Forest Park.

The Willamette Heights neighborhood of NW Portland is a rarity in so many ways. Many of the residences are relatively historic, built no later than 1939, and in some cases, quite a bit earlier.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

The variety of architectural styles (grand old houses, sleek modern towers, humble cottages), stunning city views, surrounding Forest Park, and single point of car entry make it seem like a world apart.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

And yet it’s walking/biking distance to most of the city core.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

And oh the gardens! This older Portland neighborhood is an absolute delight for garden lovers and has some serious garden history.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

It was the playground for famous landscape architects Wallace Huntington and Barbara Feeley and it shows.

Route Map

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights

 

With the map link below, you can zoom in and out to get a better look at the surrounding area. Plus, we indicate best bets for coffee and pastries, restaurants and cafes, indie shops, and other items of local interest.


Click here for our detailed online map.


Directions

Heading Out Route

  1. In Portland’s Northwest District, at NW 23rd and NW Thurman St., on right sidewalk, head west on NW 23rd Ave.
  2. Continue on NW Thurman St. as it crosses over Balch Creek Gulch Bridge (with Lower Macleay Park and Forest Park trail below), and then ascends (mostly gently) into Willamette Heights.

Optional Heading Out Route

  • On NW Thurman St., on right sidewalk, at NW 25th, turn right.
  • At NW Upshur St., turn left.
  • Proceed on NW Upshur St. to Lower Macleay Park. (Note: Restrooms!)
  • In Lower Macleay Park, proceed to stairs at the base of Balch Creek Gulch Bridge and ascend back to  NW Thurman St. and Step 2 of the basic route.

Heading Back Route

  1. At NW Aspen Ave., turn left and follow down to NW Savier St.
  2. On NW Savier St., turn left.
  3. At NW 33rd, turn left.
  4. At NW Quimby St., turn right.
  5. At NW 32nd Ave, turn left.
  6. At NW Thurman St., turn right.
  7. At NW 29th Ave., turn right.
  8. At NW Raleigh St. turn left.
  9. At NW 24th, turn left.
  10. At NW Thurman St., turn right and proceed to start point.

Optional Heading Back Route

  1. On NW Thurman St., prior to the Balch Creek Bridge crossing, at NW 32nd Ave., turn left.
  2. At NW Vaughn, turn left.
  3. At NW 33rd Ave., turn right.
  4. At NW Wilson St., turn right.
  5. At NW 29th Ave., turn right.
  6. At NW Upshur St., turn left.
  7. At NW 29th Ave., turn right.
  8. Rejoin Heading Back Route at NW Thurman St.

Time

Allow 2 hours to walk the basic route, longer to gawk at the incredible homes and gardens, peruse the indie shops, or linger over coffee or lunch on the way back. And of course, gawk, shop, and linger.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Terrain

Mostly easy, sidewalk-graced, uphill climb on the way out and corresponding mostly easy, sidewalk-graced, downhill jaunt on the way back. However, on the way out, there’s one steep ascent (mercifully brief) and on the way back, one very steep descent (also brief). As with most Portland-style sidewalks (often uneven and in need of repair), good shoes and caution are advised.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Difficulty

Easy through the greater portion of Northwest District and Willamette Heights neighborhoods, with two brief sections on the incline and decline that we will take at a much slower, and more cautionary speed.

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Coffee and Lunch

Good options for coffee and pastries before this walk include St. Honore Bakery and Dragonfly Coffee House, or during the walk, The Clearing–all on NW Thurman Ave. Good options for lunch are Kenny & Zuke’s Bagelworks and Nancy’s Kitchen, both on NW Thurman Ave..

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Portland Walkabouts

The SkyBlue Portland team hosts monthly group walks through some of Portland Metro’s most beautiful and interesting neighborhoods.

For info on our Portland Walking Tours, check out our Women Who Walk Facebook page and sign up for a walk on our Women Who Walk Meetup page. Hope to see you soon! 🙂

Walking Portland: Northwest District, Forest Park & Willamette Heights | SkyBlue Portland

Photo Gallery

Click on any photo for slideshow view.

Copyright 2018 Susan S. Bradley. All rights reserved.

Posted in: Walking Portland, This Northwest Life, Walk Tagged: #this northwest life, walking Portland, Willamette Heights

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The SkyBlue Portland Team

https://www.skyblueportland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/SkyBlue-Meet-the-Team-1.mp4

James Bradley
Principal Broker
Contact James
971-804-4618


Rachel Bradley
Principal Broker
Contact Rachel
503-936-3373


Susan Bradley
Marketing Director | Broker
Contact Susan
206-499-0236


Planning to Buy a Home?

The process of buying a home can be overwhelming at times, but you don’t need to go through it alone.

You may be wondering if now is a good time to buy a home…or if interest rates are projected to rise or fall. The free eGuide below will answer many of your questions and likely bring up a few things you didn’t even know you should consider when buying a home.

Download your Guide.

 

PROPERTY SEARCH

Thinking of Selling?

It’s difficult to know when is the best time to sell, or how to get the most money for your house, but you don’t need to go through the process alone.

You may be wondering if prices are projected to rise or fall…or how much competition you may be facing in your market. The free eGuide below will answer many of your questions and likely bring up a few things you haven’t even thought about yet.

Download your Guide.

How’s the Market?

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About Us

Our professional staff is passionate about our clients’ goals, and aim to treat each client as if they were our only one. Together, your next real estate experience will not only be enjoyable but also produce great results! Please feel free to give us a call, or send an email anytime and we will contact you as soon as possible.

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5000 Meadows Road - Suite 150
Lake Oswego OR 97035

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