Looking for a fun, free, and family-friendly way to find the Northwest Trolls?

The Adventure Lab® app guides troll hunters to unique locations while sharing the story of the troll and its surrounding neighborhood.

Download Adventure Lab Today.

Discover the Northwest Trolls with Geocaching Adventure Lab

The Northwest Troll project, themed “Way of the Bird King,” includes six sites in the Pacific Northwest where Danish environmental artist, Thomas Dambo, has created massive Trolls fashioned out of recycled materials.

This ambitious public art project is presented by Scan Design Foundation, whose mission is to support Danish-American relations with a focus on environmental sustainability. The Northwest Troll project celebrates the human experience of art by amplifying the connections of cultural heritage between Coast Salish tribal communities and Scandinavian traditions. It reinforces the shared values of environmental stewardship for watershed protection, restoration, and preservation of riparian habitats.

Photo credit: Scan Design Foundation

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Ole Bolle and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in August 2023. He resides on the campus of Nordic Northwest in Portland, Oregon

Ole Bolle / Portland, Oregon

Recommended start location: Nordic Northwest - parking available on site 📍

This Adventure features 10 locations on the campus of Nordic Northwest in Portland. The campus includes a historic cabin, wetlands, a rain garden, and if you look closely enough, you may even encounter a troll!

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Pia the Peacekeeper and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in August 2023. She resides in Sakai Park located on Bainbridge Island, Washington

Pia the Peacekeeper / Bainbridge Island, Washington

Recommended start location: Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal accessible by ferry from Seattle

In keeping with Pia’s value of environmental sustainability (and extremely limited on-site parking), we encourage walking, biking or public transportation during your visit.

Pia lives approximately one mile from the ferry and the Adventure includes 10 locations that will bring you to her.

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Bruun Idun and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in August 2023. She resides in Lincoln Park, a popular park located in the west Seattle neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

Bruun Idun / Seattle, Washington

Recommended start location: Lincoln Park (main parking lot)

This Adventure will take you on a walking tour through one of West Seattle's beloved recreation destinations!

In addition to bluff and beachfront views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, you'll get to meet Lincoln Park's newest resident, Bruun Idun (“Idun” for short – pronounced like “Eden”)

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Jakob Two Trees and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in September 2023. He resides in the woods near the Community Center in Issaquah, Washington.

Jacob Two Trees / Issaquah, Washington

Recommended start location: Issaquah Community Center

This Adventure will take you on a walking tour through downtown Issaquah.

In addition to local treasures, you'll get to meet Rainier Trail's newest resident, "Jakob Two Trees."

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Frankie Feetsplinters and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in September 2023. It stands outside the National Nordic Museum in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

Frankie Feetsplinters / Seattle, Washington

Recommended start location: National Nordic Museum in Ballard

Unlike the other Northwest Trolls, who reside in forests and beaches, Frankie Feetsplinters has found his home in an urban setting outside the National Nordic Museum.

Looking for freshly distilled aquavit? Old Ballard Liquor Company has you covered. Craving some lutefisk or that brown Norwegian cheese? Look no further. From the iconic Leif Erickson statue to the Market Street plaza often visited by Nordic royals, Ballard is proud to showcase its Scandinavian heritage! 🇳🇴

This whimsical troll sculpture is named Oscar the Bird King and was built by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo in September 2023. He resides in the woods of Maury Island in Vashon, Washington

Oscar the Bird King / Vashon, Washington

Take a quest to an enchanted island named Vashon. There you’ll find inspiring murals, a quirky roadside attraction and a popular multi-use art space.

You’ll also receive the royal treatment from Oscar the Bird King as he majestically peers down from his massive thrown. This one is not to be missed!

FAQs

  • By virtue of the recycled materials, the Northwest Trolls are intended to be a temporary installation for the public to enjoy for several years. The artist intends the trolls to age naturally. Site hosts will perform basic maintenance and repairs to keep each troll safe and in good shape for as long as possible.

    In Nordic mythology and folklore, trolls are known to be fierce protectors of nature. Please help us keep the Northwest Trolls healthy by treating them and their surroundings with care.

  • This ambitious public art project is presented by Scan Design Foundation, whose mission is to support Danish-American relations with a focus on environmental sustainability.

    NWTrolls: Way of the Bird King features six giant hand-built troll sculptures by Danish environmental artist, Thomas Dambo. The publicly-accessible sculptures will be located around the Pacific Northwest where each whimsical troll sculpture is part of an underlying environmental story. The project celebrates the human experience of art by amplifying the connections of cultural heritage between Coast Salish tribal communities and Scandinavian traditions.

    Thanks to funding partners and host site partners, there is no admission fee to visit any of the trolls.

  • Thomas Dambo is considered the world’s leading recycle artist, and is famous for his various art installations around the world, most notably his Troll sculptures.

    His work has reached millions of people through photos, videos and stories shared online, and through international media sources such as BBC, National Geographic, The Huffington Post, ABC, Lonely Planet, Treehugger, El País, Reforma and many more.

An important note: your efforts in troll-hunting should prioritize maintaining the peaceful and recreational atmosphere of each Troll's location.

Please help us watch over the wetland, trail & open spaces you visit to ensure that the Northwest Trolls and the land they sit on are preserved 🌏