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A dozen Dambo trolls have settled into their new homes at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and will be here until Jan. 24, 2027. The temporary residents of “Trolls: A Field Study” bring Washington’s Dambo troll count up to 17, thrilling troll and nature enthusiasts alike.
I was so excited to visit Northwest Trek with my family to meet eight of the trolls ahead of the official opening. And while the trolls are technically here on a field study to better understand humans, I did all the research on them to prepare for our visit. In addition to my firsthand experience at Northwest Trek, I gathered all the essential details for planning a visit to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to see the other four trolls. Admission is required to see the trolls, and fair warning — visiting both zoos in a single day would be ambitious.
Consider this your field guide to seeing all 12 trolls before they pack up their things and head to their next destination.
What is ‘Trolls: A Field Study’?
“Trolls: A Field Study” is a traveling collection of 12 trolls created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Dambo is well known for creating huge wooden sculptures from reclaimed materials. His use of recycled and discarded materials invites visitors to think carefully about our planet’s limited resources and how we view trash.
How are these trolls different from the Northwest trolls?
Dambo’s iconic style and use of reclaimed materials are apparent in the 12 trolls of “A Field Study.” But these are smaller sculptures. They stand at 7 to 9 feet tall, while “The Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King” sculptures stand 14 to 20 feet tall. And while the Northwest Trolls are free to view, admission is required to see “Trolls: A Field Study.”
First-hand review: Hunting all eight trolls at Northwest Trek
First things first: You’ll need a map. And not just any map. There’s a special Dambo troll map for the occasion, which we grabbed near the entrance on our way into the park. Designated as “A Troll Treasure Trail,” the map covers both Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.
My daughter was thrilled to be mapkeeper for the day, unfolding it to discover that “X” does indeed mark the spot, 12 times over. We folded the map in half to focus on Northwest Trek. At each troll we checked the back of the map to find extra details and nature-based challenges.
Walking the trails
Ready to get your steps in? All but one of the trolls at Northwest Trek can be found on the walking paths. We started south first, meeting Anja near the entrance, Bignut on the nature trails and Wilde by the tram station. Then we headed north to meet Lilnut, Hasse, Taks and Kirse near the animal habitats. We made some important stops along the way to say hello to the skunks, bears and wolves, a few of which were enjoying special treats.
Finding the eight Northwest Trek trolls
The trolls here on a field study are siblings, and the horde is led by Taks. As the story goes, Taks stumbled upon the human world and couldn’t quite understand it. He shared his findings with the other 11 trolls, and together they decided a field study would help them figure out just what was going on.
Eight of the trolls have made themselves at home at Northwest Trek, and they fit right into the quiet forest and nature trails. Seeing them along the trails was just as exciting as spotting the animals. Here’s who we met:
- Anja: While Taks is the leader, Anja is the troll that greets you. She’s just past the entrance, near the golden eagle habitat. She’s the counting troll, and she keeps track of moments of kindness by putting stones in her bucket. My daughter was mesmerized by her rock-filled buckets.
- Taks: As the fearless leader (and field study organizer), Taks is trying hard to understand humans and lead them to care for nature again. He’s along the cat pathway. We loved his observant pose.
- Wilde: Along the tour station pathway, you’ll find Wilde, resident wildlife guardian. She’s keeping careful watch of how animals behave when humans are present (and when they’re not). My daughter couldn’t resist sneaking a peek at his sketchbook.
- Bignut: Watch out for that trap! You’ll find Bignut on the nature trails, contemplating the future of forests and catching what he can. Note that this section of the nature trail is unpaved. And follow the map closely; we didn’t see clear trail signs and felt like we found Bignut by chance.
- Lilnut: If you escape Bignut’s trap, you’ll still have to watch for Lilnut’s net along the upper bear pathway. She’s all about human play and exploration, along with being the field study’s seed keeper. She blends into her surroundings — we walked right by her at first without noticing!
- Kirse: On the lower bear pathway, you’ll spot Kirse. Her giant feet are about to flip over her head in a daring handstand.
- Hasse: Hasse’s playful pose is one I’ve seen many times from toddlers. He’s near the E.H. Baker Cabin, peeking through his own legs on a little break from building structures.
