West Linn

A West Linn suburb with a hilly landscape, Barrington Heights comes from humble beginnings. “When I was a little girl, I used to ride up the hill with my father so he could talk to the farmer at the top,” says Molly Macom, lifetime local and Broker at Westlake Properties with almost 4 decades of experience in the area. “That was Barrington Heights,” Today, the hill remains, but the area has become one of West Linn's most exclusive neighborhoods and home to a collection of million-dollar houses on a hillside just 25 minutes from Portland International Airport. With a top-rated school system and a retail section just outside of the sidewalks and wide suburban streets, it’s a desirable place to call home. The residential pocket of Barrington Heights includes secluded properties, the smallest being around 3,000 square feet, and has an understandingly low inventory. When they’re available, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals resting on the lower end of the neighborhood might start around $700,000, and as the elevation rises, so do the prices. Modern stone manors with French and Federal architectural influences, some with wrought-iron gates in the front and spacious patios around the back, can cost upwards of $1.5 million. On the top of the hill in gated communities are 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot chateau and custom properties for $3 million and up. “Families move to West Linn for the school district,” says Macom. Students living in Barrington Heights can begin at Willamette Primary, which receives a B-plus from Niche, before advancing to Rosemont Ridge Middle, which receives an A-minus. Learners can finish strong at West Linn High, which Niche grades an A and ranks as the No. 6 best overall public high school and No. 3 best high school for athletes in Oregon. While Barrington Heights is strictly residential, the commercial area is a quick drive down Salamo Road. “One of the main selling points is the easy access to other parts of the Portland Metropolitan Area. It's a straight shot to the freeway," Macom says. Salamo Road also takes residents to the Cascade Summit Town Center, where they can grab groceries at Safeway and get Tuna Poke at Sushi Kuni Izakaya Restaurant, if they can get a reservation. Just outside of Barrington Heights in historic downtown Willamette are rows of boutiques and local watering holes. Residents can sip on a craft beer flight at Ale & Cider House or meet up with friends next door at Willamette Garage, an open-air brewery with rotating food trucks. Next to the Cascade Summit shopping center is Tanner Creek Park, with paved walkways around open green space, a playground, a skate park and outdoor athletic courts. On the east side of Barrington Heights is the smaller Sunset Park, which also offers paved trails and basketball and tennis courts. Nature lovers might enjoy a hike along the Willamette River Greenway, with access points near the neighborhood along the Willamette River. Every Wednesday during the summer, Barrington Heights locals can head to historic downtown Willamette to pick up fresh produce and artisan crafts at the Summer Street Market. And on Sundays they might attend a service at Willamette Christian Church, which offers youth ministries and volunteering opportunities for community members. Residents can hop onto Salamo Road, which is a straight shot to Interstate 205. When on the freeway – which connects to Interstate 5 – Portland is only a 20-mile drive north and Vancouver, Washington is 8 more miles north from there. For those who prefer to get around on the bus, there are several TriMet stops along Willamette Falls Drive. The quiet Barrington Heights community receives a crime score of 2 out of 10, according to CAP Index – lower than the national average of 4.

Great blue heron nests dot the tree line of Goose Island—the largest rookery of the wading birds in the Portland area—overlooking the Bolton neighborhood of West Linn across the Willamette River. A balanced blend of industry and nature, the suburb that boomed because of a magazine paper mill still features acres and acres of untouched Oregon nature. Though the mill has a fraction of the presence it once did, buyers move to Bolton for homes that back up to dense evergreen forests, top-rated schools, river access and proximity to Portland. Much of Bolton has been left untouched, including the ten acres of Burnside Park. Hikers will find their steps softened by fern, moss and ivy on trails surrounded by greenery so vivid it seems surreal. Trees with gnarled branches covered in velvety moss reach toward trail visitors, many of whom explore the wooded preserve on four paws. The trails meander up and down hills, leading to a winding creek, and eventually, the rocky banks of Willamette River. Burnside Park is connected to seven acres of Maddax Woods, the highlight of which is a viewing platform of Goat Island. The uninhabited island is one of the largest rookeries of great blue herons in the Portland area, and nature enthusiasts can watch the graceful creatures build their elevated nests from a safe, respectful distance across the river. Hammerle Park may be a friendlier spot for small children, with a splash park, a playground, baseball diamonds, horseshoe pits and pickleball courts. Visitors flock to Maddax Woods before great-blue-heron-watching season for another reason—the Lighting of Maddax Woods in late November and December. Every winter dusk, hundreds of lights illuminate the woods with holiday cheer, a tradition that was started in 1999. Children can search for “creatures of the woods,” small cut-outs of native