How to See Issaquah’s Giant Troll

Fear not, intrepid troll hunters. Issaquah’s troll is a gentle giant. Jakob Two Trees blends in seamlessly with the forest. His legs are as stout as the trunks beside him. His hair is made of foraged sticks. The necklace of small houses he wears endears him to the bird life. Come one and all, and behold. Of the trolls in the Pacific Northwest, he is the first I’ve trusted not to grind my bones into a condiment for his lunch. Here is how to find Issaquah’s giant troll.

Jakob Two Trees

Know before you go

• Visiting Issaquah’s giant troll is free.

• Start at the Issaquah Community Center. There are restrooms inside and picnic tables out front. Parking is free.

• The troll is about a quarter mile from the community center on the Rainier Trail. This paved trail is wheelchair and stroller-friendly.

• Leashed dogs are welcome on the Rainier Trail.

• It’s okay to touch the troll. Just don’t climb on him.

• Jakob Two Trees will stay in place for at least several years after his construction in 2023.

Getting to the troll

 

Address: Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd S, Issaquah, WA 98027

There are several ways to reach Issaquah’s troll.

• If you drive, park at the Issaquah Community Center. It’s about 25 minutes from downtown Seattle.

• On Sound Transit, bus line 554 will get you within easy walking distance of the troll.

• By bike or on foot, Issaquah’s Rainier Trail connects to the troll.

Picnic area in front of the community center

Jakob Two Trees

After you reach the Issaquah Community Center, look for the paved trail next to the parking lot and follow it south into the woods. You’re now on the Rainier Trail.

Take this trail

From here, the journey is scenic and the way-finding easy. The Rainier Trail is a shared-use walking and biking path. It’s paved, flat, and without barriers like steps.

Rainier Trail

You’ll reach Jakob Two Trees after about a quarter mile on the trail. He’s popular, so when in doubt, follow the crowd. Once you arrive at the troll, you can’t miss him. He stands only a few steps away from the trail, 14 feet tall and larger than life. You may need to wait for the crowds to disperse to get close on a sunny weekend day.

Jakob Two Trees

Jakob Two Trees is one of six trolls in the Way of the Bird King exhibit, the brainchild of Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Like his fellow trolls in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Portland, Jakob’s body is mostly recycled wooden shipping pallets that have been transformed into tree-sized limbs and a jumbo onesie. By using discarded rather than new material, Dambo’s trolls show that trash can take on a new and more delightful form. In his forested setting, Jakob looks as natural as the trees around him.

Jakob’s birdhouse necklace

True to his name, Jakob clings to two mature trees. Of all the Pacific Northwest trolls, he looks the most gentle and welcoming of human visitors. His face is neither stern nor mischievous. I would even call it friendly. He has several adornments. The most obvious is his oversized necklace of birdhouses. He has long hair, which he wears tied back. Jakob is the first of Thomas Dambo’s collection of over 100 trolls around the world to have a ponytail. The Snoqualmie tribe collaborated on his construction, creating his bracelet and ponytail holder.

The ponytail

After visiting Jakob, you can turn around and head back to the community center or continue on the Rainer Trail. After about another quarter mile, it runs into 2nd Ave, another logical turnaround point. On the other side of the road, it continues as the Rainier Trail Extension, connecting to other trails with more hiking and biking options.

Rainier Trail

Post-troll adventures

Issaquah is a cute town where flower baskets line the streets in summer. A trail network creates a fluidity between the parks and urban areas. The town’s commercial center is a short walk from the Issaquah Community Center on the Rainier Trail. After visiting Jakob Two Trees, you can head back to the community center and continue another five minutes or so on the trail to reach shops, restaurants, and museums.

Issaquah is also close enough to Seattle to visit on a whim. A 30-minute drive from the troll will take you to downtown attractions like Pike’s Market and the Seattle Art Museum. To continue your troll quest, look for Bruun Idun in Lincoln Park or Frankie Feetsplinter in Ballard.

Bruun Idun in Seattle’s Lincoln Park

In the other direction, one of my favorite places in Washington is only a 20-minute drive away from Issaquah’s troll. Snoqualmie Falls is a powerful 270-foot waterfall surrounded by an amphitheater of dark basaltic andesite. Even in the drier months, it roars. In spring, its scale is all but biblical. You can see the falls from above all year at the viewing platform. In warmer months, a trail opens that will take you down to the base of the falls, a 1.4-mile out-and-back hike. After seeing the waterfall, it’s worth exploring the historic Salish Lodge. Perched at the lip of the falls just before it makes its plunge, the lodge is best known for its appearance in the opening credits of Twin Peaks.

Snoqualmie Falls

If you continue east past Snoqualmie, you’ll reach the mountains in no time. Around 35 minutes from Issaquah’s troll, Snoqualmie Pass is a hotspot for hiking trails and other outdoor adventures, like the snowshoeing route to Lake Keechelus.

See more trolls

See Oscar, the Bird King, on Vashon Island.

See Pia, the Peacekeeper, on Bainbridge Island.