How do you get to the Breckenridge Troll? Where should you park? How long is the Breckenridge Troll hike? What happens when you get there? What should you bring? We answer all your questions about visiting the Breckenridge Troll. A fun walk for families and adults alike to the Breckenridge troll awakens your child-like adventure and rewards you with imagination and intrigue. And it’s fairly easy and short.
Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy a hike to the Breckenridge troll including how to get there, whether you drive, take free transit, or walk to the troll.
How Long Should You Plan to Visit the Breckenridge Troll?
It’s fun to book a weekend in Breck to do the troll and see the sites, or just zip up to Breck for the day. It’s a fun day-trip from Denver to the Breckenridge Troll.
How Long Does It Take to Hike to the Breckenridge Troll?
The troll walk only takes about 20 minutes and is less than a half a mile. After visiting the Troll, you might want to enjoy the other trails that lead around it. Once you get to the trailhead for Isak, the trail itself is very easy.
How Long is the Breckenridge Troll Trail?
Much of it is elevated or along rock. It is not maintained in the winter, so you may need traction devices on your shoes. The total loop to Isak is no more than 1/2 mile.
What is the Breckenridge Troll?
The Breckenridge troll’s name is Isak Heartsong, and he was fashioned by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Together with volunteers who gathered scrap wood, Dambo created this 20-foot giant that has a kind heart made of stone. It sits in a rock quarry, gathering stones and creating beautiful cairns to balance against the back drop of pine and aspen.
He didn’t survive his first location (see that info below.) Too much success and too many tourists trampled his first neighborhood, prompting the Breck residents to request his new location. So, being a good Troll, he moved.
Where is the Breckenridge Troll?
Isak is easily found just to the southeast of downtown Breckenridge on the Trollstigen Trail in Breckenridge, Colorado. The newly constructed trailhead is located in the southeast corner of the Stephen C. West Ice Arena parking lot, next to Illinois Gulch Trailhead
You can get there through a variety of ways. Technically, there is no parking at the Troll, but we’ve always managed to park doing off-peak times. If you go doing peak times like on the weekend, you’ll to walk from the central parking downtown or take public transit (see below.)
How to Take the Bus to the Breckenridge Troll
To get to the Breckenridge troll by free transit, hop on the Breck Free Ride for an easy ride to the Trollstigen Trailhead. This is also a good way to see other places in Breck without having to worry about parking. If you must park, park at South/North Gondola Lots and F-Lot.
During peak, the lots fill by 10:00am. For the best experience which also includes free parking, you’ll want to park in the Satellite Lot via I-70 and ride the Breck Free Ride into town. The Breck Free bus leaves from the Gondola regularly to see Isak. During off-peak times, you can park in the lot at the ice rink and walk the short distance to the Breckenridge troll trailhead.
How to Walk to See the Breckenridge Troll, Isak
With heated walkways, LED crosswalks, and pathways from downtown Breck to Isak, it’s an easy 15-minute walk to the Breckenridge Troll from downtown.
If you’d rather walk or hike to the Breckenridge troll, you can do that, too. From the Welcome Center at 203 S Main St, head south toward Peak 9. Take a left at Boreas Pass. Pass Railroad Park. The Trollstigen Trailhead is in the southeast corner of the Stephen C West Ice Arena at the Illinois Gulch trailhead. Point your GPS to 189 Boreas Pass Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Follow the Troll foot prints.
What to Do After Seeing the Breckenridge Troll
Before heading back into town, take advantage of the other trailheads at Isak. You can head along the creek, over a small hill, and into the woods for another couple of miles. We found this cool shelter, or maybe it was more art?, right along the Illinois Creek Low trail. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, head back into town.
Where to Eat After Seeing the Breckenridge Troll
When you’re finished enjoying this heart-warming giant, his wickedly delicious stick hair style, and his charming grin, head back along the trail. Either walk into town for another couple of miles, or drive to Main Street and grab some lunch. The best bite in town for where to eat after seeing the Breckenridge troll? The mac n cheese at The Canteen, which *I’m sure* is what Isak would eat. It’s troll-ific.
———–Old Information Below———–
Old Location Information and Pictures Are Below
A fun walk for families and adults alike to the Breckenridge troll awakens your child-like adventure and rewards you with imagination and intrigue. And it’s fairly easy and short.
New directions!–>All you need to do is hike or bike from the Breckenridge Welcome Center to the Illinois Gulch trailhead on the south end of Breckenridge and head off.
A bonus! Watch this video of the previous approach.
There’s a place recommended below to catch some great lunch at where I’m sure Isak would eat if he were to get hungry.
Getting to the Breckenridge Troll (previous description)
These are the directions to the old site. The undulating trail of less than a mile starts across from Breckenridge’s bike park next to the Wellington neighborhood. Signs easily point the way (“This way to the troll!”) down the East Wellington trail whose trailhead is across from the bike park. Parking is easy. Point your GPS to 710 Wellington Road, Breckenridge (off Stables Rd. and behind the Breckenridge Equestrian Center).
Troll Trail Conditions (previously)
Head on the trail toward the neighborhood and away from the bike park through an aspen grove (best for fall color in September!), across a stone path, through a pine forest, and into a rock quarry. Follow the “Troll this way” signs all the way around the piles of rock until you see Isak’s head popping up through tall cairns and rock piles.
You may need to take your turn to take a picture. In the meantime, scramble the piles, do a bit of mini-bouldering, and get your hands and clothes covered in fine clay silt. Or just wait your turn, stay clean, and take your selfie. See if you can get an angle that no one else has yet enjoyed.
Enjoy your walk to the Breckenridge Troll, and post your pictures below. What did you like best about the Breckenridge troll walk?
~See you on the trail
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.