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Fremont Troll, Seattle, WA

Photo: Sambusak74, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingQuirky FunFreeLocal Gem

Fremont Troll

N 36th St at Troll Ave N, under the Aurora Bridge · Seattle, WA

Why you should go…

The Fremont Troll crouches under the north end of the Aurora Bridge in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Four local artists, Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter and Ross Whitehead, built it in 1990 from steel rebar, wire and concrete after winning a Fremont Arts Council competition. It stands 18 feet tall and clutches a real Volkswagen Beetle, with a hubcap for its one good eye. Visitors are encouraged to climb on it, and the street beneath it was renamed Troll Avenue in 2005.

  • #public art
  • #sculpture
  • #roadside attraction
  • #photo spot

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fremont Troll, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Free

    Gas Works Park

    Free

    Climb the kite-flying hill on Lake Union for skyline views beside the rusting towers of a former coal gasification plant.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Woodland Park Zoo

    $25–$50

    A century-old zoo known for naturalistic habitats and a canopy-level gorilla exhibit.

    1.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Date Night

    Waterways Cruises & Events

    $50+

    A family-run Seattle cruise company offering dining, brunch and event cruises on Lake Union, Lake Washington and Puget Sound.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Kerry Park

    Free

    The small Queen Anne hillside park behind that postcard skyline shot of Seattle and Mount Rainier.

    1.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Ballard Locks

    Free

    Watch boats rise and fall between Salmon Bay and Puget Sound, then see migrating salmon through the fish ladder viewing windows.

    2.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Seattle

    Free

    Official destination marketing organization providing visitor guides and trip planning for Seattle, Washington.

    2.6 mi awayMore like this