Oregon City

Just blocks away from the end of the original Oregon Trail, Oregon City’s Park Place neighborhood offers a bit of history, along with some of the prettiest scenery in the greater Portland area. “One of the really unique things about the city,” according to city communications manager Jarrod Lyman, “is its history. It was the first incorporated city west of the Mississippi, and the city’s long history is still very much part of the town today.”<br><br>The Park Place neighborhood’s winding, woody streets are lined with renovated pioneer homes and historical craftsmans, alongside a plethora of sleek recent builds with all the modern amenities you could ask for. There’s no shortage of yard space in the neighborhood: native plant gardens and manicured topiary are common, as are stunning views of iconic Mount Hood.<br><br>While Park Place can feel like it’s on the edge of town, in reality it’s just a few short blocks away from downtown Oregon City, as well as the shopping centers on the north end of town. When locals have to pick up clothes, groceries or really whatever they might need, they’re less than a mile from the local Safeway, as well as the department stores at Oregon City Shopping Center, where they’ll find everything from Home Depot to Ross Dress for Less.<br><br>The End of the Oregon Trail interpretive center sits along the edge of the Park Place neighborhood—older gamers may remember it as the final destination in the Oregon Trail video game—and many local restaurants and attractions are themed around it, like local favorite Pioneer Pizza, or Trail’s End Golf Center and driving range. <br><br>When they need a bit of variety, locals can check out the many restaurants, bars and breweries located in downtown Beaverton along the Willamette River. The downtown area can feel like a little slice of Portland, with city staples like McMenamins, as well as the second location of Gabriel Rucker’s French cafe Canard, which won the Oregonian’s “Portland Restaurant of the Year” in 2018. If you’re in an ambulatory mood, you can grab one of Super Torta’s Super Tortas to go, and go for a walk along the McLoughlin Promenade, which offers breathtaking views of the Willamette Falls Dam.<br><br>When they just want to get outside, Park Place residents can take the kids to the eponymous Park Place Park, or walk across the local pedestrian bridge to High Rocks Park, where they can take a dip in the Clackamas River. On summer weekends, local boaters often take their canoes and kayaks to one of the many waterfront parks further up the river, and spend a leisurely day paddling home.<br><br>Most local children attend Oregon City’s public schools, which are among the strongest in the state. Oregon City High School’s students test about as well as anyone in Oregon, and the school offers a variety of dual enrollment courses at Clackamas Community College.<br><br>Park Place is a perfect neighborhood for history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who just wants a comfortable, picturesque place to rest their bones.

Named after the Ely family, Elyville, a neighborhood officially annexed into the city in 1893, was once home to a small working-class community known for its businesses. While it was later renamed Barclay Hills, the historic Elyville name has been recently reinstated. Today, Elyville seamlessly blends old and new, reflecting both areas it's sandwiched between: the historic downtown community and sections of newer residential subdivisions that have expanded southwest of Oregon City. Elyville is home to turn-of-the-century properties like Craftsman bungalows and more recent contemporary constructions; homes are often tucked along wooded areas, and “being on the edge of farmland and more rural areas give the community a really mixed feel,” says Aaron Wolf, a music teacher in the community and the vice chair of the neighborhood association. “It’s somewhere in the middle, with both an urban and suburban character, but it still has that historic vibe that many of the newer areas don’t have.” Locals enjoy easy access to green spaces like Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, and while the community doesn’t boast many establishments, residents here can appreciate their proximity to downtown Oregon City and nearby shopping corridors. Bisected by Molalla Avenue, a relatively narrow thoroughfare that connects downtown Oregon City to suburban shopping centers that have replaced historic buildings and state Route 213, this community boasts convenient connections, allowing residents to enjoy a suburban lifestyle with easy access to everything Oregon City and the greater Portland metro area have to offer. While Elyville is tied to the history of the Oregon Trail as one of the period's main settlements, the neighborhood only started coming together in the early 20th century with the construction of a few farmhouses. Ensuing generations led to new waves of development that added early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows and sprawling midcentury ranch-style dwellings. In more recent decades, developers and builders constructed contemporary properties, including some townhouses and split levels with attached garages. Some of these are next to the community's older homes, while others are in newer subdivisions, adding to the diverse housing nature of this community. Prices range from $323,000 to $630,000, depending on the property’s age, size and location. These mainly non-HOA single-family dwellings often feature terraced gardens that stretch toward sidewalk-lined narrow streets that are relatively loud. “Before I moved to the neighborhood, I had the impression that it was just forest land,” says Wolf. “What’s really interesting and something that you may