The Fremont Troll

It’s a very odd, yet totally normal thing to find in Fremont. A friend took me on a tour of surrounding areas of Seattle and this was one of the surprises he had in store for me! It was something I’m glad I can say that I’ve seen. I’ll tell people to go find it when they’re there, but I probably wouldn’t go back and visit it when I get back to the PNW.
Quirky things always catch my attention. This is a fun, out of the ordinary thing to visit… Go see for yourself!

First time I came here and I think everyone should come as a photo opp. I wouldn’t go out of my way to drive here to see this, I would plan according if its in the area as its only a 5 – 10 min place to be in, you park and take your photos then go. When my friends and I got there, there were a lot of people who were taking pictures, so we had to wait slightly longer, but its a historical landmark so I would definitely come here at least once to see the Troll.

Either the Fremont troll is either really emo (with the hair combed to one side over one eye) or really a hero (eyepatch to indicate a minor loss of sight in an epic battle for power). Regardless, he’s always givin’ side-​eye to all the passersby.
I had seen the troll briefly on a Ride the Ducks tour and thought I’d never come back to the area to get a closer look. My curiosities got the best of me and I decided to check out this attraction of many in the Fremont area.
I noticed that everyone experiences the troll so uniquely, which really is the intriguing part. Some stand simply in front of the troll as to not get gobbled up and snap a selfish selfie. Others violate the troll’s humble abode, similar to that of other trolls of his clan (see Shrek circa 2001), by throwing trash and used coffee cups all around. Others get up close and personal and climb in and around practically every crevice of the troll’s body, forcing the troll to decide between personal space or to be a humble social host all the while thinking about who will be next for dinner. Regardless of how you experience the troll, you’re pretty much bound to have fun per the decree and bi-​laws of title 206 section 253 subsection 425 of the troll moral code. Put your apprehensions to the side and just get in there and give the big troll a hug or lay down on his big arms. You will have a great time at the Fremont Troll but be mindful of your time as when darkness comes, his belly may start to rumble and you may or may not be guaranteed safe passage to your final destination… which might just be… in his stomach.

This place is definitely a go-​to spot when I’m Seattle. My cousin and I Ubered there and our driver had never been there and maps kept driving him in so many circles and crossing the bridge multiple times! We ended up getting dropped off on 36^th and walking there. It was pretty crowded when we went and we couldn’t get a picture without there being other people in the back, which was fine, but so expect to wait awhile if you want a solo and there’s constant flow of people there! Parking looked tough too so that may be another obstacle to get through after finding this spot, hence the four stars.
It’s all dirt too so be prepared to get a little dirty!

Definitely a place to see and take visitors. There is always street parking when we visit. Also, I noticed the troll’s eye changed colors from blue to silver! Someone must have painted it over recently and it looks really cool.

Another Seattle attraction that I had to check out since i didn’t get a chance to on my previous trips. I knew this attraction from one of my old favorite movies, «10 Things I Hate About You.» The Fremont troll is oddly placed underneath an overpass haha.
You literally just take your photos and go haha.
It’s an interesting feature of Seattle. I don’t know the history. I just know there’s a Volkswagen Beetle somewhere there haha.

I love this troll! Definitely worth a visit since it’s so unique. Best part is it’s free!

AN ABSOLUTE MUST!!!
When visiting SeattLe, make sure you save some time to see the infamous Fremont TroLL.
This gargantuan troLL is Located on N. 36^th Street under the George Washington Bridge.
Don’t be shy! Everyone is encouraged to cLimb, jump, & pLay with the troLL.
Take my advice and grab yourseLf a taxi, über, or Lyft. Parking is no joke and you can avoid a massive headache by not driving.

The Fremont Troll is one of those Seattle things to do once and you’re done. Fremont has a lot of art and most of it is weird, adding to the local flavor of the neighborhood.
The troll is not a must-​see on your tourist stop but if you are in the area, check it out.
The VW bug he’s grasping is real but so covered in dirt one would have no idea unless they knew the history.
Parking is not fun. It’s free on the street if you can find it.

It’s a troll under a bridge crushing a VW how awesome is that! Come and be dwarfed by the troll, watch out he is hungry for little kids!

