How to See Bainbridge Island’s Giant Troll
Bainbridge Island is a peaceful escape from the city with tranquil parks and a thriving restaurant scene. But beware, the woods are not all they seem. Behind a thin veil of trees looms the island’s guardian, a giant troll named Pia, the Peacekeeper. You could easily pass by Pia’s home without realizing she’s there. Enter her world, and she’ll be just as interested in you as you are in her, a sobering thought. Fellow troll questers, here is how to find Pia, the Peacekeeper, on Bainbridge Island.
Pia, the Peacekeeper
Know before you go
If you’re coming from Seattle, take the ferry from the Colman terminal downtown to Bainbridge Island. You can bring a car on the ferry, but you don’t need one to reach the troll.
From the west side of Puget Sound (Poulsbo or Bremerton), you can drive to Bainbridge Island on WA-305.
Bainbridge Island’s troll is in Sakai Park. It has a small free parking lot and an accessible port-a-potty. The park is open from dawn until dusk.
Leashed dogs are welcome in Sakai Park. They need to be in a kennel or carrier on the ferry.
Pia is about 0.1 miles from the parking lot in Sakai Park. The trail to reach her is unpaved, flat, even, wide, and without barriers like steps.
Pia will not be on Bainbridge Island indefinitely. She’ll stay there for at least a few years after her construction in 2023.
How to find the Bainbridge Island Troll
Take the ferry from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
Drive, walk, bike, or take the bus to Sakai Park. It’s about 1.5 miles from the ferry terminal.
Look for the Troll sign in Sakai Park. Pia, the Peacekeeper, is just beyond it.
Address: Sakai Park, 1560 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Ferry route
Navigate to: 801 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104
Transit time: 35 minutes
Frequency: Every 40-60 minutes. See the schedule.
Cost: A complicated pricing grid determines fares for the ferry to Bainbridge Island. The short version: it’s about $10/adult roundtrip. Kids under 18 ride for free. For two adults and a car, think around $50 roundtrip.
The ferry to Bainbridge Island leaves from downtown Seattle
Ferry to troll
Once you leave the ferry, you have several options for how to reach the troll.
Driving is the fastest but most expensive way. If you bring a car, it’s a five-minute drive to the troll. When the parking lot is full, head across the street and park at the aquatic center.
Walk 1.5 miles to the troll. It takes about 30 minutes. If you walk down Winslow Way E and then turn right onto Madison Ave N, you can see downtown Bainbridge Island on your way. Or, follow the Sound to Olympics Trail alongside WA-305. You’ll pass the John Nelson Trail, a short and pretty side trip.
Bike to the troll. It takes about 10 minutes on the paved Sound to Olympics Trail. If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one near the ferry terminal.
Take the bus. The 390 runs every 60 minutes and costs $2. The troll is a 10-minute walk from the bus stop. Note that public transport doesn’t run on Sundays.
Rideshares like Uber and Lyft don’t operate regularly on Bainbridge Island.
Vehicle deck on the ferry
Drive to Bainbridge Island
If you’re coming to see the troll from Seattle, the ferry is the fastest and easiest way to reach Bainbridge Island. If you’re starting on the west side of Puget Sound, including Tacoma, it makes more sense to drive. Take WA-305 south from Poulsbo for about 10 miles, then turn right onto Madison Ave N. Sakai Park will be on the right in 0.4 miles. The drive from Poulsbo takes about 20 minutes. From Tacoma, it’s a little over an hour.
Pia the Peacekeeper
Once you’re in Sakai Park, finding the troll is easy. You’ll see a trail map by the parking lot, although Pia isn’t on it. Instead, look for a discreet signpost labeled Troll and follow the arrow. Pia will be just ahead.
Follow this sign
Pia, the Peacekeeper, resides in a lush grove of trees. Even when sitting crosslegged, this troll is an impressive 18 feet tall. Her hands are in front of her, fingers outstretched as though she’s examining something.
It's easy to spot Pia through the trees
Her posture is like that of a child who found a fascinating bug. Human visitors are her favorite subjects of study. She can grasp them easily. Approach with caution. Her gaze holds no malice, but I doubt she knows her strength. The line between gentle investigation and maiming is too close for comfort. You’re welcome to touch her if you dare. The interest goes both ways, and she’ll be happy to examine you, fragile human. She keeps the peace in the forest but isn’t sentimental about it.
