Good Trolls

See the Trolls art exhibit in Woodside at Historic Filoli Gardens

09.23.2025

At the intersection of art, nature, and history is Filoli in Woodside. Walk the historic gardens and mansion area, enjoy a half-mile redwoods hike, and visit with the new trolls, as in the TROLLS: Save the Humans art exhibit.

From the main entrance, walk up the path to spot the first troll: Ronja Redeye, the Speaker Troll. These gigantic wooden statues were created by Thomas Dambo and are built from reclaimed materials. Each troll teaches a different lesson about how humans can be better stewards of our planet.

From the Speaker Troll, follow the pathway past the mansion, through the gate, and to the Sofus Lotus Troll. Bear left at the intersection to reach the Ibbi Pip Troll and the Nature Playspace and Lamchin Interpretive Center. Here, children can enjoy a maze, a theater space, and a pint-sized Ohlone village. Adults can learn about the history of this land when it was a Ramaytush Ohlone village.

Beside the play space is the Trailhead Store, a great spot for snacks and old-fashioned sodas. On the left side of the store, follow the signs to begin the half-mile Spring Creek Trailhead loop. This jaunt through the redwood forest follows the creek (a great place to spot California newts!) and features a viewpoint for the historical flume, which used to funnel water into the area.

As the loop returns to the Trailhead Store, follow the green trail signs to reach the last two trolls: Basse Buller and Rosa Sunfinger, then follow the California Loop Trail as it leads back toward the historic house. This is a great place to cool down, and visitors are welcome to explore the 54,000-square-foot Georgian Revival–style mansion. Originally built in 1917, the house was opened to the public in 1975 and is a time capsule of the early twentieth century.

Visitors can also explore the gardens, which span a whopping 16 acres and include pools, orchards, vegetable and rose gardens, and stunning architecture.

Before heading home for the day, swing by the Quail Café for a healthy lunch or tasty sweet treat.

Filoli is located at 86 Cañada Road in Woodside; open daily from 10 a. m. to 5 p.m. Map Tickets can be purchased online. No dogs or bikes. The TROLLS exhibit will be available until November 10.

Story and photos by Heather Werner, @heath.er.wer.ner

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View