wildlife, in the twinkling forest, while parents relish their kids’ excitement. Local children attend Bolton Primary School, which was built so that local families could enjoy a shorter, more walkable route to their elementary school. “Everything is within walking distance,” says Molly Macom, who grew up in Bolton and works as the principal broker and owner of Westlake Properties. After Bolton Primary, local children attend Rosemont Ridge Middle School, both schools receiving an A-minus from Niche. Students join other local teenagers at A-rated West Linn High School, which Niche recognized as the sixth best public high school in Oregon. With 27 Advanced Placement courses and career and technical education programs centered around the digital arts, engineering technology, environmental science, journalism and technical theatre to choose from, it’s no surprise that 80% of 2023 graduates chose to pursue a degree at a two- or four-year college. The school values biliteracy as well, offering a dual language track in Spanish, as well as languages less frequently taught in American public schools, like Chinese and Japanese. Bolton is one of the most historical areas of town, with the vertical streets intersecting Buck Street that bear the names of the early settling families as evidence. “This was one of the first neighborhoods in West Linn,” Macom says. But while Bolton may be 130 years old, the neighborhood didn’t hit its stride until 1947, when the Crown-Zellerbach Paper Mill discovered a new way to make magazine paper in 1947. Mill workers constructed ranch-style homes and bungalows close by. “People who worked at the mill wanted to live near work,” Macom says. Homes with three bedrooms built before the mill’s heyday usually cost between $450,000 and $550,000, while those with three to four bedrooms and tuck-under garages constructed after the turn of the 20th century lean towards the $600,000 to $800,000 range. Bolton business is concentrated in West Linn Central Village. Mostly, shoppers come to the center for their grocery needs, which they replenish at the upscale Market of Choice. Across the street, shoppers will find a nail and a lash tech, as well as a hair salon. For a treat after a day of errands—or self-care appointments—residents can peruse the lengthy craft cocktail menu at Five-O-Three. Patrons enjoy artfully prepared dishes like beef bourguignon or seared dayboat scallops with artichoke risotto and leeks in comfortably broken-in booths under colorful, abstract artwork. For a lighter meal, Sushi Hurray offers everything from simple nigiri sushi to complex and flavorful rolls on a conveyor belt. Macom says parents in Bolton often send their children to Central Village without any supervision because they trust their neighbors and appreciate the fact that their city was named one of the safest places in Oregon. Willamette Drive, also known as Route 43, is one of the main thoroughfares of Bolton, traversing it from north to south. The road passes Hammerle Park and the West Linn Central Village before it connects to Interstate 205 at the very south of the neighborhood. The road leads to Portland proper in the north, bringing commuters to work in around half an hour.

Eleven miles south of Portland, West Linn is a scenic, wooded suburb that connects via Route 43 directly into the city. Within West Linn, Hidden Springs is a high-demand residential neighborhood with large single-family homes on wooded lots within walking distance of highly rated public schools. The neighborhood has parks throughout, shopping and dining less than a mile away and events like holiday parties and garage sales to keep the community busy. “We lived there about 7 years when the kids were little,” says Realtor Sandy Fogle. “It’s a friendly little area with lots of parks and community activity. There are a lot of younger families moving in because of the schools. When I have a listing there, I know it’s going to go pretty fast.” Hidden Springs has almost entirely owner-occupied single-family homes. “It’s a great neighborhood,” Fogle says. “People take care of their properties and take pride in ownership. You don’t see any homes that have been neglected. The whole Hidden Springs area has HOAs, and that’s why it’s kept the way it is.” The neighborhood has mostly new traditional houses, with some Northwest contemporary homes, townhouses and condos mixed in. The average home value here is more than $200,000 greater than the average for the Portland metro area. Sales prices range from roughly $400,000 for a condo to $1.2 for a custom new build, but most home values tend to fall between $800,000 and $1 million. The average single-family home size is about 2,800 square feet, significantly higher than the national average, and the market moves quickly, with homes selling after an average of 23 days, nearly half the national average of 42. Hidden Springs’ public schools are a major attraction to this neighborhood. “There’s a new primary school down the road, Trillium Creek. It’s a real draw to the neighborhood. Kids can walk to school, which is hard to find nowadays in the suburbs,” Fogle says. “A lot of people will move into this area to have their children attend that school.” Trillium Creek has an A-minus rating on Niche and is part of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, which has an overall A rating and ranks as Oregon’s third best school district on Niche. After Trillium Creek, students attend Rosemont Ridge Middle School, which is also less than a mile’s walk from the neighborhood and has an A-minus on Niche. After that, they go to Riverside High School, which hasn’t