What are some geographically isolated, small towns near Portland? (Salem: live in, price)

[Deutsch Stolz]

Or any other major city in Oregon or Washington. I'm looking for something that has a geographical border, such as mountains or water, that isolates itself from everything else. It has to be a small town or county too. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Nell Plotts]

Fish Hawk Lake may meet that description.

[SETabor]

Buena Vista, OR. If you take the ferry across the Willamette it's not too far from Salem. If you have to drive, it's a long way.

[jjpop]

Define "small town." For some people it's a town with 500 people, for others it's a town with 5,000 or even 50,000.

[hamellr]

Depending on your definition of "close" to Portland, but since you're asking for Oregon and Washington too.

Joseph, Enterprise, Brownsmead, Hamilton, Fossil, Greenhorn, Bates/Austin, Sumpter, Bourne, Long Creek Granite, Antelope, Burns, John Day, Shaniko, Mitchell, Christmas Valley, Lakeview, Bly, Plush, Paisely, Frenchglen, Denino, Fields, Fort Klamath, Prospect, Dorena, Trail, Shady Cove, Ruch, McKee Bridge, O'Brien, Chetco, Fairview (the one nearest Coos Bay,) Arago, Broadbent, Remote, Camas Valley, Lakeside, Winchester Bay, Elkton, Scottsburg, Umpqua, Oakland, Mapleton, Deadwood, Monroe, Brownsmead, Siletz, Otter Rock, Depoe Bay, Kernville, Otis, Meda, Hebo, Clover Dale, Netarts, Oceanside, Bay City, Gardiner, Idaville, Barview,Brighton, Nehalem, Vernonia, Rainier, Svensen, and Knappa.

And before anyone asks, I have been to every single one of those places and could probably add another few dozen names. Many are so small they don't even have a store, but they're all (mostly,) geographically isolated either physically or just by distance.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Depending on your definition of "close" to Portland, but since you're asking for Oregon and Washington too.

Joseph, Enterprise, Brownsmead, Hamilton, Fossil, Greenhorn, Bates/Austin, Sumpter, Bourne, Long Creek Granite, Antelope, Burns, John Day, Shaniko, Mitchell, Christmas Valley, Lakeview, Bly, Plush, Paisely, Frenchglen, Denino, Fields, Fort Klamath, Prospect, Dorena, Trail, Shady Cove, Ruch, McKee Bridge, O'Brien, Chetco, Fairview (the one nearest Coos Bay,) Arago, Broadbent, Remote, Camas Valley, Lakeside, Winchester Bay, Elkton, Scottsburg, Umpqua, Oakland, Mapleton, Deadwood, Monroe, Brownsmead, Siletz, Otter Rock, Depoe Bay, Kernville, Otis, Meda, Hebo, Clover Dale, Netarts, Oceanside, Bay City, Gardiner, Idaville, Barview,Brighton, Nehalem, Vernonia, Rainier, Svensen, and Knappa.

And before anyone asks, I have been to every single one of those places and could probably add another few dozen names. Many are so small they don't even have a store, but they're all (mostly,) geographically isolated either physically or just by distance.

Wow! I am impressed by your knowledge. I have never heard of most of these places. Interesting.

[Luv2byte]

Originally Posted by Deutsch Stolz

Or any other major city in Oregon or Washington. I'm looking for something that has a geographical border, such as mountains or water, that isolates itself from everything else. It has to be a small town or county too. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Kelso, WA
Longview, WA
Castle rock, WA
Ridgefield, WA
Battle ground, WA


All are within 45min of Portland, 1hr to the beach, 30-45min to the Columbia gorge, 1hr to mountains, 30min to hiking, 30-1hr shopping, 2-3hr to Seattle.

I live in one of these towns, it's fantastic. I live in the country on a little piece of heaven...that was reasonably priced.

Other choices, nice little towns...
Ocean park, WA
Long Beach, WA
Astoria, or
Westport, or
Warrington, or
Seaside, or
Lincoln city, or
Newport, or
White salmon, WA
Hood river, or

[EnricoV]

Geographically, I'd have to agree that towns either along the coast or the Columbia River Gorge probably best fit the description.

[Random_Walk]

I'd pitch the vote in for coastal towns being highly isolated. There are exceptions (Newport, Lincoln City, Tillamook, Seaside, Astoria), but most of the towns along the north coast are quite isolated, both from the world and from each other.

A few that are *really* isolated out here are a bit further inland, such as Jewell (there's a few others - can't remember off the top of my head, though). Vernonia is probably among the most isolated out in this area, IMHO.

[Nell Plotts]

Fishhawk Lake is just a few miles from Jewell.