Guide to the Forest Park Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

Built along a ridge northwest of downtown and only 10-15 minutes from the attractions of the Northwest District, it combines rolling green pastures and views east and west. The Forest Park neighborhood is named because of its proximity to the 5,000 plus acre Forest Park, the southern portion of which lies within the neighborhood boundaries and the rest of which is adjacent. Most of the neighborhood lies within unincorporated Multnomah County, though it does include some areas within Portland city limits.

If you desire the "look and feel" of a suburban community but want to be close to downtown, examine the Forest Park neighborhood closely.

The 600 acre development named Forest Heights is located to the southwest of the Forest Park neighborhood - it is in Washington County. It is commonly referred to as the "Intel Country Club" because so many of the Intel engineers who work in Hillsboro live in Forest Heights.

Forest Park is a great place to bring up a family as some of the best schools in Oregon are located in the neighborhood. For example, the Forest Park Elementary has been rated "exceptional" since 2004. See the latest State of Oregon Department of Education Report Cards.

The neighborhood is located adjacent to the 5,000 plus acre City of Portland Forest Park.

Diversity in homes styles and sizes are the attraction. Townhomes under 2,000 square foot to 3,000 plus square foot detached single-family homes are found in Forest Park. Most have been constructed in the last ten years and the area is still being developed. Many of the homes have views of the coast range to the West and are within walking distance of the 5,127 acre Forest Park which is on the east side of the elongated neighborhood (about 5 miles in length).

Please be aware that the above figures are subject to error and are intended as guidelines only. View Forest Park homes currently for sale by clicking here.

Portland's Forest Park is the 14th largest city park in the United States and some authorities say it is the largest wooded park in the country. Covering 5,000 plus acres, it provides a hushed and peaceful environment of a varied and evolving forest ecosystem. Overlooking the Willamette River, the Park stretches for nearly eight miles along the northeast slope of the Tualatin Mountains between NW Skyline Boulevard and NW St. Helens Road (Hwy. 30).

Forest Park is home to over 100 species of mammals: more than 100 kinds of birds have been seen in the Park. In the spring, hillsides sparkle with trilliums amidst the sword ferns; hundreds of other kinds of flowers and shrubs bloom during the year.

The Park offers enjoyment to hikers, bicyclists, runners, and others who just enjoy being outdoors in a forest atmosphere. The 30+ mile long Wildwood Trail (a National Recreational Trail) traverses the Park from the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Hoyt Arboretum to Newberry Road. A total of more than 70 miles of interconnecting trails and lanes provide opportunities for circle hikes of varying length.

Forest Park has 4,794 acres of park land and open spaces according to Metro and the Portland Department of Parks and Recreation.

This video is a father and son hiking Forest Park. Miles of trails serve bikers, hikers, and casual strollers. One of the most popular hikes is the portion of the Leif Erikson trail that begins at the end of NW Thurman Street. A wide, leafy fire trail with a gradual uphill grade, you can bike or walk the trail. It's also a popular place for runners.

Walk Score ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in the largest 40 U.S. cities to help you find a walkable place to live. Forest Park is the #56 most walkable neighborhood in Portland. This neighborhood is a Car-Dependent neighborhood with an average Walk Score of 38. Below is a Walk Score for an address in the center of the neighborhood.

Map of Forest Park Neighborhood

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Fly to the Forest Park Neighborhood via Google Earth

Coordinates
45° 35′ 15.80″ N
122° 50′ 24.75″ W

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¹Real Estate Values Data on real estate values provided by RMLS^tm. Distressed properties refer to the percentage of total homes sold that were short sales and bank-owned properties.

²Drive Time to Downtown Estimated commuting time obtained from Yahoo Maps and Google Maps. Drive time was calculated from a central intersection in each neighborhood to Pioneer Courthouse Square during the morning peak commute time.

³Demographics Data Numbers were obtained from Census 2000 and www.portlandmaps.com.

⁴Crime Statistics Numbers on crime represent total crimes for 2010 and were obtained from Portland Police Bureau. Violent crimes are defined as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Crimes per 1,000 are based on reported incidents of violent crime, as well as burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

⁵Shopping and Services Numbers were determined from local directory listings and county/municipal library systems.

⁶Biking Quality rating based on the 2007 Cycle Zone Analysis conducted by the City of Portland Office of Transportation. The six-tier ratings have been reduced to three levels: High, Fair, and Low.

⁷School Report Card Grades Schools ratings from the Oregon Department of Education 2009-2010 performance assessment. "O" = Outstanding; "S" = Satisfactory; "I" = In Need of Improvement; NR = Not Rated.