- Valle: After you’ve spotted the seven trolls along the trails, you might want to take a rest. Valle is one step ahead of you, snoozing among the herds of bison, elk, goats and more wildlife in the 435-acre Free-Roaming Area. You’ll need to take a 45-minute tram ride (or book a Keeper Adventure Tour or Wild Drive) to see Valle. He’ll be on your right as you go through the first forest!
Each troll has its own name plaque, with a QR code to scan that takes you to Thomas Dambo’s Trollmap.
My favorite troll encounters and hidden details along the forest path
I am in awe of Dambo’s creativity and attention to detail. The trolls have so much personality, and their poses show movement in unexpected ways. Lilnut looks like she’s mid-jump, capturing something (or someone) in her net. Kirse’s feet dangle over her head as if she just kicked them up into the air. Even Wilde is caught mid-sketch, pencil hovering over paper.
There’s a sense of wonder to each troll. I could’ve spent the whole day just noticing the little details that bring them to life. We each left with a favorite troll (Wilde for my daughter, Lilnut for me) and a plan to return and see them again.
Planning your trip to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is one of my daughter’s favorite places to spend the day. But we live north of Seattle, so making it to both zoos in one day would’ve been ambitious for my family. Even for South Sound families, there’s an hour-long drive between the two locations. You’ll want to spend a few hours at each to see all the trolls (and animals, of course).
So we’ve done our research and we’re planning a return trip to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium to meet the other four trolls soon.
Meet the four Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium trolls
Each troll at Point Defiance Zoo can be viewed from ADA-accessible paved pathways. There are plenty of animals to see as you hop from troll to troll.
- Boge: Boge welcomes you at the entrance to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Step into his outstretched arms and make a connection — the friendly troll has a feeling we can work together.
- Lark: Nature is not to be rushed, and Lark the masked troll is here to remind you that seasons change and nature is cyclical. Find her behind the polar bear habitat in the Arctic Tundra.
- Poppy: Much like my daughter, Poppy collects small objects. She’s on a mission to understand single-use items, and you can find her by the muskoxen habitat.
- Birch: This troll is measuring up humans in the Asian Forest Sanctuary, but he’s also studying trees and forests.
The trolls’ observations on human behavior (some of which are noted on the map, but can also be found in-depth in an accompanying book that I simply had to buy in the gift shop) also encourage self-reflection. Why do we spend so much time keeping the front lawn a “grass desert” or scrolling on our “pocket stars”? Surely our eyes still light up when we see little treasures found in nature.
The survival guide for parents and caregivers
“Trolls: A Field Study” runs through Jan. 24, 2027, meaning this is an outdoor adventure during the Big Dark. A little extra preparation can make your visit go smoothly.
What to wear and what to bring
It was a little chilly (but sunny!) on our visit, and I brought extra layers. But within 10 minutes of walking the nature trails, my daughter had shed her fleece jacket and was comfortable in a long-sleeve T-shirt and leggings. A rain jacket, hat and even mittens would be fitting for a wet, cold day at the park. Just make sure there’s extra room in your bag for adding or removing layers as you go.
My family worked up an appetite on our visit too. Both Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo have on-site cafés, but you can also bring outside food and beverages. I tucked a few of my daughter’s favorite granola bars in my bag, and those came in handy after a few thousand steps on the trails. Bring your refillable water bottles.
Wagons and strollers are allowed, and the paved paths are wheel-friendly. We skipped the wagon on our visit, but there were a couple stretches between animals and trolls where my daughter wanted to be carried. (Having her as official mapkeeper helped motivate her to keep going, though!)
Rules to set for troll interactions
The trolls invite interactions, from stepping under their traps to counting the stones in their buckets. Visitors are encouraged to gently touch, hug and interact with the trolls — the photo ops are endless! Just do not climb or stand on the trolls. As all parents know, climbing is super tempting for kids, so make sure to set those rules in advance and remind little ones as you go. The troll treasure map has suggestions for interactions with the trolls (which also help distract from the temptation to climb on them): Drop a stone in Anja’s bucket, pose for a portrait by Wilde, find a nice leaf for Bignut.
