Colorado’s famous mythical creatures include the Slide Rock Bolter, Yetis, Tommyknockers, Big Foot or Sasquatch, trolls, and more. While each state has a distinctive history and urban legends, Colorado’s mining history and expansive mountain ranges leave plenty of room for the imagination.
Troll folklore originated in Norway where trolls are used in myths and legends to serve a purpose. Often, the quirks of the trolls and their troublesome qualities in stories lend to making the hero in the stories shine.
Rita has become the hero of this story. She is filling holes in the mountain and livening the town of Victor by attracting visitors from far and wide.
While there are conflicting stories and thoughts on the existence of many other mythical creatures and how to find them, there is proof Colorado’s trolls are real. Colorado is home to two wooden trolls that are easy to find, and you can verify them with your own selfie!
Rita is located just outside the small historic mining town of Victor, Colorado. Victor residents and visitors first welcomed Rita on August 4, 2023. We had the opportunity for a day trip on Labor Day from our home in Colorado Springs to explore.
Location: Where is Rita the Rock Planter and how do I get there?
Victor is an hour and fifteen minutes from Colorado Springs and two and a half hours from Denver.
From Denver, take the I25 South to Colorado Springs. You’ll take the exit (141) for US24 West toward Cimarron St and follow signs for Manitou Springs and Woodland Park. You’ll take the scenic drive through the mountains for about 25 miles until you see a turnout for Cripple Creek on CO 67 South on the left. Look for the next turn to Victor on County Road 81/Lazy S Ranch Road which will take you to Victor.
The road to Victor is a twisting, turning, scenic drive through the mountains. Roll the windows down, feel the fresh mountain air, and take your time. If you choose to visit in the winter, you will need 4WD.
Victor is not a well-known touristy town, and we loved this. Victor’s population size is 357 from the 2020 census to give you an idea. Victor is the perfect hidden mountain location for an unsuspected troll!
Victor embodies the true definition of a Colorado historic mining mountain town to its core. Upon entering the town, you can feel the history in a quaint exciting way.
We encountered a slowdown on the main highway on the way in. This is a sign you are in a small Colorado mountain town!
Across the road from Rita’s turnout is a fully operational 7-square-mile gold mine, Newmont Corp which is positioned between Victor and its neighboring town, Cripple Creek.
There are two parking lots. Parking options start in the lower parking lot to the left of the turnout where you will hike to the upper parking lot area and then to Rita. If you are short on time or aren’t up for a steep hill, park in the upper lot. The upper lot is much larger. Either way, from the upper lot it is a short hike (.25 mile) to Rita and is not handicap accessible.
The upper parking lot is marked by the remnants of the American Eagles Mine, which relocated here in 2017-2018 as a restoration effort by Newmont Goldcorp to preserve the mining history. It was once the biggest mine in Vindicator Valley. You can visit the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum for more details on the history of mining in the area.
Hiking to Rita: What to Expect
Little Grouse Mountain Trail (1.9 miles loop trail)
From the lower lot. Counterclockwise takes you to Rita the fastest & you will return going downhill with beautiful mountain views.
All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/little-grouse-mountain
After the trailhead to your right, follow colorful birdhouses and ribbons up the steep hill, through some trees, and to the upper parking lot.
From the upper parking lot, you can explore the historic mining ruins. When you are ready to move on, continue following the colored birdhouses toward Rita. A compass helps you locate the nearby mountains and Rita straight ahead.
Surrounded by rolling mountains, you can see the aftermath of years of mining in the backdrop of Rita as she works diligently to cover the rocks in her space. The irony here is that Rita is doing good for Victor by replacing what has been lost in the environment and she is boosting the town’s livelihood.
If you are only here for the troll and not to hike, take the extra time to view the scenic overlook of the nearby mountains before you go.
If you hike the rest of the trail, you can do the shorter route (Little Grouse Mountain) on the left. The right will take a longer route unless that is what you are going for.
You will enjoy open space and beautiful views of the mountains in the distance. There is no shade on this so bring a hat & sunblock or long sleeves as you will sunburn quickly at high altitudes. (Read more on elevation in my 15 Travel Tips for Colorado.)