not be able to tell from a map is that the typography is really significant. There’s a canyon here, and the hills really limit where things go and how they are built.” Also in the neighborhood are apartment complexes that make up part of the community’s 55% of renters. Bordering Mountain View Cemetery, where some of Oregon’s historic figures are buried, is the 235-acre Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park. Park visitors can enjoy everything from mossy paths that meander through bigleaf maples to views of the Boring Lava Field. Creeks that run through the green space provide water access to local wildlife like beavers and red foxes, which hikers commonly spot. Trails of varying difficulties dedicated to mountain bikers allow young and beginner learners to practice their skills. For a different experience tucked away among trees, residents can check out Barclay Hills City Park. Kids run off their energy at the playground, and the grassy area is perfect for a picnic. The community also boasts Singer Creek Park. With trails known for their steep inclines and sharp dips, this park is known for its rather challenging hikes and scenic autumn views. A newer addition to the green space is a 9-hole disc golf course. Tacho’s Mexican Restaurant is one of the few eateries within the neighborhood. Offering Friday karaoke nights and boasting a ceiling filled with vibrant papel picado, colorful Mexican folk art, this establishment provides well-rated food in a lively setting. Also conveniently in the community is Grocery Outlet, a national discount supermarket chain that sells overstocked and closeout items. “I still find that it really does have high-quality, healthy options. It’s convenient, and it’s a real robust supermarket,” Wolf says. Heading down Molalla Avenue takes residents to larger shopping centers with supermarkets like Fred Meyer and Safeway. These commercial centers are just a mile or so from the neighborhood border and are home to other restaurants and businesses, including Rodders Grub & Pub, a laid-back bar offering plenty of entertainment options, including pinball machines and video poker. With easy access to the downtown Oregon City area, locals will also be near establishments like Midway Historic Public House, a bar founded when Prohibition ended. It has remained a humble neighborhood tavern where locals can enjoy breakfast and typical pub grub. The neighborhood association currently hosts periodic meetings at St. John the Apostle Cemetery and sometimes puts on small gatherings. Wolf says that many residents also head to the nearby Pioneer Community Center for recreational opportunities, which is in downtown Oregon City. Locals can enjoy events like the Spring Affair Craft & Plant Sale and different activities, including watercolor painting classes. Another event locals can participate in is the annual Oregon Trail Brewfest. Housed at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, beer lovers enjoy a July festival with everything from tasting opportunities to local food trucks to lawn games. Being close to Clackamas Community College also gives residents easy access to the year-round Oregon City Farmers Market. Held on some Saturdays, with the frequency depending on the season, this market celebrates the community with an array of local products. Those wanting to learn more about the neighborhood's rich history, book a private tour or attend an open house at Holmes House Museum, which is known as the oldest American home in the city. This property, nicknamed the Rose Farm, was the location of many social events and governmental meetings. Children can enroll in the Oregon City School District, which serves over 7,000 students. To start their schooling, they can attend Holcomb Elementary School, which receives a C rating on Niche. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 20-to-1 and serves around 450 students. They can then attend C-rated Tumwata Middle School, which features Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and gifted programs. Students can enjoy after-school activities, including organized transportation to Mount Hood Meadows for skiing and snowboarding. To finish their schooling, children can attend B-minus-rated Oregon City High School, where they can take advantage of a dual credit program at Clackamas Community College, which is just around 1.5 miles away. For outside-of-school activities, high school students can join one of the school’s many clubs, including a literary magazine and a speech and debate club. While Barclay Hills is mostly car-dependent, locals can also take advantage of TriMet’s bus system, including Line 32, which serves the neighborhood. “The public transportation is okay,” Wolf says. “It’s definitely not one of those places where it’s not as practical to use. My wife and I have taken the bus to Portland.” Portland is around an hour and 15 minutes away via Line 32 and light rail MAX Orange Line. Locals can also drive around 14 miles to Portland via state Route 99. “Biking is really popular here. My wife has biked to Portland, and I often bike to downtown Oregon City,” Wolf says. At less than 2 miles away, downtown Oregon City is also easily accessible by foot. Locals will enjoy their proximity to nearby employers like Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, which is less than two miles away and some of the Portland metro area's biggest employers, like the Hillsboro Intel location, which is 30 miles away via Interstate 205. While there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the area, including the nearby scenic Willamette Falls and the riverfront, those wanting to explore different cities can head to the Portland International Airport. Which is nearly 19 miles away via I-205.

