Estacada, an outdoor recreation haven between Portland and Mount Hood
Estacada is a growing town of about 5,000 with access to both big city life and Pacific Northwest nature. It’s about 30 miles from Portland, with closer proximity to communities like Oregon City and Sandy. Located along a wide stretch of the Clackamas River as it travels from the Mt. Hood National Forest, Estacada offers plenty of winter and summer outdoor recreation. “It’s very easy to access the mountain for people who like to ski and snowboard,” says Stephanie Peck, a Realtor and the owner of Pex Realty Group. “There’s camping and hiking there as well.”
Access to Mt. Hood National Park and green spaces with amenities
Estacada is on the outer fringe of Mt. Hood National Park, which is dotted with sno-parks, ski resorts and campgrounds that surround a perpetually snow-capped volcano. Timber Park is situated along a wide stretch of the Clackamas River called Estacada Lake, popular among fishers and non-motorized boaters. Otherwise, the green space offers a disc golf course and a nature play area for children. Farther inland, amenities at Wade Creek Park include a sand volleyball court, a splash pad, a playground with a rock-climbing wall for kids and an amphitheater for outdoor concerts. Nearby, the city’s skatepark features an advanced bowl colored with graffiti.
The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival
The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, which occurs every May, is one of the longest-standing events of its kind in the country. A series of kayak, canoe, raft and paddleboard races are held on the rapids of the Clackamas River near Estacada, while events like a silent auction take place on land.
New constructions with Craftsman or contemporary features are common
Estacada is home to many new constructions and homes built within the last two decades, many of which have Craftsman or modern, asymmetrical architectural touches. Split-level and ranch-style homes from the 1960s and 1970s — along with cottages from previous decades — are largely concentrated along the riverbank and on gridded streets in the center of town.
The median price for a single-family home in Estacada is about $565,000, lower than that of Portland, where single-family homes cost a median of $600,000. Listings in Estacada spend a median of 82 days on the local market, whereas the national median is 50 days. Homes near the Clackamas River and the city’s creeks are at an increased risk of flooding, and the entire region is at a relatively high risk of earthquakes.
Estacada Farmers Market, Wade Creek Vintage Marketplace and downtown
Clackamas Highway mirrors the curve of the Clackamas River, and downtown Estacada is located directly north of the thoroughfare. Establishments like The Old Mill Saloon, Lew’s Drive-In and The Grind Coffee House are scattered throughout the commercial core of the community. “It is small and vintage, but it’s growing. There are new businesses and new restaurants,” Peck says. “You’d typically have to go to Oregon City, Clackamas or Sandy if you want bigger stores or have doctors’ appointments.”
Harvest Market is Estacada’s main grocery store, while local produce from family farms, hand-crafted wooden toys, artisanal soaps, mushrooms and scratch-made desserts can be found at the Estacada Farmers Market every Saturday morning and afternoon from mid-May through September. The Wade Creek Vintage Marketplace is home to more than 25 vendors. The property’s carriage house and chicken coup have been converted into vendor spaces, and outdoor finds spill out onto the market’s front lawn.
Dual credit at Estacada High through Clackamas Community College
Children in Estacada may start their K-12 journeys at River Mill Elementary School — which scores a C-plus grade from Niche — or at C-rated Clackamas River Elementary School. They may then move forward to C-rated Estacada Middle School before concluding their secondary studies at Estacada High School, which receives a C-plus. The high school offers a dual credit program in partnership with Clackamas Community College, in which students can work toward an Associate of Arts degree. Students can also choose between over 10 extracurricular clubs to join, including Mixed Martial Arts, the Oregon High School Equestrian Team and Future Farmers of America.
Highway access to downtown Portland and public transit connections
Clackamas Highway, also known as Oregon state Route 224, connects to other major thoroughfares, like Interstate 25 and Oregon state Route 99E. Commuters can use the highway to reach downtown Portland, which is about 30 miles away. The nearest hospital is the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, which is about 20 miles from the community.
TriMet Bus 30 travels from Estacada to the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center, where passengers can find more transit connections. The Sandy Area Metro system’s Estacada route connects the two communities with free service seven times a day every day.