[Out-​of-​Towner Review]
It’s weird, you can climb it, and it’s one-​of-​a-​kind.
If you don’t have a car, then maybe this isn’t the thing for you to come see. We didn’t have one, but we were already in the neighborhood, so we made a point to check it out.
Literally, it could be as quick as a touristy drive by to see it or hang out there for 30 minutes and take a gazillion pictures. Luckily when we went there weren’t too many people there, so we were able to snap a few pics without others in it. If that’s your thing, then go in off hours. If you don’t care, then go whenevs.
Literally, you look at it. You can climb on it too. But other than that, there’s not much to do there. It’s under a bridge in a nice neighborhood (from what I could tell), so there are some pretty flowers along the way.
I think the hype and allure precede it, which makes it a must see. But then you do and then you’re kinda like «okay, that was ok»! So take it for face value if you’re debating. It’s cool, it’s pic worthy, but I don’t think you’d be too upset if you missed it on your Seattle adventure.
The ultimate Troll!

Pretty great troll if I do say so myself. Sadly it looks like he has been tagged in a couple spots. Honestly I’m a fan of anything «10 Things I Hate About You» related, so when we moved to Washington it was a given this would be a stop at some point. It makes for a fun little outing, but parking isn’t the easiest… take the first spot you can find in this residential area and do some walking.

TroLL Life lol
36^th & Troll is where you can find this BiG Troll.
You defiantly can not miss this big guy of your looking in the right direction lol.
Such a cool place just to go and see this urban art piece in the middle of the neighborhood. Got here about 5pm and there were plenty of people around waiting and taking photos on it & around it. Just a fun and quick stop for good entertainment :)

At first, I thought it was going to be really cool here but it’s just a sculpture under a bridge. Yeah, it was a good stop for a couple of pictures.
It was really hard finding parking but everyone seems to do it illegally here so… Lol

We were visiting from Arizona and everyone told me we needed to take a picture here. There is a large hill you have to go up but once you get there, this is an amazing site to take in.
It has a great view of the water and looking at this piece of art is remarkable. The sculpture is made pretty sturdy and it’s a great way to show off one of the cool sites you may have seen while in Seattle.
So workout those leg muscles and take some hilariously fun pictures at the Fremont Troll!

Its under a bridge and super cute.

The Fremont Troll is listed on many Seattle trip itineraries that I came across while planning for my trip that I knew I needed to see it for myself. The pictures gave me an idea of what to expect but seeing the troll in person blew my mind. The troll is enormous and a great piece of work. His nails are even painted a lovely shade of blue. There were kids and adults alike climbing on the troll and taking goofy pictures. It’s a fun place to visit.

It was pretty cool to stop by here! Never knew there was a troll in that city, haha. It’s like the stories when I was younger or something. A troll underneath the bridge waiting to grab your leg from up above, lol!
I’m glad we got to take a look at it. :) it was fun!
Californians stopped by!!!

Had to. It was on my list of things to geek out and see in Seattle. I was trying to get to somewhere else when i stumbled upon the landmark, made it even better. That troll had a car in his hand with a CA license plate. What’s that about?

Visiting Seattle can not be complete without visiting this landmark, the Fremont Troll. You gotta see it at least once!
From University District where we were staying, we took the 29 bus to Fremont, where it dropped us off at the bottom of the hill under the Aurora Bridge. As you walk up the steep hill, you are met by the Fremont Troll at the end of the bridge crushing a VW bugs in its hand.
It’s much bigger in person and the eye sort of creeps me out. He only has one that’s marbled, so it’s very noticeable. There are many spots to climb to and pose for a picture, so you are free to take your pick.
We arrived early around 10am, so there were no crowds and had plenty of time to mess around. You can stand behind him, on his hand crushing the bug, on the other arm or just in front. Either way, you gotta see it to believe it ha!

