The definition of Portland’s West Hills probably differs depending on who you ask, but for our explorations we’re staying north of Sunset Highway, straying only as far west as Cedar Mill. With easy access to Forest Park and other pockets of nature, it’s a peaceful place to live with plenty of dining appeal, as restaurants and breweries keep heading to the ‘burbs.
Why You Should Visit This Week: Purple-Stained Fingers
Nestled in a residential neighborhood, Bonny Slope Blueberries is a u-pick patch with rows of unsprayed bushes growing Blue Crop, Duke, Berkeley, and Elizabeth varieties. The season typically starts in early July (this year’s opened July 1) and runs through the summer, or until the crop runs out.
Farmer John Russell is the voice you hear on the phone when you call for hours and availability — it’s best to check ahead of time to see what’s ripe — and he’s the friendly face that will weigh your harvest on the way out (payment is cash, check, or Venmo). Visitors are invited to bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the scenery; more than likely you’ll also receive a greeting from Ripley, the resident pug who trades companionship for a few scritches and a sneaky blueberry treat here and there. Leave your own pup at home, but remember to bring your own bag or container.
Eat & Drink: Sour Beer and Empanadas
As you’re looking for a bite, you’ll come across familiar names beyond city limits, such as Von Ebert and Great Notion (their blueberry muffin tart ale is both delicious and on-theme), Spielman Bagels & Coffee’s outpost in Forest Heights, and 808 Grinds, which recently debuted a new restaurant and patio in Peterkort Towne Square.
LaChona Bistro imports the cuisine of Argentina alongside wines from the country’s Mendoza region. Empanadas come in varieties ranging from the Abuela Chona (beef, egg, potato, sweet pepper, and onions) to the BBQ Pork or Pollo Spicy, with rotating daily specials.
Cornell Farm’s lush nursery will dazzle even the most experienced gardener; fittingly, its cafe’s brunch menu appeals to the seasoned gourmand. Enjoy sips of Sleepy Monk Coffee at the espresso bar and tuck into plates such as the Tofu Hash or Elote Salad.
Outdoors: Stretch Your Legs
You’ll find there are well-traveled trails and others that are farther off-the-beaten-path as you explore the Tualatin Mountains.
Pose for a panorama pic at Pittock Mansion, the magnate’s residence turned museum, and head out on a hike. You can venture down one ridge and over the Barbara Walker Crossing to Hoyt Arboretum, or wander the other direction to the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Sanctuary (make sure to say hi to Julio the great horned owl). Nearby in Macleay Park, ruins of a former bathroom live on in infamy as the Witch’s Castle, a stone structure stained with graffiti and sordid stories of the surrounding land.
Perhaps lesser known but of substantial historical significance is the Willamette Stone, a point that was used to demarcate all land surveys and properties in Oregon and Washington. Today, the wooded area is protected by the state as a heritage site.
Did we miss something in the West Hills? Send us a line to share your recs.