Undeniably historic, Canemah has so much more to offer, says Caralee Angell, Principal Broker at Angell Realty and herself a resident, “There’s so much interesting about Canemah, sometimes the historical part overshadows it.” While Canemah is on the National Register of Historic Places, the location along the Willamette is perhaps its biggest draw, with the river and the surrounding nature playing a big part in the neighborhood vibe. It’s a quiet hamlet, secluded from the rest of Oregon City, where residents are welcoming yet protective of their community. “There’s a sense of be who you are relentlessly but also for the better of the community,” says Selena Haney, one of Angell’s fellow brokers. With all this history and nature on hand, Canemah also is on the cusp of Portland, putting the manufacturing and tech jobs within commuting distance. Towering over the neighborhood, Canemah Bluff Nature Park provides sights and hikes – “It’s a lovely hiking spot, perfect for a day hike. It’s considered one of the best hikes around Portland. It has amazing views of the Willamette, you’ll be walking on the bluff and just stop and look out from a great viewpoint,” says Angell. The park also features play areas for children, as well as a basketball court for pick-up games and friendly competition. Old Canemah Park, at the north end of town, is secluded and forested, and provides a great view across the Willamette River. Walking up along the river, the McLoughlin Promenade offers views of the Willamette Falls – along the way, residents may stop off for some indoor activity at the Museum of the Oregon Territory, reflecting the culture and history of Clackamas County. As a historic district, most of the community’s oldest houses – a combination of 100-year-old bungalows, cottages, and Craftsman-style houses – are protected by rules making it hard to change their exteriors or tear them down. The median build year is 1937, and some homes date back into the 1800s. These historic houses and their newer Ranch-style and split-level compatriots line the skinny roads in this neighborhood – says Angell, “There are so many tiny roads through Canemah, sometimes if there are two cars trying to pass you have to back up a little bit.” Set under towering old-growth trees, most homes in this neighborhood fetch between $350,000 and $700,000 regardless of their size and age. “Our area is super diverse with education,” Haney points out, mentioning Oregon’s unique public charter school system that makes charter schools an option in the Canemah area. Oregon City School District serves Canemah, with students starting out at Holcomb Elementary, then progressing to Gardiner Middle School – both graded a C by Niche. Oregon City Senior High School, graded a B-minus, is known for the girls’ basketball program which has won the state championship 12 times, as well as placing in the State Tournament every year from 1987 to 2011. Alliance Charter Academy and Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences are two of the nearest charter options for the community’s children. There is no public transportation in Canemah, and the tight streets make bicycling risky at times, but doable. Residents are car dependent, particularly for running errands. Being a protected historic neighborhood also means that amenities are limited – for instance, no places of worship are found in the neighborhood. Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center is less than 3 miles away and provides 24-hour emergency care, while Portland International Airport is an 18-mile drive north, offering service to 66 domestic and 11 international cities. Mainly residential, with a little bit of industrial thrown in, means there’s little in the way of dining or shopping in the neighborhood. Residents from Canemah often head up to The Highland Stillhouse for a quick bite. “You can walk there from Canemah – it’s delicious food, they have the best fish and chips,” says Angell. They focus on Scotch Whisky, with one of the largest selections in the region served in a historic building capturing the essence of a Scottish pub. Just downriver, downtown Oregon City features a busy restaurant and shopping district for nights out. For cooking at home, folks have to venture out of the neighborhood, Angell says, “If you head over the river, there’s a Market of Choice West Linn, or head up to the Safeway.” The Oregon City Shopping Center brings together big box retailers to the north of the area. So much of life in Canemah revolves around its positioning on the Willamette River. Angell herself has a floating home docked on the shoreline of Canemah and appreciates everything that the river and the Willamette Falls – the second-largest falls in the United States only behind Niagara – offers. “The power of the waterfall is a big part of the neighborhood – to see and hear that water crashing day after day, it gives you something,” says Angell. “In the summer months they block all but a small part of the falls and create somewhat of a lagoon where everyone plays with their boats. It’s a magical area.” Herons, osprey and eagles are a regular sight, and the salmon are plenty – Haney mentions that recreational fishing is incredibly popular in the summers. With the focus on history and staying residential, Canemah doesn’t play host to events. Instead, residents venture into Oregon City for events like the Memorial Day Parade and Fourth of July fireworks. The biggest festival in town is usually the First City Celebration, as Oregon City celebrates its status as the first city to be incorporated west of the Rockies, lending even further to the historical focus of the area.