been rated, or West Linn High School, which has an A grade and ranks as Oregon’s sixth best public high school on Niche. West Linn High School offers AP courses in nearly 30 subjects, dual enrollment through Clackamas Community College and career and technical education in areas like digital arts, journalism and engineering. Students in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District also have the opportunity to graduate with the Oregon Seal of Biliteracy. “There are parks everywhere within Hidden Springs, and you can walk four or five blocks out of the neighborhood to get to other parks,” Fogle says. “There’s a skate park close enough that kids can walk to it.” Hidden Springs has three parks: Sunburst Park, Benski Park and Palomino Park. All three have playgrounds, picnic tables and half basketball courts, each with their own natural features like towering trees, running streams and mountain views. A mile away, Tanner Creek Park is a larger city park with a splash pad, tennis courts, pickleball and a skate park. On Willamette Drive, less than a mile from the neighborhood, the Robinwood Shopping Center has a Walmart, Wells Fargo, Orangetheory Fitness, a hair salon and a nail salon. Just across Hidden Springs Road, Linn City Pub is a cozy local hangout that serves breakfast, bar food, draft beers and house cocktails. Next door, Greek Bites Kebab & Gyros is a convenient spot to grab fresh and healthy food, with selections like gyros, wraps and soup. Hidden Springs is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood 11 miles south of Portland. “It’s a good neighborhood to run and walk, even though there are hills,” Fogle says. “People like to walk a lot around here. You can walk down to the shopping center, which has a cleaners, restaurants and a Starbucks.” Residents working in Portland can take Riverside Drive to get into the city, or they can take the TriMet bus to get downtown in 45 minutes. The nearest hospital is the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, about 5 miles south in Oregon City, and the Portland International Airport is 20 miles north. “Hidden Springs does a lot of things as a community,” Fogle says. “There’s an annual garage sale in June, and it’s fun for Halloween. People drive in from other neighborhoods to let their kids trick or treat in that area.” West Linn has a summer concert series each year in Tanner Creek Park. “Everybody in the community comes,” Fogle says. “People in Hidden Springs can walk to that.” Hidden Springs has a 2 out of 10 CAP Index crime score, below the national average of 4.

Tucked between the Williamette River and Oswego Lake is the neighborhood of Marylhurst in West Linn, Oregon. Only 10 miles from Portland, this neighborhood is ideal for commuters looking for more space and privacy while still being close to the city. With mountain views and forested streets, this neighborhood brings a taste of nature to suburbia.<br><br>Marylhurst provides a diverse array of residential homes that cater to various tastes and preferences. With a mix of split-levels and mid-century modern homes dating back to the 1950s, this neighborhood offers a rich tapestry of architectural styles. New homes are custom-built and start at $1.5 million, and homes built in the 1990s start at $1 million. <br><br>Students living in Marylhurst attend schools in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, rated A by Niche and ranked the third-best school district in Oregon. A student living in Marylhurst may attend Cedaroak Park Primary School, rated A-minus by Niche, Rosemont Ridge Middle School, rated A-minus, and West Linn High School, rated A. “West Linn is full of great features that make it desirable to buyers,” says Coldwell Banker Real Estate Agent Brandon Connor, who specializes in the Pacific Northwest. “This area is in high demand because of the great schools and easy accessibility to Portland and Vancouver.”<br><br>When the school and workday end, locals head to Marylhurst Heights Park to enjoy outdoor fun. This park, located on a hill, features a splash pad, a shaded picnic area with bathrooms and a fully equipped playground. “People in this area love the outdoors and spend a lot of afternoons hiking and enjoying the sunlight and fresh air,” says Connor. There’s also Midhill Park, a secluded, forested area with a playground and walking trails through the woods. Orangetheory Fitness is right outside the neighborhood for rainy or cold days, ready for your fitness routine. And when you’re in the mood for a trip into the bustling city, Portland is right around the corner. “Getting into Portland via the Tri-Met Bus Route and MAX Light Rail train system makes day trips or commuting a breeze,” says Connor. “Head in, check out a museum or see a show, then head home for dinner.”<br><br>Once you’ve worked up an appetite at one of Marylhurst’s many parks, head downtown for dinner at Backyard Burger Company, a local restaurant offering a variety of burgers and wings. There’s also Asian Kitchen, featuring authentic Thai and Asian-fusion meals including coconut shrimp, red curry and Thai iced tea. When you’re in the mood for a drink, try Linn City Pub, a local bar and restaurant known for excellent service and made-to-order sandwiches. For those who would rather cook, Walmart Neighborhood Market is just a quick drive from home and fully equipped with all your grocery needs and a pharmacy on site. <br><br>This peaceful suburban town is perfect for commuters looking for a less crowded space in the Portland metro area. From excellent schools to fantastic food, it’s clear Marylhurst in West Linn has a lot to offer.

