Although Twilight is set in the misty town of Forks, Washington, almost the entire film was shot across Oregon and southern Washington – with the small towns of St. Helens and Vernonia standing in for Forks itself.
Where was Twilight filmed?
Twilight (2008) was filmed mainly in Oregon – in and around Portland, St. Helens and Vernonia – and in the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon-Washington border. Bella’s earlier home city of Phoenix was filmed in Santa Clarita, California. The real Forks, Washington, appears only in spirit – the production never actually filmed there.
Every Twilight location, explained
Forks recreated in Oregon – St. Helens and Vernonia
The rainy town of Forks was pieced together from two Oregon towns. Downtown St. Helens provided the shops – the dress shop, the Bloated Toad restaurant and the Thunderbird & Whale Bookstore – while Vernonia supplied Forks’ street corners and the police station where Charlie Swan works.
The Cullens’ house – Portland
The Cullens’ famous glass-walled home is a real modernist house at 3333 NW Quimby Street in Portland, Oregon. Charlie Swan’s more modest house, meanwhile, sits on South 6th Street back in St. Helens.
Forks High School – Kalama and Portland
Forks High School was a split location: the exteriors were Kalama High School across the river in Washington, while the interiors and the cafeteria were filmed at Madison High School in Portland.
The baseball field and the forests – the Columbia River Gorge
The Cullens’ thunderous baseball game was shot on State Route 14 near Prindle, Washington, in the Columbia River Gorge, while the mossy forest scenes used Silver Falls State Park and the ancient trees around the Gorge. The pivotal meadow and tree scenes were filmed near Washougal, Washington.
The coast – Indian Beach
The dramatic surfing and cliff scenes were filmed at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park, on the Oregon coast near Cannon Beach – one of the most spectacular of all the Twilight locations.
Phoenix – Santa Clarita, California
Bella’s sunny former home of Phoenix, Arizona, and the tense hotel-and-ballet-studio finale were filmed far to the south in Santa Clarita, California, including the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
Planning a visit
Many Twilight locations are open and easy to reach. The town of St. Helens has fully embraced its Twilight fame and holds an annual fan event each autumn; Silver Falls State Park and Ecola State Park (Indian Beach) are beautiful public parks; and the Columbia River Gorge locations line a scenic drive east of Portland. The Cullens’ house in Portland is a private residence – admire it from the street only. Use the interactive map above to plan a route between them.
