A Portland Grimm Weekend Itinerary + Map of Filming Locations

Planning a trip to Portland? Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Here is a unique, 2-day, Grimm-themed weekend itinerary to explore filming locations, neighborhoods, and landmarks featured throughout the show.

Below is a map of all the Grimm filming stops on this itinerary:

This itinerary includes several filming locations from Grimm, and historic landmarks in Portland’s neighborhoods.

Day 1: Welcome to Wesen Territory

Focus: North Portland Iconic Scenes + Forest Park

☕ Morning: Coffee + Nick’s Neighborhood (Drive-By Only)

Start your day with coffee from Fuller's Coffee Shop, or a classic Portland roaster like Stumptown, or Coava.

Then head north for a drive-by view of Nick & Juliette's house @ 805 NE Prescott Street. This is a private residence; enjoy respectfully from the street. You’ll instantly recognize the yellow craftsman exterior from dozens of episodes. 

Flash back to my Q&A with the owner back in 2012!

Nick & Juliette's house (c) mysouthwaterfront.com

Venture further and drive by the Black Claw Mansion, a historical building @ 2211 NE Thompson Street.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boschke-Boyd_House_(Portland,_OR).JPG

🌉 Late Morning: Photo Opps at Cathedral Park & St. Johns Bridge

Walk under the towering Gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge, one of the most iconic backdrops in Grimm. Wesen showdowns, hidden crypts, and moody encounters were filmed here throughout all six seasons. Stroll through Cathedral Park for photos — the vibe is pure Grimm.

- Episode 209

- Episode 210

- Episode 305

🌲 Afternoon: Forest Park, The Heart of the Show’s Forest Scenes

Head into Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the U.S. Many of Grimm’s chase scenes and woodland encounters were filmed along the trails.

• Lower Macleay Trails 
• Choose a 2–5 mile hike to soak in the moss, ferns, and mist.
• For the intrepid, Lower Macleay Park to Pittock Mansion is a 5 mile hike roundtrip.

Stone House (AKA Witches Castle) via forestparkconservancy.org 

Pittock Mansion — Classic Grimm Setting

Drive (or hike from Lower Macleay) up to Pittock Mansion. The historic locale is used in several episodes, it’s the perfect old-world mansion for supernatural intrigue. The sweeping panorama of Portland from the viewpoint is worth the trip alone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittock_Mansion

🍺 Evening: Dinner + Craft Beer (Very Monroe)

You will be hungry! End your day at Cafe Nell in NW Portland for a glimpse into one of the filming sites.

Alternatively, a stop by North Portland brewery would also provide a nice Grimm vibe. Monroe would approve.

Day 2: Downtown / NW Vibes + Iconic Landmarks

Focus: Downtown + NW Portland

🥐 Morning: Breakfast at Hotel Deluxe + Downtown Exploration

Take your breakfast with a touch of Hollywood glamour at Hotel Deluxe's Gracie's restaurant.

Then head towards PSU and the Park Blocks to see a few exteriors. If it's a Saturday morning, enjoy the PSU Farmers' Market before stopping by a few sites:

• Portland Art Museum
• St James Lutheran Church
• Ladd Carriage House
• First Presbyterian - Episode 11, 205

Ladd Carriage House

🧭 Midday: Lunch in the Pearl

Stop in for lunch at the Sultan Cafe or a cup of coffee from any local shop.

Then tour the Pearl district by foot or streetcar, to see The Fields park, Encore condos, The Gregory, and more familiar scenery. Rewatch Episode 11!

Encore building on Google maps

If you can, stop by the "Police Precinct", Old Customs House @ 220 NW 8th Avenue.

US Customs House on 8th Ave (c) mysouthwaterfront.com

🧱 Afternoon: Industrial Portland — Casefile Territory + Waterfront

Explore the industrial eastside along the Willamette River. These warehouses, docks, and industrial corridors were used constantly for crime scenes, Wesen hideouts and chase sequences.

• Episode 4
• Episode 12 Boxing Gym
• Episode 17

You’ll recognize the gritty backdrop immediately.

(c) mysouthwaterfront.com

Next stop: Portland Waterfront and Marina

Drive through the waterfront area from the Tom McCall fountain to the Riverplace waterfront marina and on to the South Waterfront. 

• Riverplace, riverfront marina - Episode 11
• South Waterfront streetcar - Episode 3
• OHSU Tram - great views! Filmed in the South Waterfront in 2011.

