Quick facts (at a glance)
- What: Free public art trail, 30 crow sculptures
- When: August 7 – October 30, 2026
- Where: Downtown Portland, neighborhoods, parks, and along the Wildwood Trail
- Why: Celebrates LAIKA’s film Wildwood; benefits OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
- Cost: Free to follow the trail; sculptures auctioned afterward for charity
Welcome to the trail
Thirty crows are about to take over Portland, and they want you to chase them.
Starting August 7, 2026, a free public art trail called Wildwood: Follow the Crows opens across downtown Portland, its neighborhoods, and a stretch of the actual Wildwood Trail. Thirty crow sculptures, each one painted by a different local artist, will perch around the city through October 30. Find them all with the help of a companion app, snap some photos, and know that every dollar raised when the crows are auctioned off afterward goes to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
We encourage you to explore every corner of it. Part scavenger hunt, part art walk, part love letter to Portland, there’s a good reason to follow this flock all the way through fall.
Why crows, why now?
The trail celebrates LAIKA’s newest stop-motion film, Wildwood, opening in theaters nationwide on October 23, 2026. The movie is based on the novel by Portland musician Colin Meloy and illustrated by Portland artist Carson Ellis. It’s set in a version of Portland where the forest is very much alive. Carson Ellis herself is painting one of the 30 crows, and it makes its debut at the trail’s opening event.
This trail brings the film’s world straight into the real city that inspired it.
Join the conversation
Spotted a crow? Show it off.
- Follow @wildwoodfollowthecrowspdx and @downtown_cleansafe on Instagram for trail updates
- Tag your crow sightings with #WildwoodFollowTheCrows
Who’s behind it
The trail is a true public-private partnership between:
- LAIKA
- OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
- Wild in Art
- Portland Metro Chamber
- Downtown Portland Clean & Safe
- The Visit Downtown Campaign
How the trail works
- 30 sculptures, each hand-painted by a local artist and sponsored by community donors
- Installed across downtown, neighborhoods, business districts, parks, and forested trails
- A companion app helps you track down and digitally collect each crow. Do it all in one ambitious day, or spread it across the whole season
- After the trail ends, every crow goes to auction, with proceeds supporting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
For the adventurous: The Wildwood sequence
Immerse yourself in the full experience with three sculptures set along Portland’s real Wildwood Trail, linking:
- International Rose Test Garden
- Pittock Mansion
- Bird Alliance of Oregon
It’s about 3 miles one-way (6 miles round trip): city views, forest air, and a very good excuse for a hike.
Mark your calendar: Key dates
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| August 7 | Trail Launch & Ribbon Cutting, St. Johns Library, 11 a.m. to Noon | Join artists, partners and community members as Portland officially unveils the Wildwood: Follow the Crows Art Trail. Unveiling of the Crow sculpture featuring Carson Ellis. |
| August 14 | Early Crow Run Club, starting point: Water Ave. Coffee (SE Location), 7 a.m. | A community run connecting crow sculptures located throughout Portland’s Waterfront. |
| August 16 | Dirt Dorks Trail Club Run, starting point: Washington Park, 9 a.m. | A guided run connecting the three crow sculptures located along the Wildwood Trail. |
| August 16 | FoPo Run Club City Crow Trail, start point: Director Park, 9 a.m. | A community run connecting crow sculptures located throughout Portland’s city parks and neighborhoods. |
| August 21 | Shade of Wings – Book Reading and Discussion, BOLD Coffee & Books, 7 p.m. | Community reading with PNW author Pam McGaffin. BOLD Coffee & Books will be launching a Specialty Crow Latte, and 10% of every Crow Latte sold through September 30 will be donated to support Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. |
| August 23 | Food Court 5000 Mall Walk: Field Trip Edition, Darcelle XV Plaza, 11 a.m. | Take the Mall Walk beyond the mall during a special crow-themed field trip through Portland. Led by Food Court 5000 founder Krista Catwood with a specially curated retro soundtrack inspired by the magic and mystery of Wildwood. |
| September 19 | Crow Painting with Mike Bennett & Doernbecher Fundraiser, 707 NE Fremont St, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Join Mike Bennett and Friends in a fun Crow Painting Session and help raise funds for Doernbecher. |
| October 1 | Crow Lecture at OMSI with Dr. Kaeli Swift (ticketed) | Explore the remarkable intelligence, behavior and complex social lives of crows during a special evening at OMSI. |
| October 23 | LAIKA’s Wildwood opens nationwide | In theaters near you! |
| October 31 to November 1 | Farewell Weekend, Darcelle XV Plaza | See the entire flock gathered together for the first and final time before the sculptures head to auction. Artists will be available for autographs. Crow costumes encouraged. |
| November 15 | Wildwood: Follow the Crows Auction, Lewis & Clark College (ticketed) | Bid on an original crow sculpture and help support OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Registration coming soon. |
More events will be announced throughout the fall, so check back for updates.
The ribbon-cutting: Your first look
Friday, August 7, 11:00 a.m. to Noon St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston Ave., Portland, OR
Come hear from the partners behind the trail, grab your free trail map, and be among the first to see all 30 sculptures before the flock scatters across the city.
The Wildwood Sequence
August 7th – October 30th | FREE
Just beyond the ordinary lies Wildwood.
For those looking for extra adventure, follow the Wildwood Sequence: three sculptures lined by the mysterious Wildwood Trail (International Test Rose Garden, Pittock Mansion, and the Bird Alliance). Brave all three on an approximate six-mile hiking loop (as the crow flies) or take the shorter three-mile loop between the Bird Alliance of Oregon and Pittock Mansion.
BONUS: On Fridays & Saturdays August 7-22nd the Forest & Washington Park Express Shuttle will swoop in to help visitors reach the statues on the Wildwood Sequence for Free! Check the schedule for times.
