12 Shocking Real-Life Twilight Filming Locations Fans Can Still Visit Today
Decades after the release of the first Twilight film, the obsession with the Pacific Northwest's most famous vampire and human love story is as strong as ever. While the entire saga is famously set in the perpetually cloudy, rain-soaked town of Forks, Washington, the reality of where the iconic 2008 movie was shot is a little more spread out—and surprisingly accessible. As of the current date, December 18, 2025, many of the most famous locations are preserved, celebrated, and even open for fans to visit, offering a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.
The original Twilight movie, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, was primarily filmed across two states: Oregon and Washington. Due to logistical and aesthetic reasons, the production team opted to shoot the majority of the scenes in and around Portland, Oregon, and the nearby Columbia River Gorge, creating the misty, evergreen backdrop that defined the film's atmosphere. This guide uncovers the 12 most iconic, must-see filming locations, including the actual addresses you can visit.
The Real Forks: St. Helens, Oregon, and Kalama, Washington
The production team faced a challenge: the real town of Forks, Washington, was too remote for a major film shoot. The solution was to piece together the fictional town using locations in Oregon and Washington that captured the same small-town, heavily forested aesthetic. This creative decision resulted in several key locations becoming permanent pilgrimage sites for Twihards.
1. Bella Swan's House (St. Helens, Oregon)
The most famous and arguably the most visited location is the charming, slightly run-down 1930s home where Bella (Kristen Stewart) lived with her father, Charlie Swan (Billy Burke). Unlike most movie sets, this house is a real, private residence that is now a popular rental property for fans.
- Location: 184 S. 6th St., St. Helens, Oregon 97051
- Current Status: Fully operational Airbnb rental, known as the "Twilight Swan House." Fans can stay overnight and sleep in Bella's actual bedroom.
- Entity: Bella Swan House, Charlie Swan, St. Helens Oregon, Airbnb.
2. Forks High School (Exterior Shots)
The establishing shots of Forks High School, where Bella first meets the Cullen family and the infamous "Biology Class" scene is set, were filmed at a functioning high school in Washington state.
- Location: Kalama High School, 540 N 1st St, Kalama, Washington 98625
- Detail: The small, classic brick building perfectly captured the look of a remote high school. The school's exterior, including the parking lot where Edward dramatically saves Bella from the skidding van, was filmed here.
- Entity: Kalama High School, Kalama Washington, Edward Cullen, Skidding Van Scene.
3. The Carver Cafe (The Forks Diner)
In the movie, Bella and Charlie frequently eat at a local diner. This cozy spot is a real-life, operational café that has fully embraced its cinematic history.
- Location: Carver Café, 16471 SE Highway 224, Damascus, Oregon 97089
- Detail: The actual diner used for the interior and exterior shots where Bella and Charlie discuss the town's lore and her new classmates.
- Entity: Carver Cafe, Damascus Oregon, Bella and Charlie, Movie Restaurant.
4. Forks High School (Interior Shots)
For the interior scenes, including the tense biology classroom where Edward first shows his aversion to Bella, the production moved to a larger school in Portland.
- Location: Madison High School (now McDaniel High School), 2735 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97220
- Detail: This is where the famous biology scene and the interior hallway shots were filmed. The school underwent a name change in 2021, a crucial update for any fan planning a modern-day tour.
- Entity: Madison High School, McDaniel High School, Portland Oregon, Biology Classroom Scene.
The Cullen's World: Portland's Architectural Gems and Forest Scenes
The Cullen family’s world—from their sleek, modern home to the deep, mystical forest where Edward reveals his true nature—was largely created in the more metropolitan and architecturally diverse areas of Portland and its surrounding natural parks. These locations highlight the contrast between Bella's rustic life and the Cullen's eternal, affluent existence.
5. The Cullen House (Exterior and Interior)
The Cullen's home is a masterpiece of Pacific Northwest modernism, featuring soaring windows and a connection to the surrounding woods. This house is a private residence, and fans are strongly advised to respect the owners’ privacy.
- Location: 3333 NW Quimby St., Portland, Oregon 97210
- Detail: Known as the "Hoke House," this iconic residence was used for both exterior and interior shots of the Cullen family's home, including the kitchen where Carlisle performs surgery and the living room with the stunning forest view.