This is definitely a must-​see if you are in Seattle for more than 1 day. Why? I’m actually not too sure but do it for the picture! Plus – the Fremont Troll is a really interesting site to see. Unilocal hits the nail on the head when it says you should visit for the «local flavor». When you go up (pro tip: I would visit Milstead Coffee-​a very cute, quintessential coffee place before you go), you go through a street called «Troll Avenue» and you can’t miss it. It is a very large troll just chilling under a bridge clutching a VW beetle with California license plate.
There have been times where it is hard to take a picture, but just be patient (and maybe slightly aggressive), and you should be fine. It’s a little hard to rate a sculpture, but I’m giving it 4 starts for being overall a fun place to see and good part of the local vibe. Just know that you won’t spend much time here (think 20 minutes or less) – so it’s more of a stop and go type of event.
Also fun fact — The Fremont Troll is one of the many public art works you see when wandering around Fremont. Apparently the troll was created to build community spirit, which it definitely does :)
Recommended picture spots: On the arm, in the front but tilt the camera up with an angle while kneeling to get the full effect, and if you have a good camera, at the top of the troll.

Fun free public art! Climb on it, play on it and touch it’s nose! I totally dig the VW bug in the troll’s arm. It is easy to find and the parking is around the street. Don’t come during the evening because there isn’t good lighting.

Such a fun public art display just north of downtown Seattle. Street parking can be a little tough, but you may get lucky with other tourists freeing up a spot. Not too difficult to find (It is on Troll Avenue now) and doesn’t take too much time so make sure you stop and pay a visit to this bug squishing one-​eyed wonder.

It’s a troll underneath a bridge and you don’t even have to pay a troll toll to see it.
Like the gum wall in Pike Place, if quirky is your thing, then you owe it to yourself to visit the Fremont Troll. Who doesn’t like a little local flavor? He’s even holding a Volkswagen Beetle! (I heard it has California license plates. Does Seattle hate Californians as much as Austin does? Everybody knows Californians are only good for two things — not staying in their own damn state and raising rent prices for everybody else. Just kidding, California; you’re just a convenient scape goat.) You can climb on top of his head or pick his nose, if you like. Where else can you do that? After taking your pictures, you can walk the short distance to Fremont Brewing or just check out the shops in Fremont. You know, make a whole little adventure out of it. Bring your kids, bring your spouse, bring your parents — bring everyone! There are no age limits on imagination.
Even though there is not a troll toll, there is a troll donation box. Drop a little change or a few dollar bills in there, if you can, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to experience this.
After all, you never forget your first troll.

Super cool and fun! What a great way to see the amazing city than an awesome troll smashing a VW Bug! This is great and beautiful! A must see for the visiting tourist to Seattle.
Located near Theo Chocolates and the amazing Fremont area, this troll certainly won’t ask for a toll, but snap some shots and be polite to people who are waiting as well.

The troll that lives under the bridge. This is pretty cool, I must admit. It was not hard to find and parking was pretty easy as well. I saw this on a few friends’ IGs and knew I wanted to come here.
Fun and quick attraction.

dey c me trollin’ dey h8in~
The Fremont Troll, also known as the Troll Under the Bridge, was on my list of things I wanted to see when visiting Seattle. Why is that? Because it’s literally a troll under the bridge which is pretty awesome! It’s a mix media statue that is a winner of a competition in 1990 (thanks Wikipedia!). It apparently doesn’t like us Californians as it is grasping onto a VW with a California license plate. It also is interactive as visitors are encouraged to poke at its eye haha.
I really enjoyed visiting the Troll because it was extremely easy to get to, free parking, and you don’t have to pay to see it. There is a donation box however so if you have spare change why not contribute to the statue? It’s residential parking or I’ve seen people pull up to it, take a picture, and then hop back into the car. People don’t hang around so even if it gets crowded, it goes away quickly. Because I’m short, I tried jumping onto his hand and missed lol I got a nasty bruise but it’s not too bad. Just be careful as there’s dirt which makes it slippery.
If you have time, fit this into your schedule. It won’t take long and it’s a fun photo opportunity.

always a fun quick attraction. Fremont offers a small, quaint neighborhood with unique shopping and plenty of cafes.
parking is sparse due to it’s residential location.

I would like to say more like a freeway troll because it is under a freeway.
This troll looks a bit real as if it can come alive and move any second.
It’s a pleasant visit to see this troll and adds depth to the community of Seattle.
Troll along.

If you’re in Seattle, check out the troll!
Such a quirky colossal statue, that’s located in the intersection of 36^th Street and Troll Avenue.
There are parking surrounding it but many just stop their cars in front and take quick photos.
Apparently, the troll seems to attack Californians, since it’s clutching a VW beetle that has a CA license plate lol.
18ft tall troll, visit him and poke his nose!

