Adult and child fans of mythical beasts and friendly forest creatures need look no further than the greater Portland and Vancouver areas for a myriad of fantastical creatures. From life-sized trolls to hidden murals and more, break out your car bingo cards to start hunting these northwest legends. Better yet, all these creations can be viewed for free — or you can stop and grab a snack or ticket, too.
Oro, the Playful Giant of Hillsboro
Our family couldn’t be more excited for a playdate in Hillsboro to see Oro the forest giant in the Hidden Creek Park West playground. Take a walk through the towering trees adjacent to the community center to find this gentle giant sprawled across a shiny new play area with loads of room to climb and swing. This creature’s unique feature is that children can climb on it, not just around. The Hidden Creek forest giant is located in the area formerly known as the 53rd Avenue Community Playground. There are many paths, but be aware of poison oak if you stray off the main areas.
Portland’s Troll Bridge
You’ll be able to stamp your card for trolls if you head not too far from the Hillsboro giant to search out these miniature versions. If your little is a massive fan of Poppy and Branch they’ll either be in love — or horrified — it’s a bit hard to tell. If you haven’t guessed already this bridge is themed after Troll dolls and attached to an old railroad trestle bridge in the same matter gum is attached to Seattle’s favorite Pike Place Market wall. There’s room to pull over or you can view from the car. Find the bridge at 16498 NW McNamee Rd.
Ole Bolle the Troll
Ole Bolle the Troll is one of the famous sculptures created by world-famed artist Thomas Dambo and the first in the series titled, “The Way of the Bird King” which includes 5 more sculptures in the Seattle area. While you can’t climb directly on this giant beast, you can wander around the sculpture and into the cabin to greet this curious creature. The idea of the Dambo-themed troll quest is that troll hunters follow clues to find these larger-than-life characters, but at this point, most publications have spilled the beans and a quick search will tell you to check the Nordic Northwest Campus in Tualatin Valley. Pro tip: If you go into the center itself, you can enjoy some Scandinavian treats and find a few bonus mythic figures, too.
Dragon Beasts of Portland’s Chinatown
The Lan Su Chinese Garden downtown is guarded by ancient dragons at the doorway. This stop is great to explore if your beast hunters need a break from the car. Serpentine beasts are often associated with water, making our rainy Portland winters a fit for these ancient creatures. The dragons can be seen from the street for free, or grab a ticket and enjoy the whole garden. We also found bonus dragons in a quick walk around Chinatown, and some bigfoots on nearby newspaper boxes as well.
Vancouver Gnome Trail
The Vancouver Gnome Trail is an ongoing community exhibition of these favorite lawn and forest creatures. Free to visit, take the west end Burnt Bridge Trail entrance near Fruit Valley Road and Bernie Drive. Look for signs indicating the Gnome Trail at about the ¾ mile mark off the paved main trail. There are three entrances to the dirt trail and one is quite steep, so choose your own adventure. Gnomes have gone missing from time to time, so it’s best to check the dedicated Facebook group for the latest trail updates.
Assortments of Mythical Creatures and Snacks
Wonderwood Springs
These final three mentions are shared for a large and diverse cast of mythical creatures. Wonderwood Springs restaurant and mini golf share the ongoing creations of local favorite artist Mike Bennett in the St. John’s area. Stop in for a coffee or grab your putter for a 9-hole immersive experience full of hand-drawn whimsical characters. Mini Golf admission is $12 per person and FREE for kids under 3. (Find more kid-friendly coffee shops here.) New in June 2025 is the latest Mike Bennett installation the Portland Aquarium, and while we don’t know exactly which creatures will be featured, we expect there to be some fantastic(al) additions to this lineup.
McMenamins
If we’re discussing magical creatures, McMenamins has too many to mention — both locations and art. Browse one of these locations long enough and you’re almost certain to find a unicorn, mermaid and more. McMenamins larger locations are free to walk around, although we always suggest you make a purchase to support your local businesses if possible. You can also try this handy guide to McMenamins artwork, too.