As Oregon City spreads into Clackamas County, the neighborhood of Caufield blends the suburban subdivisions into the rural lands. But despite getting a little more space for growth, the community is a close one, says Jarrod Lyman, Community Communications Manager for Oregon City. “The Caufield neighborhood is an involved neighborhood, they have one of the highest attendances at their neighborhood association meetings, they’re involved and care about their community.” This helps to make Caufield a welcoming landing spot for residents looking to be a little closer to everything downtown Oregon City has to offer while still living on the edge of the Oregon countryside. Being on the expanding edge of a city means there is a great variety of home options in Caufield, and more coming up as the city grows. “There’s a lot of growth starting to happen out in that direction,” Lyman points out, as land continues to be developed – this can be seen in the amount of recently built houses on the market. Homes range from neatly laid-out subdivisions, to manufactured homes in tight quarters, to single-family ranch-style homes sitting on acres of land. This means there’s often a wide spread of homes on market – manufactured housing often sells in the $150,000 to $200,000 range, excluding monthly lot rent. Townhouses regularly fetch between $350,000 and $450,000, while single-family homes generally go for between $475,000 and $700,000. Townhouses and single-family homes almost always include off-street parking, generally in the form of a two-car garage. Students in Caufield usually start out at Beavercreek or Redland Elementary School, then move along to Tumwata Middle School, all three of which receive a grade of C from Niche. Oregon City High School, which receives a B-minus from Niche, has a storied girls’ basketball program, and was previously honored as a Blue Ribbon School. This Oregon’s public charter school systems means that parents may also opt to send their child to a charter academy such as Alliance Charter Academy and Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences, for career-focused curriculum. Clackamas Community College is in the heart of the neighborhood, providing further secondary education – “They’re a pillar of the community, they do a lot of events there,” says Lyman. Living in Caufield is not as convenient as living in the heart of Oregon City. The neighborhood is somewhat bikeable, but not particularly walkable, and public transit is minimal. Particularly in the areas on the edge of neighborhood, a car will be needed for daily errands and getting to work. One will also be needed to get to Portland International Airport, the closest airport for commercial flights, which is 20 miles away, usually a drive of 25 to 30 minutes. Similarly, the closest hospital providing round-the-clock emergency care, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, is five miles away, regularly a 10-minute drive. Lil’ Cooperstown Bar and Grill is a local favorite serving pub grub in a sports-themed space, while Abby’s Legendary Pizza, an Oregon-based chain, offers pizzas, sandwiches and more. For a night out, Lyman says, many locals head out of the neighborhood to the downtown - “Our Main Street District has undergone a renaissance, it’s become a destination for people in the community.” It’s home to breweries and wine bars, as well as fine dining options. In the neighborhood, Berry Hill Shopping Center features an Albertsons and big box stores, while just outside of it Southridge Shopping Center is home to a Fred Meyer and more. Residents can also take care of their weekly shop at the Oregon City Farmers Market, on the college campus, says Lyman - “It’s a fantastic year-round Farmer’s Market, local and regional producers from Clackamas County.” “We have some really great neighborhood parks throughout the community, they’re points of pride for the neighborhoods,” says Lyman. Recently constructed Tyrone S. Woods Memorial Park sits in the middle of Caufield, with concrete pathways and open green space adjoining wetlands. One of the biggest draws is the three-quarter acre fenced dog park where pups and owners alike can socialize. For residents seeking a little more intense activity, Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park is just to the northwest and features a network of hiking and mountain biking trails under groves of bigleaf maples. Local wildlife can be spotted throughout the park, and a waterfall awaits those who venture deep into the canyon. For folks who prefer the greens of a course over the greens of overhanging leaves, the Oregon City Golf Club and Stone Creek Golf Club are both adjacent to Caufield. Few events occur within Caufield, but events in the heart of Oregon City draw the community out, says Lyman. “One of the events that has huge turnout is the Concerts in the Park series that our Parks and Rec department puts on, there’s a wide variety of music each week. One week it might be blues, the next week it might be pop, then it might be country.” These concerts run through July and early August. “The history of Oregon City is a key part of the community’s identity,” says Lyman, “We’re the first incorporated city west of the Mississippi River.” The annual First City Celebration in June celebrates this, with live music, vendors, a kid’s zone and more.