Coming from Fremont, CA, you bet I’d be a fan of the Fremont Troll aka The Troll aka the Troll Under the Bridge. Located under the Aurora Bridge, this huge troll is chilling there with a Beetle under one of his hands. Apparently, the license plate is from California!
Looks can be deceiving though. We saw a ton of little kids running around on top of the structure, so we figured we could climb half way up for our picture. However, the troll is 18 feet tall and a bit hard to get on top. :X It took Tina T. and I a little longer than I expected to just got on his hand! #noobs The surrounding ground area is sandy, so wear the right shoes if you don’t want to get sand on your feet!

Fremont is full of public art. The Fremont Troll is arguably the most famous one of them all. It is by far the public art piece that draws the most visitors. The troll is located underneath the Aurora Bridge and a short walk up the street from the main shopping/​restaurant district in Fremont.
The area near the Fremont Troll can get a little crowded. Particularly on the weekends when tourists stop by to take pics next to the troll. Watch out for incoming cars if you are standing near the curb as the area surrounding this public art piece is residential.
To take a picture next to the troll might require a wait. If you are impatient, I suppose you could just do some Photoshop magic and crop out unwanted imagery. While I think people come here mostly to get a picture with the troll, it is worth taking a look at the whole piece.
If you look on the bottom right hand side, the Fremont Troll is grabbing a Volkswagen Beetle. This public art piece does fit in Fremont and with the counterculture of this neighborhood. It captures the same kind of spirit that the Fremont Solstice Parade held each summer represents. Feel free to draw your own conclusion on what this public art piece symbolizes.

So ugly but so cool! It is such a awesome random statue landmark.
Street parking. Free to see.
Pretty clean for being under a bridge.
You can climb the troll and take fun pictures. Pick his nose!

Seattle never ceases to amuse me with all it’s quirks such as the Fremont Troll. I mean come on, it’s an actual Troll that lives under the bridge! It’s free to see and fun to take pictures with. I would come here only if you are already around the area.
Parking:
There are free parallel parking spots along the narrow street on your way to the Troll. The spots are usually full but you may get lucky and catch someone leaving. I can’t imagine people spending more than half an hour here so the turnover rate should be good.
Safety:
If you decide that you want to climb the head, ensure that you have 3-​point of contact. The fall is far and you’ll land on hard uneven surfaces. You can probably break a bone or die from the fall. (Note: If you climb the head, you’ll be in other people’s photos as well. Be considerate). Watch out for the low hanging beam above as well. I think the best spot to have your picture taken is on the Troll’s left arm.

Must. See. Troll.
When visiting Seattle, or locals alike, if you can’t find any other excuse to visit the hip (ster) neighborhood of Fremont on the other side of the city, well here’s at least one interesting, entertaining, and absolutely free reason why.
If you’ve never laid eyes on this impressive 18 foot tall, one-​eyed (made from a hub cap) 2 tons+ big guy, constructed by local artists out of wire and concrete, and a REAL classic «Slug Bug» 25 years ago, you should take 15 or 20 minutes out of your trip and pay homage to the unique Troll King of the Emerald City and be certain to snap some pics. Sure, he’s a handsome enough fellow on his own; however, he doesn’t mind if you crawl on top of him for a group photo (oh, the hilarity of my husband and I and our fluffy bods trying to scale this thing — you would think it was Mt. Everest — perhaps the perfect pic for holiday cards later this year even though Mr. Troll isn’t donning his occasional winter garb — lol!).
Highly recommend!
Tips:
*There are few parking spots available in the area, but a drivers (be it cab, Über, etc.) do not seem to have issues with this as they were more than happy to drop us for a bit and come back and get us — keep the meter running. ;)
**I’m not certain who does the upkeep on the Troll, but there is a plaque and a collection box on-​site. Not certain if whoever still picks up the cashola, but no harm in taking some spare change or a few bucks to drop in to keep the dude graffiti free and dressed for the holidays. He’s worth preserving.
***I’m not sure the Troll is a fan of Californians as the VW he has in his grasp has CA plates. CA over-​passers on the bridge might beware, hest he becomes animated anytime soon. Lol!