Arnold Creek

Arnold Creek is the southernmost of Portland's official neighborhoods, occupying the forested hillsides south of Markham, west of Collins View, and north of Lake Oswego. The neighborhood takes its name from Arnold Creek, which originates at the Loll Wildwood natural area (formerly the West Portland Park Natural Area) at the headwaters and flows south through the community toward the Tualatin River system. A small section of Tryon Creek State Natural Area also flows into the southeast corner of the neighborhood.

Maricara Natural Area, a mixed evergreen-deciduous forest on Arnold Creek's northern boundary, anchors the neighborhood's commitment to environmental preservation. The natural area contains wetlands, native plants, older second-growth forest, and a protected stream. The Arnold Creek Neighborhood Association is an active SWNI affiliate, meeting on the second Tuesday of the month and maintaining a strong focus on transportation safety, community gardens, and the advocacy needed to protect the natural areas that define the neighborhood's character.

Unlike many Portland neighborhoods, Arnold Creek has virtually no commercial activity within its boundaries — residents depend on Barbur Blvd, SW Boones Ferry Rd, and Lake Oswego's retail clusters for daily needs. This is precisely what many residents value: a genuinely residential neighborhood where the creek, the natural areas, and the quiet streets are the point.