The farmland that surrounds the Gaffney Lane neighborhood of Oregon City—a somewhat removed suburb of Portland—gives a clue about the recent past of the neighborhood. “That whole area used to be strawberry fields that we would all go pick,” says Kelli Upkes, a broker with MORE Realty who grew up in Oregon City. “Now, there’s more connectivity in the streets […] and we see a lot more bicyclists in the area making their way through the city to the country.” Today, Gaffney Lane consists of contemporary traditional homes close to multiple grocery stores and local-approved eateries. Wide, shady sidewalks next to calm streets make getting around easy for those on foot or two wheels. Most of Gaffney Lane's residential areas were developed between 20 and 40 years ago, with contemporary traditional architecture dominating the streetscapes. Towering evergreens cast shade on wide, pristine sidewalks, beckoning residents for a walk around the neighborhood, past backyards made private by walls of hedges. Ranch-style homes with contemporary touches and two-level homes with tuck-under garages are common, largely built in the 1980s and 1990s. Homes of this style usually come with three bedrooms and a price tag between $460,000 and $600,000. Contemporary traditional builds with Craftsman details built throughout the 1990s and around the turn of the century come with anywhere between three and five bedrooms. Many also have three-car garages, commanding $600,000 to $750,000. There are also a handful of three-bedroom townhouses on the market, usually selling between $400,000 and $450,000. Residents of Gaffney Lane have quite a few options when it comes to grocery shopping—WinCo Foods, Albertsons and Fred Meyer are all within or close to the neighborhood. Molalla Avenue is concentrated with both local and chain restaurants, like Biscuits Café, a regional franchise mostly located throughout Portland, with a low-key atmosphere and free Internet for customers. Known for its breakfast, warm pancakes are brought straight from the griddle, where chefs pump out heartier meals like corned beef hash, chicken fried steak and huevos rancheros. Wichita Bar and Grill also has a dedicated breakfast menu, but it doubles as a bar during the evening hours. Neon logos of various alcohol brands illuminate two pool tables across from a full, wood-paneled bar. Sirloin steaks are masterfully prepared in eight different ways, while the menu also includes an extensive list of burgers. Gaffney Lane is close to green spaces significant to Oregon City. Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park lies just beyond the shopping centers at the northeast of the neighborhood, where hikers can enjoy the body of water in its various states—the creek is still enough to foster a layer of green growth on its surface in some places, while it races over strewn logs and mossy stones in others. The park’s 236 acres also contain two miles of mountain biking trails that twist and turn through bigleaf maples and giant western red cedars. Further south, the Tyrone S. Woods Memorial Park boasts the title of the city’s first off-leash dog park. The city cut the ribbon on the nine-acre park in 2021, developed and named in honor of retired Navy SEAL Tyrone Snowden Woods, an Oregon City High School state champion wrestler and a classmate of Upkes. Children scale the park’s playground, composed of stacked wooden logs, and sweep through the air from its saucer swing. Local children may attend Gaffney Lane Elementary School, which earns a C-plus from Niche, followed by possibly joining other Oregon City students at C-rated Gardiner Middle School. Oregon City High School earns a B-minus. Around three-quarters of the student body pursue formal education after high school, earning about $2 million in scholarships and financial aid collectively every year. The school empowers students to take college courses even earlier through partnerships with the Oregon Institute of Technology and Clackamas Community College, where they can choose from 28 classes like Accounting 1 and 2, Honors Business and Personal Law, as well as Writing: Creative Non-Fiction. Clackamas Community College is just across Highway 213, and it is a highlight for the community. “We all lovingly say, ‘Harvard on the Hill,’” Upkes says. “It is a renowned community college, and they have a lot of events and services going on.” Highway 213 and Molalla Avenue create a triangle of shopping and dining in the northeast corner of the Gaffney Lane neighborhood. Highway 213 continues north until it hits Interstate 205 just north of Oregon City’s downtown. Commuters on their way to Downtown Portland use the interstate to get to the center of Rose City in about 45 minutes.

