July 31, 2025 (Thu.) – Troll Hunting

The day kicked off with Lynn up at 6:00 AM, enjoying her morning coffee in the brisk 51°F air. Bundled in a heated jacket and blanket, she made the most of the fresh outdoor chill, sipping coffee comfortably while plotting the day’s adventure. Armed with a map of Detroit Lakes, she spent the morning pinpointing the locations of the five Dambo Trolls and three Magic Mirrors (aka portals) scattered throughout the area.

Kirk was up by 9:30 AM and whipped up a protein-packed breakfast—a hearty chicken and egg scramble paired with cinnamon rolls. With full bellies and a full day ahead, we set off on our troll hunt.

Luckily, the campground office had a detailed troll map and even offered hints for solving the riddle of The Golden Rabbit. Lynn, being a puzzle enthusiast, was determined to visit every location in order, even if it meant crisscrossing town rather than taking the most efficient route. The goal: collect all the clues and crack the mystery.

Our hunt began at 11:00 AM with Alexa’s Elixir, located conveniently next to a parking lot. This troll holds the clue book for solving the riddle and was an easy find with no hiking required. From there, we tracked down Barefoot Frida and Ronny Funny Face, wrapping up the first leg of the hunt by 1:30 PM with a break back at the RV for lunch and rest.

At 3:00 PM, we hit the road again to explore further in the towns of Frazee and Perham, MN. There, we found Jacob Everear and one of the Magic Mirrors. We ended the afternoon back in Detroit Lakes, locating the second Magic Mirror. Along the way, we stumbled upon other quirky sculptures—including the World’s Largest Turkey! All the trails were dog-friendly and easy to navigate without any serious hiking gear.

Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up the quest with a trip to Fargo, ND for the final Magic Mirror, followed by the last two trolls, which are located together back in Detroit Lakes.

By 6:00 PM, we’d logged nearly 10,000 steps, and we closed out the evening with a campfire and adult beverages. The sunset was spectacular—a glowing bright orange circle—but unfortunately, Kirk forgot his phone, and by the time he returned to the RV, it had vanished. Lynn missed the view, but the day was still a win.

Weather – High 74*, Low 51*. Mild winds 5-13 mph. Low humidity. Perfect weather.

Traffic – None.

Food – Nothing to report. Ate in the RV.

Notable – Troll hunting and other sites along the way.