Who created Rita? About the Artist:
Rita’s creator is Thomas Dambo from Denmark. You may be familiar with his work creating the Breckenridge Troll: Isak Heartstone. Isak is located in the forest on the Trollstigen Trail near an ice-skating rink in Breckenridge.
Dambo has constructed trolls in Denmark, the US, and several other countries worldwide. Rita was #119! See this troll map on his website to locate other trolls he has created. http://www.trollmap.com/
I visited the troll under the bridge in the Freemont area of Seattle, WA back in 2010.
Dambo uses 100% recycled materials for his work. Dambo likes to involve the community and volunteers in his projects. Rita was built within 8 days from old pallet wood.
3 Simple Tips for Your Visit:
Tip 1: Use the restroom before you get to the hike.
There were two port-o-potties in the upper parking lot, however, they were not fresh and were out of toilet paper. This is a busy trail and there is not a lot of hope for privacy to go behind a tree on this hike.
There are public restrooms in Victor on the backside of the Black Monarch Hotel.
Tip 2: Come early! It will be cooler, and there will be fewer people.
We arrived shortly before 11 a.m. and the lower parking lot filled up while we were changing shoes. When we returned after the hike, people were making up their own parking spots along the road.
Tip 3: Support local businesses in Victor.
If you grew up in a small town like I did, you understand that options are limited compared to somewhere like Denver.
Some highlights in Victor are a German bakery with pastries and other breakfast and lunch items at Gold Camp Bakery, LLC, and a bar Mining Claim 1899 Saloon which also serves food. There was also a food truck with grilled cheese sandwiches in the lot behind the hotel.
On this trip, we weren’t sure what options would be open on Labor Day so we brought our own food and had a little picnic outside of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument after visiting Rita and taking a scenic drive through Cripple Creek.
In Conclusion:
Whether you are just looking for a day trip to explore Colorado or if you are looking to stay the night in the area, Rita the Rock Planter is a fun destination for families, couples, and curious solo travelers.
Victor is also the perfect opportunity for an entrepreneur to open a business in a quaint town historic building. There are open buildings that need some restoration and purpose in Victor to give life to this small town.
I’m excited to visit again after a year to see what new things have come to light up this small town!
Looking for more things to do in the surrounding area or a place to stay the night?
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek nearby has a popular train ride you can take on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. The ride is an open car (weather permitting) train ride that is open from the end of May through the first week in October.
There is also a connector shuttle service, Gold Camp Shuttle Services that provides transportation between Victor and Cripple Creek during peak months. For more information on transportation options in the area check out https://cityofcripplecreek.com/departments/transportation-department/
Other than the train, we didn’t find much else to do in Cripple Creek. There are lots of hotels and casinos. Gambling is not our thing, but we found the surrounding areas are beautiful to drive through filled with opportunities to enjoy nature and hike. There are also fishing opportunities in the area to discover.
Florissant Fossil Beds
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Florissant Colorado has petrified redwood stumps that are up to 14 feet wide. Here you can learn about the geology, history, and ecology of the area through exhibits, trails, and ranger programs. There are several hiking trails to explore.
We want to come back and do more hiking here. You can’t miss this, just off US Highway 24 outside of Florissant. More info here: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for all ages and interests. Whether you are a fossil enthusiast, a nature lover, or a curious explorer like us, this makes a great stop in the area.
We did a mini honeymoon at Sunflower Cabin earlier this year up the mountains near Florissant. It would be a great spot for a small family as well. Read more about our experience here: Sunflower Cabin.
Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods:
One of the most popular destinations to see if you are passing through Colorado Springs and it is free. There are lots of things to do nearby. For those interested in staying near Garden of the Gods, check out our article on 7 Best Airbnbs Near Garden of the Gods.
Family Vacation Ideas in Colorado Springs. Check out our list of 45 Things for Families to do in Colorado Springs.
Royal Gorge Bridge Park: Canyon City
The Royal Gorge should be on everyone’s Colorado Bucket. lt is over an hour away outside of Canyon City if you are open to a longer trip to see more of Colorado.
Here is a list of the 7 Best Royal Gorge Vacation Rentals.
Other Ideas to Explore Colorado:
For Couples: Check out our top recommended 10 Things for Couples to Do in Colorado
Longer Colorado Trips: Check out our Best Places to Visit in Colorado List.
