About West Linn

Overview

West Linn, OR, best known as “the city of hills, trees, and rivers”, is another prosperous suburb of Portland. Just 12 miles south of Portland’s city center, and bordered by the Willamette and Tualatin Rivers, outdoor life is central to West Linn living. Fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, skiing, are just a few of the outdoor activities West Linn residents enjoy.

In a city of only 24,000 people, West Linn has no less than 23 parks, comprising almost 300 acres. Even Nature Conservancy has protected parklands. The Camassia Natural Area, a prehistoric floodland that is home to rare plants and grasses, draws tourists and biology students from  around the world.

Skateboarding daredevils will tell you that West Linn is best known for its skate park, a concrete haven set among the evergreens. Whatever the enjoyment, be it cultural life and dining opportunities in Portland, trekking through rich nearby forests, or kayaking the Tualatin River, West Linn residents love coming home.

Transportation

West Linn is easily linked to nearby cities and towns by Hwy 205. The quickest way to get to Portland is via State Highway 43, that intersects with I-5 North.

If you prefer public transportation in and out of the area, Amtrak is a scenic alternative, especially for longer trips to Seattle or San Francisco. Portland International Airport is only 20 minutes northeast of West Linn.

Locally, there is easy public transportation via Trimet our award-winning light rail, bus, and streetcar system.

History

Two of the best loved pieces of West Linn history involve locks and meteors.

The historic Willamette Falls Locks – gates that allow boats to move between higher and lower river passages – were the first multilift locks to be built in the U.S. From the time they opened in 1873, the locks were crucial to West Linn’s economic and transportation needs. Until that time, riverboats had to suffer a long detour in order to bypass the deadly drop of Willamette Falls.

The locks are now owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Boat passage through the locks is free of charge.

The largest meteor ever found in the United States had its home in West Linn for perhaps tens of thousands of years. The 10-ft by 6-ft by 4 ft Willamette Meteorite weighs over 15 tons and is over 91% ore. Local Indian tribes relate stories that the meteorite fell to earth long before there were humans in North America. They consider the meteorite sacred, and are allowed to perform private ceremonies with it once a year. The meteorite is currently housed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. A replica of the meteor stands outside of Willamette Methodist Church in West Linn.