Indoor activities at the zoo
If you luck out with a sunny day like we did, plan for a romp around the playground. But in case of inclement weather, know that both zoos have plenty of indoor spots where you can duck in and dry off. Northwest Trek has the Cheney Family Discovery Center, where you can see reptiles and other creatures (and make a troll craft to take home!). There’s also the E.H. Baker Cabin to explore and a tram tour to take. Take a rainy-day break in Point Defiance Zoo’s two aquariums or head to the covered Kids’ Zone to see the goats.
And of course, you’ll want to plan for a stop at the zoo’s gift shop, where you’ll find troll-themed merchandise and other wild souvenirs.
A game plan for visiting both parks with a discount
Zoo admission is required to see the trolls. If you pay full-price admission at one zoo, you can ask for a $10 coupon for discounted admission to the other zoo.
The two-park strategy and gate discount
When my family visits Point Defiance Zoo or Northwest Trek, it’s usually a full-day visit. I don’t think we could swing both in the same day, especially as we have a longer drive home. If you’re planning to visit both zoos in one day, keep in mind that it’s an hour-long drive between the two, and a lot of walking for little legs. I’d recommend splitting your troll hunting into a two-day adventure.
When purchased at the front gate, full-price general admission at either location costs $32 for ages 13–64; $30 for ages 65 and older; $22 for ages 3–12; and is free for ages 2 and younger. Discounts are available for Pierce County residents and military. Tickets can also be purchased online, in advance at a lower rate.
No matter which zoo you visit first, you can ask at the front gate for a special $10 off coupon to visit the other one. Each coupon is good for $10 off per full-price admission ticket, for up to five tickets. You’ll have to purchase your tickets at the other zoo’s front gate to redeem the coupon, and it’s valid through Jan. 24, 2027. Parking is free at both zoos.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Dambo Trolls at NW Trek and PDZA?
“Trolls: A Field Study” will be on display at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium until Jan. 24, 2027.
How many Thomas Dambo trolls are at Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek?
There are a total of 12 Thomas Dambo trolls in the “Trolls: A Field Study” exhibit across both locations. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park hosts eight of the trolls, while Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is home to the remaining four.
Is entry to see the trolls included with regular admission or do I need a separate ticket?
Seeing the trolls is included with general zoo admission, so you don’t need to buy a separate ticket. Purchase general admission tickets at the front gate or in advance online.
Can I see all 12 trolls in a single day?
While technically possible, seeing all 12 trolls in a single day is an ambitious goal that may be difficult for families. There is an hour-long drive between the two parks, as well as a significant amount of walking required at both locations. Plan to visit on separate days.
Can kids climb or touch the troll sculptures?
Visitors are encouraged to gently touch, hug, and interact with the troll sculptures, but climbing or standing on them is strictly prohibited.
Are the trolls accessible with wheelchairs or strollers?
All four trolls at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium are viewable from ADA-accessible paved pathways, and strollers or wagons are allowed. At Northwest Trek, all paths are paved and wheel-friendly except for the nature trails where Bignut is located, which remain unpaved.
What days are the parks open and what are the hours?
Northwest Trek and Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium are currently open Thursday–Monday. Both zoos are closed Tuesday–Wednesday. Current hours for Northwest Trek are 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Point Defiance Zoo is open 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Check each zoo’s website for special holiday hours and seasonal changes. Don’t miss special events such as Zoo Boo and Hoot ’n’ Howl.
Is there a discount for visiting both parks?
Yes, if you pay full-price admission at one zoo, you can request a gate coupon for $10 off per ticket at the other zoo. This discount applies to up to five tickets and must be redeemed at the second zoo’s front gate before Jan. 24, 2027.
Where are the other Dambo trolls in Washington?
The trolls in Washington that are part of the “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King” project reside in West Seattle, Ballard, Issaquah, Bainbridge Island and Vashon Island. There is also a Dambo troll in Portland.
Editor’s note: AI was used to generate the frequently asked questions portion of this article. It was reviewed by ParentMap’s editorial team for accuracy and edited for clarity.