2011 (c) mysouthwaterfront.com

Fun fact: Portlandia filmed here in 2013, "Timid Driver", Season 4, Episode 5 - check out photos from the filming.

Grab some coffee or tea in honor of Monroe, at the (long-standing OG since 2006!) Daily Cafe at the Tram or Ovation in The Ardea, before heading up the hill to your next destination... 

SW Portland & House of Monroe

Now's your chance to swing by the House of Monroe in SW Portland @ 418 SW Hamilton Street. This is another drive-by, private residence situation; please be respectful.

https://www.mysouthwaterfront.com/2012/03/house-of-monroe.html

🍜 Evening: Dinner at Huber's

Make your way back downtown and set aside your dinner hour for the Huber's Cafe experience. 

• The Red Menace Episode

https://www.koin.com/news/where-we-live-hubers-cafe-and-spanish-coffee/

Explore more Grimm-Inspired Food & Dining Options:

A Grimm Take on Portland Food & Dining 

Where to Stay (to Maximize the Grimm Vibe)

• Hotel Deluxe - as seen in Grimm
• The Sentinel (classic, historic downtown, formerly The Governor) - as seen in Grimm
• McMenamins Kennedy School (quirky, atmospheric, very Portland)

Tips for Grimm Fans Visiting Portland

• Forest Park is most atmospheric in the early morning mist
• Respect private residences
• Pack layers, waterproof shoes, and a camera-ready jacket (!).
• Another recommended resource for a Grimm tour in Portland here: A Grimm tour guide - OregonLive

South Waterfront ICE Facility 2026

I wrote in November about the history of the ICE facility in the South Waterfront. 

Fast forward 3 months.

Three days after federal agents deployed tear gas at a protest, a judge restricted federal use of tear gas, munitions at Portland ICE protests. From the OregonLive story:

"The judge’s order encompasses the area at and around the ICE building at South Macadam Avenue and Bancroft Street.

No officer may direct or use chemical or projectile munitions, including pepper-ball or paintball guns, pepper or oleoresin capsicum spray, tear gas, flash-bang grenades or other chemical irritants, rubber bullets or other less-lethal weapons against a person unless that individual poses an “imminent threat of physical harm” to a law enforcement officer or someone else, the judge ordered.

He also barred federal officers from firing any weapon or munition at the head, neck or torso of anyone, unless an officer is legally justified in using deadly force.

And he made it clear that federal officers may not use chemical munitions or other projectiles against those alleged to have trespassed or refused to obey an officer’s dispersal order at the ICE facility."

This week, a federal judge in Oregon ruled that he would "continue to strictly limit federal law enforcement’s use of tear gas and other crowd control weapons on protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland."

Photo from The City of Portland 2026 https://www.portland.gov/federal/about-ice/ice-land-use-violation

The City of Portland issued a land use violation in September 2025, which was since reaffirmed in February 2026. 

As of March 5, 2026, the property owner has appealed the City’s violation finding to the Portland City Code Hearings Office; a hearing date has not yet been scheduled, and enforcement timelines are paused while the appeal is pending. The Hearings Office will hold a formal hearing and issue a decision on the violations, which may then be appealed to Oregon Circuit Court.

Neighborhood Crime Statistics for South Portland 2025

Here is our third annual review of the Portland Police Bureau crime statistics for the South Portland neighborhood. The data is offered through PPB's Tableau-powered public website.

All offenses past year (Dec 2024-Nov 2025):

In our last 2 years' reports, we have seen the crime trend decreasing since a peak in 2022 and behaving similarly to what has been seen across the country following the post-Covid spike. 

However, this year the South Portland data appears to be ticking up again since June 2025:

There are reasons. Protests at the ICE facility started up again in June and have continued.  According to PPB as of January 12, "To date, the total number of arrests related to ICE protest activity is 82."

Crimes Against Persons spiked in October. Assaults are the primary driver for this:

Assault/Simple Intimidations spiked in October presumably amid heightened police and activist activity near the ICE Facility:

Property Crime was also up in October with larceny and vandalism contributing:

• Motor Vehicle Theft, which we've looked into in past years, continues to be lower this year.
• Weapon Laws Violations: 11 this year, 2 in June, 3 in November.
• No Homicides, human trafficking, vehicular manslaughter or prostitution crimes recorded.

How does this compare to the overall Portland crime data? and the US?

Stay tuned for future research!