Grimm was filmed mainly in Portland, Oregon, with city streets, parks, bridges, and nearby towns standing in for its world.
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For readers wondering where the TV show Grimm was filmed, the answer starts in Portland, Oregon. The NBC series used Portland as both its story setting and its main production base, so many exterior scenes were shot on real streets, in public parks, beside the Willamette River, and around older industrial buildings.
The show also used studio-built interiors in Northwest Portland, which means some familiar rooms were not inside the real buildings seen on screen. A fan trip works well if you treat the city as a set of public exterior stops rather than a hunt for every interior room.
Where Grimm Was Filmed In Oregon
Grimm was filmed across the Portland metro area, with extra Oregon locations in the Columbia River Gorge, Hillsboro, Troutdale, Canby, and other nearby places. Portland’s forests, bridges, old brick buildings, and damp winter light gave the series much of its look.
Oregon Film says the NBC series shot for six seasons in and around Portland on its Oregon Film history page. That is the cleanest way to understand the show’s geography: Portland was not just a stand-in for another city; Portland was the center of the story and the production.
Many scenes used real exteriors, while precinct rooms, shop interiors, and home interiors were often built for filming. That split matters because it keeps expectations realistic when you visit.
TV Show Grimm Filming Locations In Portland: What Appears On Screen
Grimm filming locations in Portland range from private homes to public landmarks. The most useful stops for visitors are the public or easy-to-view exteriors, not residential addresses where fans should stay brief and respectful.
The table below gives the broad map of places fans usually recognize, with the screen connection and the real-world visit note kept separate.
| Filming Location | Screen Connection | Visit Note |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, Oregon | Main city setting and production base | Use downtown, Northwest, and North Portland as your core area |
| Imperial Paint Company, 2526 NW Yeon Ave. | Exterior tied to Nick’s loft | Industrial exterior; view from public streets only |
| U.S. Custom House, 220 NW 8th Ave. | Exterior for the Portland police precinct | Historic federal building in the Pearl District area |
| 117 NW 2nd Ave. | Exterior used for Rosalee’s spice and tea shop | Old Town Chinatown stop, easy to pair with downtown |
| 418 SW Hamilton St. | Exterior associated with Monroe’s house | Residential area; keep visits quiet and short |
| Willamette River near NW 17th Ave. | Area tied to Aunt Marie’s trailer scenes | Good for river and bridge context from early episodes |
| Multnomah Falls | Columbia River Gorge scene in Season 1 | Outside Portland; check parking and permit rules before going |
| Hoyt Arboretum | Forest scenes and Portland’s wooded feel | Public parkland near Washington Park |
Portland Sites Fans Usually Recognize
The easiest Grimm stops sit in or near central Portland, so you can see several without a long drive. Start with the Pearl District and Old Town, then move west or north depending on how much time you have.
The U.S. Custom House is one of the strongest visual matches because the police precinct exterior is tied to a real historic building. Nearby, Old Town gives you the exterior used for the spice shop, plus the older streets and brick storefronts that helped the series feel older than the city’s modern skyline.
Northwest Portland adds the industrial look. The Imperial Paint Company exterior is tied to Nick’s loft, but visitors should treat it as a working-area photo stop rather than an attraction with public access.
For the green, rainy side of Grimm, head toward Hoyt Arboretum, Forest Park, Kelley Point Park, or the riverfront. These places help explain why the producers could set a supernatural police story in a real American city without making the scenery feel generic.
Can You Visit Grimm Filming Locations In Portland?
You can visit many Grimm filming locations in Portland, but some are private homes, working buildings, or exterior-only stops. Public parks, bridges, downtown streets, and river areas are the safest choices for a fan route.
Use these rules to keep the trip easy:
- Choose public landmarks first, such as the U.S. Custom House, Hoyt Arboretum, Kelley Point Park, and river viewpoints.
- Treat private houses as drive-by or sidewalk-only stops, never as places to linger.
- Check park access before heading to Multnomah Falls or the Columbia River Gorge, since parking rules can change by season.
- Do not expect interior rooms to match the show; many were built on soundstages.
Fan-trip tip: Portland weather is part of the Grimm look, but wet sidewalks and park trails slow the day down. Bring a rain layer if you are visiting from October through May.
Where To Stay For A Grimm Locations Trip
Downtown Portland or the Pearl District is the simplest base for a Grimm-themed trip. Those areas put you near the police precinct exterior, Old Town, Northwest industrial stops, transit, restaurants, and river viewpoints.
Northwest Portland also works if you want quicker access to Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, and the loft exterior area. Eastside neighborhoods can be better for food and nightlife, but they add more backtracking if your route is built around the show’s central locations.
Use a central Portland hotel map if you want to compare stays near the main filming-location cluster:
A One-Day Grimm Filming Locations Route
A one-day Grimm route works best when you group stops by area instead of chasing locations in episode order. Portland traffic, bridges, and parking make a tidy loop much easier than a scattered list.
- Morning: Start near the U.S. Custom House at 220 NW 8th Ave., then walk or ride into Old Town for the 117 NW 2nd Ave. exterior.
- Late Morning: Head toward Northwest Portland for the Imperial Paint Company exterior and nearby industrial streets.
- Afternoon: Spend time at Hoyt Arboretum or Forest Park for the wooded side of the show.
- Late Afternoon: Add a river or bridge stop near the Willamette if the weather is clear enough for photos.
- Second Day Add-On: Drive east to Multnomah Falls or Troutdale if you want the Columbia River Gorge scenes.
Fans with only two hours should stick to downtown and Old Town. Fans with a full day can add Northwest Portland and a forest stop without rushing.
Pick Your Grimm Filming Locations Plan
The right plan depends on whether you want screen matches, Portland atmosphere, or an easy day without much driving. The most satisfying route blends one police or shop exterior, one industrial stop, and one wooded park.
- For the clearest screen match: choose the U.S. Custom House, 117 NW 2nd Ave., and the Imperial Paint Company exterior.
- For the mood of the series: choose Forest Park, Hoyt Arboretum, the Willamette River, and a rainy downtown walk.
- For a low-stress first visit: stay downtown or in the Pearl District, then keep the day within central Portland.
- For a bigger Oregon day: add Multnomah Falls, Troutdale, or the Columbia River Gorge after you finish the city stops.
Grimm is tied to Portland in a way few TV shows are tied to a real city. The streets, parks, bridges, and forests were not just background scenery; they shaped the show’s whole feel.
References & Sources
- Oregon Film.“Oregon Film History.”Confirms that Grimm shot for six seasons in and around Portland.