- Entity: Cullen House, Hoke House, Portland Oregon, Carlisle Cullen, Modern Architecture.
6. The "Spider Monkey" Tree-to-Tree Scene
One of the most memorable and romantic moments is when Edward reveals his vampire speed and strength to Bella by jumping through the treetops, culminating in the famous "Hold on tight, spider monkey" line. This was a composite of several locations.
- Location (Close-ups): Cape Horn, Washington, and areas near the Cullen House in Portland.
- Detail: The close-up shots of Edward and Bella talking in the tree canopy were filmed overlooking the Columbia River Gorge near Cape Horn. The initial jumping shots were done in the woods around the Portland area.
- Entity: Spider Monkey Scene, Cape Horn Washington, Columbia River Gorge, Edward and Bella.
7. The Ballet Studio (The Final Confrontation)
The dramatic climax where Bella confronts the villainous vampire James was filmed in a historic Portland building, now a hub for arts and events.
- Location: Yale Union Building, 800 SE 10th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97214
- Detail: This building, which has a rich history, served as the interior for the abandoned ballet studio where James traps Bella, leading to the final, bloody confrontation.
- Entity: Yale Union Building, James the Vampire, Ballet Studio Scene, Portland Arts.
Lesser-Known but Essential Twilight Locations
Beyond the main residences and schools, several smaller locations were crucial in establishing the mood and plot of Twilight. These deep-cut spots are a treat for the dedicated fan on a comprehensive road trip.
8. Thunderbird & Whale Bookstore / Alley Scene
The scene where Bella researches the Quileute legends about the "cold ones" and is later cornered by a group of men before being rescued by Edward was filmed in the same small Oregon town as the Swan House.
- Location: Downtown St. Helens, Oregon. The bookstore exterior was a storefront at 250 St Helens St. The alley is right next to it.
- Detail: St. Helens was used extensively to double as the downtown area of Forks. The alley scene is particularly easy to spot and recreate for photos.
- Entity: Thunderbird & Whale Bookstore, St. Helens Alley, Quileute Legends, Edward's Rescue.
9. Port Angeles Restaurant (Dinner with the Cullens)
The upscale restaurant where Bella has dinner with the Cullen family was actually a gorgeous stone-cliff venue overlooking the Clackamas River.
- Location: Stone Cliff Inn, 17900 S Clackamas River Dr, Oregon City, Oregon 97045
- Detail: This location provided the elegant, secluded atmosphere for the memorable scene where Edward and Bella discuss their relationship and the danger she is in.
- Entity: Stone Cliff Inn, Oregon City, Port Angeles Dinner Scene, Clackamas River.
10. The Deer Hunt / Forest Scenes
The deep, misty forests that define Forks and the Pacific Northwest were captured in a specific town known for its timber industry.
- Location: Vernonia, Oregon
- Detail: Vernonia's surrounding timberland and parks were used for various forest scenes, including the prologue's deer hunt and general establishing shots of the Forks wilderness.
- Entity: Vernonia Oregon, Forest Filming, Deer Hunt Scene, Pacific Northwest.
11. The Baseball Field
The iconic, storm-interrupted vampire baseball game was filmed in a remote, open park area to give the impression of a deep forest clearing.
- Location: Oxbow Regional Park, 3010 SE Oxbow Pkwy, Gresham, Oregon 97080
- Detail: The park's wide-open fields and surrounding dense forest were the perfect setting for the famous "It's time to play" scene, complete with the dramatic lightning and thunder.
- Entity: Oxbow Regional Park, Gresham Oregon, Vampire Baseball Scene, "It's Time to Play."
12. The Phoenix Hotel (Arizona Scenes)
Though the majority of the film is set in the cold, wet Pacific Northwest, the brief scenes of Bella's mother in "Phoenix" were filmed in a much warmer climate.
- Location: Santa Clarita, California
- Detail: The production traveled south to film the scenes that were supposed to represent the sunny, dry climate of Arizona, providing a stark contrast to Forks.
- Entity: Santa Clarita California, Phoenix Arizona, Bella's Mother, Climate Contrast.
The magic of the first Twilight movie lies not just in the story, but in the atmosphere created by these diverse and moody locations. A road trip through Oregon and Washington to visit these sites offers a unique and tangible connection to the saga, proving that the world of the "cold ones" is very much real and waiting to be explored.
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