Oro the Friendly Forest Giant

Tucked into the wooded edges of Butternut Creek Park in Hillsboro, Oregon, Oro the Friendly Forest Giant is one of the Portland area's most delightfully unexpected family discoveries. This large-scale wood-carved sculpture depicts a gentle, benevolent forest giant emerging from the natural landscape — part art installation, part playground wonder, and entirely magical for children who encounter it.

Oro was created as part of Hillsboro's commitment to public art and community spaces. The sculpture is imposing in scale yet friendly in expression, designed to spark imagination and wonder rather than fear. Young children are typically wide-eyed when they first spot Oro through the trees, and the reaction of kids seeing it for the first time is almost universally one of delight.

The installation is located within Butternut Creek Park, a natural-feeling green space with walking paths and natural terrain. Families can combine an Oro visit with a walk through the park's wooded trails, making it a fuller outdoor outing. The natural setting adds to the fairy-tale quality of the experience — it genuinely feels like stumbling upon a friendly creature that lives in the forest.

For families visiting Hillsboro — whether for Intel-area business, a sporting event at Ron Tonkin Field, or simply exploring Portland's western suburbs — Oro offers a memorable, free, and uniquely Portland-area experience. It's the kind of quirky, creative gem that makes an ordinary park visit feel extraordinary.

Oro is free, requires no tickets or reservations, and is accessible year-round. It's best enjoyed on dry days when the natural terrain is easier to navigate.