On the banks of the Willamette River sits Robinwood, a neighborhood just 10 miles south of Downtown Portland within the smaller city of West Linn. Homes here are shaded by towering Pacific Northwest Pines, and the community gardens outside the Friends of Robinwood Station are ripe with tomatoes and buttercrunch lettuce during the summer months. The station, a firehouse turned community center (or " Robinwood's City Hall,” according to President Randall Fastabend) hosts local bands, Boy Scouts and neighborhood association meetings. According to Fastabend, this Portland suburb is defined by its quiet streets, good schools and a population of people “interested in what’s going on with the city.” Robinwood was once home to Marylhurst University, which officially closed its doors in 2018; today, the former college campus is being transferred into affordable housing (Marylhurst Commons). Willamette Drive, the neighborhood’s main commercial thoroughfare, cuts diagonally through Robinwood, paralleling the river of the same name. But residents can also head into Historic Downtown Willamette to do their shopping or relive the early days of the Willamette Falls Paper Company, which is still alive and well today. Ultimately, living here means a healthy mix of paved shopping plazas and rugged forest trails. Houses are far enough apart that it’s not hard to imagine what life must have been like back in the pioneering days, before covered wagons were replaced by Subarus. Surrounding the Robinwood Station Community Center is a collection of two- and three-bedroom ranch-style homes and bungalows built in the 1940s and 1950s. According to Kathy Flintjer, a licensed real estate agent with the Robbins Realty Group and a Robinwood resident for the past few years, these older homes are one of Robinwood's biggest draws due to their large lot sizes, generally half an acre or more. Prices range from around $600,000 to upwards of $800,000. Due to the proximity of the Willamette River, it’s not uncommon to see boats parked in driveways, and mature trees offer plenty of shade. Prospective buyers will also find larger, traditional-style homes with grand covered porticos, stone finishings and three-car garages as well as geometric contemporary properties with water views. Price points can easily surpass $1 million in Robinwood, and average sales fall around $960,000. "The word's out about West Linn," adds Flintjer, pointing to the fact that homes here sell faster than the national average. As Flintjer is also quick to point out, West Linn (and Robinwood as a result) is known for its highly-ranked public school system. Students can attend Cedaroak Park Primary School, which received an A-minus from the educational review site, Niche, before heading to Lakeridge Middle and West Linn High, which both earned As. Through the connections program at West Linn High School, students can enroll in classes at Clackamas Community College (CCC) while still in high school, earning simultaneous high school and college credit at a discounted rate. The West Linn Lions varsity wrestling team is no stranger to championships, and they’ve ventured to the Memorial Coliseum in Portland to compete on a state-wide stage. Lewis & Clark College, a private liberal arts school established well over 150 years ago, is a 15-minute drive from Robinwood on the way to Portland. It has a student population of approximately 2,200, and the public can attend on-campus lectures, orchestra performances and art shows during the academic year. Within the neighborhood, Robinwood and Midhill Park both offer playground equipment and athletic fields — at Robinwood Park, residents also enjoy spray fountains during the warmer months. To the south is the much larger Mary S. Young Park, which spans nearly 130 acres and includes several miles of walking trails and an area where dogs can play off-leash. Residents launch their boats from the Cedaroak Boat Ramp or walk over the floating bridge (open during the Spring, Summer and Fall) to Cedar Island, a U-shaped 14-acre landmass home to wildlife trails and fishing platforms. There’s also the Friends of Robinwood Station (aka “City Hall”). When the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue department shut down, "A group of us got together to make it a community center," Fastabend says. In 2010, Friends of Robinwood Station registered as a nonprofit, and it’s been a popular gathering place ever since. Shopping in Robinwood is easily taken care of along Willamette Drive, which runs diagonally through the neighborhood. The street is lined with restaurants like Bugatti's Ristorante, a local chain known for its relaxed atmosphere and hand-made pasta. There’s also Soku Sushi & Noodle, where locals can pick up orders of “Green Life” asparagus and avocado rolls, xiao long bao or Taiwan beef brisket noodle soup. For groceries, head to Walmart Neighborhood Market nearby or drive north to the Whole Foods in Lake Oswego. Just 3 miles away across the river, Oregon City has a collection of rustic riverside pubs and cafes like Black Ink Coffee, located inside White Rabbit Books and Gifts. Others enjoy heading out to eat or exploring the 1920s-era storefronts on Historic Willamette Main Street, approximately 5 miles from Robinwood. During the summer, residents eat outside, people-watching from small