Commission: Giant Troll
Commissioned by/Donated to the Knife River Recreation Council.
The Giant Troll was created by the artist Wilmer Roballo for the Huldrefolk Ring Trail in Knife River, Minnesota. Too big to move, the Giant Troll is permanently displayed there.
Beginning in the first or second weekend of December, along a half-mile-long trail through the woods, story boards tell a folk tale written by story teller Lise Lunge-Larsen (www.liselungelarsen.com). This is a magical, interactive winter experience for children young and old! Wear snow gear. Very little legs may get tired, so bring a sled to tow them along. Read the story boards and plan time to play with the interactive scenes. Along the trail, walkers can also see the red-hatted Norwegian Nisse gnome “The Keeper of the Forest” and three fairies hanging from tree branches that Roballo also created for the Trail. Every year, the story incorporates the 30-foot-long giant troll. (see pictures below)
Directions to go see the troll are at the bottom of this page, under the photos.
Note: the story boards and fairies are removed once the snow melts in the spring.
Story boards are posted along the trail starting in December until the snow melts. The story changes every year and is written by Lise Lunge-Larsen, a local professional Norwegian story teller.
The giant troll is about 30 feet long. His head, feet, and hands were made of Lake Superior driftwood. His body, legs, and hair were made from deadwood found nearby in the forest.
The huge head of the one-eyed troll.
The troll's huge hands were constructed from Lake Superior driftwood.
The Norwegian folk tale changes yearly but always involves the one-eyed troll and the Huldrefolk (hidden folk) of the forest.
The troll's huge feet were constructed using Lake Superior driftwood.
The troll lies in the middle of the forest near Knife River.
The Keeper of the Forest is a little red-hatted gnome created by the artist, Wilmer Roballo.
The trail is dog friendly!
A fairy/nymph created by the artist hangs in a tree - look for her!
The whimsical fairies created by Roballo can be seen on the Huldrefolk Trail.
One of the fairies by the artist Roballo along the path.
Celebrating the installation of the one-eyed troll.
It took several people to wrangle the head through the forest to its final location.
We had to rent a trailer to haul the 12-foot-long head to the forest.
Want to go see the Troll?
Huldrefolk Ring Trail Google Maps link
1190 E Shilhon Rd, Knife River, MN 55609
Approximately 15 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota along Voyageur Highway/MN 61. Directly opposite the turn to go to Knife River, turn left on Shilhon Road. Drive to the end of the road. You’ll see the parking lot on the right and the trail sign.