Built upon a former hazelnut farm — or “filberts,” as the locals say — Hazel Grove-Westling Farm is a quiet southern suburb of Oregon City. “It’s a beautiful neighborhood,” says Michelle Woster, a Licensed Principal Broker for Pex Realty Group who has sold several homes in the area. “It’s definitely sought-after. You’re not quite in the city, but you’re still close enough that you don’t have to go far for shopping or things you need. We have city amenities, like a hospital and lots of medical facilities, and you’ve got a Starbucks on every corner.” The houses are unique in some ways, too; more spacious lots add to the neighborhood’s appeal. “I feel like they did such a good job with the houses,” Woster says. “They aren’t right on top of each other like some of the new construction around here is.” This neighborhood is mostly made up of contemporary houses from the 1990s and 2000s that fetch prices of about $500,000 to $820,000, but a handful of mid-century homes can be found throughout. “There are quite a few — probably more so than normal — single-level homes that are just stunning,” Woster says. “You’re talking homes that are very accommodating for families and older folks.” They sit on one-quarter to one-third-acre lots — relatively large, compared to brand-new construction in the area, according to Woster — that leave space for a concrete driveway, a two- or three-car garage, and a small front yard that usually comes with fancy shrubbery. A small section of townhouses is also present in the neighborhood, with sales prices that range from $360,000 to $450,000. Hazel Grove-Westling Farm is just two miles south of Oregon City's Molalla Avenue business corridor, where residents can try their luck with the tequilas, karaoke, and video poker machines at Tacho's Mexican Restaurant, enjoy the generously portioned House Lo Mein at the Golden Taste Chinese restaurant, and catch a movie at the Regal Hilltop. This strip is also home to a couple of grocery stores, like Fred Meyer and Safeway. Of course, downtown Oregon City is also within 3 miles of home, so it’s not much farther to access downtown’s eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. Thanks to its location within 3 miles of downtown Oregon City, residents are always close to things going on in town. One big event, according to Woster, is the annual Teddy Bear Parade. “I know it sounds silly, but a lot of people show up for it, and then those teddy bears are donated,” she says. Kids attend Oregon City School District institutions like John McLoughlin Elementary School, which is located in the neighborhood and graded C-plus by Niche; Gardiner Middle School, graded C; and Oregon City High School, graded B-minus. Established in 1885, Oregon City High offers one of just five JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Core) programs in the state. The neighborhood's most prominent feature is the 3.5-acre Hazel Grove Park, which was completed in 2022. It provides open space and a dense canopy of mature trees to residents who want a place to relax and walk their dogs. A larger adventure is only 2 miles away at Canemah Bluff Nature Park. In addition to its playground and basketball courts, this park offers walking trails enhanced by wildflowers, wildlife, and views of the Willamette River. Since Portland’s TriMet city buses don’t come as far out as Hazel Grove Westling Farm, Clackamas County offers weekday shuttle services that make stops on the neighborhood's edge, along South Partlow Road and South McCord Road, that connect residents to TriMet service lines. Downtown Portland is within about 15 miles of home.