Victor Troll

Rita just wants to repair the surrounding landscape.

Danish artist Thomas Dambo is on a mission to populate the world with gentle giants. Rita the Rock Planter, a benevolent creature made entirely of recycled wood, is his 119th troll sculpture. Currently, his mythical creations reside in 17 different countries around the world. Rita the Rock Planter, who was unveiled on August 4, 2023, can be found near an old 19th-century gold mine.

According to the sculptor, the kindly troll noticed all of the holes in the ground and worried about humans or small creatures falling into them. She can be seen patching up the Earth, presumably as a symbolic representation of the damage humans have caused to their natural environment. While Rita the Rock Planter may be an unusual sight, she’s not alone in Colorado. Isak Heartstone, also known as the Breckenridge Troll, is another such fantastical being in the state.

Know Before You Go

Rita the Rock Planter is free to visit and open to the public.

The trail to Rita is approximately a quarter mile from a parking lot at the top of the hill, which is accessible by a short gravel road. Alternatively, hiking to Rita from the Little Grouse Mountain Trailhead at the bottom of the hill adds an additional half mile each direction.