The Troll Hunt in the Bernheim Forest

As mentioned, Thomas Dambo is an amazing artist who has created these Trolls all over the world. He even has a trollmap posted on his own website. These trolls located at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum have their own special story as well..

From Thomas Dambo

“While the Weather Got Better”

It was a cold winter, but the snow felt warm

He woke up with eyes closed and heard himself yawn

His name was Isak Heartstone, on mountain top of them all

A name they gave him as small, now he was 36 feet tall

Still a young giant, only 700,051 years

Already a father to two, full of eyes, full of tears

Full of love he was, but felt alone on the mountain

He walked down to the forest, in the forest he found them

His two beautiful children, little Elina and Nis

And their mama Loumari, a hug and a kiss

They spend the winter together while the weather got better

Elina looked at the sky, from the sky fell a feather

It was a sign of good luck, and a fertile forest

Where every being had a place from the smallest to tallest

They made a circle of life, they would soon have a brother

It’s good luck for a baby, when it sleeps in the mother

Some of wood, some of stone, some of sun, some of seeds

Some of quarts, some of leaves and what fell from the trees

A dragon skull he found 200,000 years ago

It was a symbol of strength, so the baby would grow

But now the ice was melted and Isak looked to the mountain

He knew he had to go back and put his big arms around them

A hug and a kiss, Nis, Elina, Loumari

I will be back again soon, he yelled, walking the prairie

The first troll we met on this hike you actually drive past on the bridge as you drive into the park. It's a small sneak peak of this gentle giant named Little Nis.

Challenge: If you are with someone, have them wait on the bridge and go stare into the reflection next to Little Nis for a picture. Bonus points if your reflection is clear and obvious in the water!

The next Troll you see on this trail is Mama Loumari, who is expecting a baby troll!

She is also surrounded by various creations that my kids refer to as the castle. There are "thrones" made out of trees, as well as wind chimes and other magical creations.

The final Troll you will meet is Little Elina.

Little Elina is playing with rocks and has created... or at least what the kids have hypothesized.

1. domino stacks - where you stack up the dominos and then knock them down

2. a guitar (the shape is vaguely guitar-ish)

3. a rock design

Either way, the kids love to hop from rock to rock when they visit this Troll. This trail is pretty fun for kids because you pass over several bridges, a beaver dam, and more.

We love visiting the Trolls, where to next?

Quick facts:

Start at the Visitor Center.

The Forest Giants Trail

Time: about1.5 HR

Difficulty: Easy 

Length: 2 miles (It is an out and back trail, one mile each way.)