Pia the Peacekeeper
Pia is one of six Pacific Northwest trolls in artist Thomas Dambo’s Way of the Bird King exhibit. Volunteers spent two weeks constructing her magical and imposing form. Like her fellow trolls, Pia is made of recycled wood, mostly from shipping pallets. Dambo’s creations transform trash into art, highlighting the importance of harmony between humans and our environment. What has been discarded can be made beautiful again and return to nature.
Pia waits for humans to examine
Beyond Pia the Peacekeeper, Sakai Park has around 0.6 miles of forested hiking trails to explore. Flat and gentle paths wind through a mostly deciduous forest. The understory is thick with berry bushes and ferns. You’ll pass a small wetland area along the way. A short spur trail leads down to a pond. It’s a relaxing place to wander with more emphasis on the ramble than the destination. After visiting the park and its troll, you’ll have plenty of time to see more of Bainbridge Island.
Easy hiking trails explore Sakai Park
Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is one of the best day trips from Seattle. Just across Puget Sound, the island feels far away from the city. When the ferry pulls away from Colman terminal, you’ll see the downtown skyline recede as you leave behind the skyscrapers, the Ferris wheel, and the Space Needle. As you approach Bainbridge Island, pine-covered shores come into view. Troll country, clearly.
Approaching Bainbridge Island
Walkable activities
One of the most appealing things about Bainbridge Island is how close the shops, restaurants, and trolls are to the ferry terminal. A five-minute walk will take you to Winslow Way E, a pedestrian-friendly road with cafes and boutique stores. A good first stop is the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, with exhibits featuring artists from Puget Sound. Admission is free. After the museum, head to Blackbird Bakery for coffee and a pastry. Next door is Bon Bon Candies, where you’ll find enormous peanut butter cups and a wall of chocolate bars.
Blackbird Bakery
After your troll quest, stop by Bainbridge Brewing for snacks and craft beer on the patio. It’s right next to the art museum. If you’re staying for dinner, Bainbridge Island has many restaurants within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal. For fish and chips with a national reputation, try Proper Fish. For delicious cocktails and Vietnamese food, head to Ba Sa. On a special occasion, try Agate Restaurant.
Chocolate bar wall at Bon Bon Candies
Driving activities
You don’t need a car to see the downtown strip on Winslow or the giant troll, but if you bring one, you’ll have more options for activities on Bainbridge Island. One of the best outdoor spaces is Bloedel Reserve, a 140-acre garden and nature preserve. Buy a timed entry ticket before visiting. Admission is $22/adult. If cost is a concern, the reserve has a pay-what-you-wish day on the first Wednesday of the month. For a free excursion that will bring you to the water, head to Fay Bainbridge Park, where sandy beaches on Puget Sound offer views of the Cascade Mountains.
Bainbridge Island’s most poignant attraction is the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial in Pritchard Park. It commemorates the people on the island who were forcibly removed and sent to internment camps during WWII. Among them was the Sakai family, who had a strawberry farm where the island’s troll now resides. The family returned home after their interment and eventually sold their land to the school district. Pia’s presence in Sakai Park is a good reminder about the importance of kindness and respect, not just to the environment, but also to the humans in it. Admission to the memorial is free.
Post-troll explorations
Downtown Seattle
If you’re returning to Seattle after seeing Pia, the ferry terminal is near downtown’s most tourist-friendly destinations. A short walk on Alaska Way will bring you to the Ferris wheel, Waterfront Park, and the Seattle Aquarium. A couple of blocks inland is the Seattle Art Museum. My favorite downtown stop is Pike’s Market, where excellent snacks, flower bouquets, and artisan stalls await. Keep in mind that the market closes down around 4 PM. If you don’t make it back in time from your troll quest, head to Copacabana or Old Stove Brewing Co. to watch the sunset over Puget Sound.
Sunset at Pike's Market
Enjoy your visit with Pia, the Peacekeeper!
With love,
Emma
See more trolls
Visit Oscar, the Bird King, the giant troll on Vashon Island.
Visit Ole Bolle, the giant troll in Portland, Oregon.
