Trees are one of the things that make a bike ride great, whether they are providing shade on a hot sunny day and just offering up endless beauty to admire. Arlington is also home to some truly unique trees—ones that have had their trunks carved by local artist Andrew Mallon.

Bears, Foxes, and Dragons, Oh My!

Andrew Mallon is a graduate of Washington-Lee High School and is now a full-time chainsaw artist who turns dead trees into must-see art. Several of his pieces can be seen around Arlington, so we mapped out five of his sculptures for you to check out on your next ride.

Ride Details

This is a 7.3 mile bike ride that starts in East Falls Church and ends in Ashton Heights. You’ll see dragons and castles and animals galore, but please be respectful, as many of the sculptures are on private property. The route uses bike-friendly streets and trails, with some hills. If you’d like a much shorter route, start your ride at Oak Grove Park.

Check out the route on Google Maps or Ride with GPS for the tree locations.

Start Your Ride

Stop #1: The Castle at 26th Street N and Underwood Street N

The first sculpture stands roughly 7 feet tall and depicts a castle with an impressive level of detail. It has so many separate turrets and bridges that we lost count!

Stop #2: The Treehouse at Oak Grove Park

This is the sculpture referenced earlier and features what the artist describes as a “magical, whimsical tree [house] that was built by all the animals.” There are a lot of creatures on this piece, and it’s in a public park. So take some time and wander around it.

Stop #3: Woodland Man and Owl at 3500 21st Street N

Tucked along the side of this Maywood home, there is a tall sculpture of an older man’s face and beard made up of carved leaves, with an owl alighting from the top of his head. This one is in my neighborhood and always makes me smile when I ride by it.

Stop #4: Bear, Fox, and Hawk at 3600 14th Street N

Easy to spot from the street, this sculpture features three woodland creatures. Has the fox chased the bear up the tree? Does the bear wish to eat the hawk as a snack? Does the hawk care at all for his earthbound fellow creatures? You decide!

Stop #5: Multi-headed Dragon at 500 N Lincoln Street

Unique in its position parallel to the ground, the two heads of a delightful, smiling dragon peer out from the front yard of this house, complete with a saddle for the children of the home to use to take flight.