Giant Smiley Face on Oregon Hillside Is Made Up of Trees.

Travelers driving along Oregon Route 18 during the autumn months or early December are in for a delightful surprise—a giant smiley face gazing back at them from a forest-covered hillside.

Situated around mile 25 on Oregon Route 18, between Willamina and Grand Ronde, the renowned smiley face of Oregon emerges each fall as the trees forming its body change color. Spanning approximately 300 feet in diameter, it comprises two distinct types of conifers—one that undergoes autumnal color transformation and another that retains its foliage year-round. This whimsical landmark has become a beloved feature of Polk County, Oregon’s rural landscape, and is expected to continue brightening people’s days for the next 30-50 years until the trees are ready for harvesting.

The story of the Oregon smiley face dates back to 2011 when the Hampton Lumber company decided to create this popular design as part of a reforestation project. They used Douglas fir trees for the eyes and mouth of the smiley face, while larch trees formed the body. Unlike most conifers, larch sheds its needles and turns yellow during autumn.

“The idea for the smiley face started with David Hampton and our former timberland manager, Dennis Creel. When we harvested the site, we knew the area was highly visible to people traveling down Highway 18, so David and Dennis saw an opportunity to have a little fun,” explained Hampton spokesperson Kristin. “They used a rope to measure out the circle, and the eyes and mouth were triangulated from that point.”

Creating a smiley face design through reforestation methods was not the most efficient approach, as noted by the spokesperson. The planning and planting process took approximately a week to complete.

Although the Oregon smiley face may gradually lose its clarity over time, experts from Hampton Lumber anticipate it will remain clearly visible for at least another decade. Eventually, in 30 to 50 years, the trees will be harvested and transformed into lumber at sawmills in Willamina and Tillamook. But for now, the smiley face continues to uplift the spirits of locals, offering a reason to smile in an area that has experienced economic challenges.

“It’s a very depressed area here,” shared a local woman with KATU-TV. “The jobs are gone. But when you drive along and see a smiley face, that’s all that matters. Yeah, my day is going to get better now because I saw a smiley face. It kind of brightens up the community.”

This endearing smiley face is just one of the remarkable designs created using living trees over the years. Recently, we featured the world’s largest signature made of trees and the Soviet-era “Lenin” trees in Siberia, showcasing the creativity and beauty that can emerge from nature’s canvas.

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