cafe tables. Pick up tickets to watch a musical at The Lakewood Center for the Arts, which also hosts youth and adult acting, improv and dance classes. Just across the river is the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, the only outdoor municipal elevator in the U.S. and part of the National Register of Historic Places; note: it’s free to ride and looks like something out of an alien invasion movie. To the south, the Historic Willamette Business District plays host to a regular calendar of events including the Wednesdays in Willamette Summer Street Market beginning in May. 65 vendors set up shop each week, and locals are treated to live music along with fresh produce. In July, watch the Old Time Fair Parade pass by on Willamette Falls Drive. The street also shuts down for community celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. Of course, there are always more opportunities in Portland approximately 10 miles — or 25 minutes depending on traffic — north. Favorite stops in and around the city include the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Zoo and the Portland Japanese Gardens. A-list comedians and touring Broadway shows also make frequent pit stops at the Keller Auditorium. Robinwood is a car-dependent neighborhood, but some residents like to take advantage of the TriMet bus system. Bus 35 stops along Willamette Drive, and Robinwood marks a midway point between Oregon City and Portland. From Portland’s Union Station, residents can make use of the MAX Light Rail system or book Amtrak tickets aboard the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight or Amtrak Cascades trains. Portland International Airport, meanwhile, offers more than 60 nonstop destinations. Residents can access medical care at the Willamette Falls Medical Center, a not-for-profit acute care facility 5 miles from the neighborhood. There’s also Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin. Not only does it have a 24-hour emergency room and a laboratory for sleep disorders, but it’s also Tualatin’s second-largest employer.

Hidden in plain sight in the center of scenic West Linn, Rosemont Summit may not stand out to visitors to the area, but residents know how special the neighborhood is. Its spacious modern houses, lovely scenery and convenient location make it one of the most sought-after landing spots in the South Portland suburbs. “It’s a place people really love to live,” says Diana Lipton, an associate broker with More Realty who has lived in the area for over a decade. “In fact, they love it so much that it can be hard to find houses in the area: once people move into Rosemont, they generally don’t want to leave.”<br><br>Most of the housing in the neighborhood was built in the last 30 years, a fact which is reflected in both the new traditional home styles found in the area. “It’s a great place if you’re looking for newer construction with a large layout,” says Lipton. “ The neighborhood is also very walkable. There are sidewalks everywhere and a really nice selection of parks and trails.” Homes in Rosemont Summit typically offer between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet and sell for between $900,000 to $1.1 million. Many homes in the area offer panoramic views of nearby forests or back up onto woods or parks. <br><br>The ample outdoor opportunities in and around Rosemont Summit are one of the neighborhood’s major selling points. At its center, Sahallie Illahie Park — its name means “sacred ground” in the Chinook language — offers a few short trails, nice views, and one of the prettier playgrounds you’re likely to find in a city park. Residents looking to take a longer walk in the woods can always step over to West Linn’s 50-acre Wilderness Park, which borders the neighborhood to the south and is home to miles of trails running through a peaceful pine forest.<br><br>When locals need to pick up groceries, the local Safeway is just a few blocks away at Cascade Summit Town Square. Cascade Summit is also home to most of the area’s restaurants, including highly-rated eateries Killer Burger and San Blas Mexican Restaurant. For more extensive shopping and dining opportunities, Downtown Oregon City, which won the Great American Main Street Award in 2018, is less than three miles away by car.<br><br>The local public schools, administered by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, are exceptionally strong. The neighborhood’s elementary school, Bolton Primary, has a 10 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools, and Rosemont Ridge Middle School has a 7 out of 10 rating. West Linn High School, meanwhile, has an A grade on Niche and is ranked the sixth-best public high school in the state by the site. The school is known for its strong athletic programs and has won state championships in baseball, football and tennis since 2022. <br><br>When it comes to commuting, Rosemont Summit is a short drive — five or six miles — from Clackamas and Lake Oswego. Downtown Portland is about 12 miles away via State Highway 43, which borders the neighborhood. However, those 12 miles can take upwards of 40 minutes when traffic is bad.<br><br>With its great schools, spacious modern homes and attractive scenery, Rosemont Summit is a perfect landing spot for those looking to find their forever home in South Portland.