Gerudo Highlands

Key takeaways

• Prepare for Level 2 cold resistance The upper highlands are much colder than Gerudo Desert. Use two cold-resistance effects, suitable armour, warming food where appropriate, or a combination of armour and meals.
• Unlock Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower early Its access route runs through a cave below the tower rather than directly up the exposed mountain.
• Expect caves and shrine quests to provide much of the region’s content Several shrines are not visible from the surface and are reached through caves, crystals or the Yiga Clan.
• Do not confuse nearby Gerudo locations with the highlands Gerudo Town, Kara Kara Bazaar and Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower belong to the wider Gerudo area but are not the same subregion.
• Use the desert and canyon as staging areas They provide merchants, stables, healing, sand-seal services and story access before you climb into the snow.
• The region changes substantially after the Gerudo regional phenomenon Enemy presence, Gerudo security and certain characters’ positions depend on story progression.

About this guide

Overview

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Scope: base game, Surface unless otherwise stated

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Scope: base game, Surface unless otherwise stated

Introduction

Gerudo Highlands is one of the most severe regions in Tears of the Kingdom. The mountains rise abruptly north of the desert, replacing sand and heat with snow, cliffs, blizzards and poor visibility. It is a region built more for traversal, discovery and hidden shrines than for settlement. There is no large town in the highlands themselves, and the most useful facilities are found at the edges, especially Gerudo Canyon Stable and the settlements of the Gerudo Desert.

The area is also unusually layered. A single expedition may involve climbing a frozen ridgeline, dropping into a cave, finding a Shrine of Light, launching from a Skyview Tower and then continuing into the Gerudo Highlands Sky or Depths. Treating the region as only the snowy area around Gerudo Summit misses much of its content.

Gerudo Canyon approaches

Gerudo Canyon is the principal approach from the east and south. The canyon road rises from the desert towards the highlands and contains several important routes, caves and mission locations. It is warmer and more navigable than the upper mountains, although the weather becomes harsher as the road climbs.

This is also where players commonly encounter the Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower and Gerudo Canyon Stable. Both are useful for reaching the highlands, but they should not be mistaken for the Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower or for a settlement inside the central highlands.

The central highlands

The central highlands contain the steepest climbs and the most persistent snow. Named mountain and plateau areas include Gerudo Summit, Meadela’s Mantle, Risoka Snowfield, Vatorsa Snowfield, Mount Nabooru, Taafei Hill and Mystathi’s Shelf. The exact region border around the lower mesas is not consistently represented across guides, but these names are repeatedly associated with Gerudo Highlands location lists.

The terrain rewards vertical exploration. Many apparent dead ends are entrances to caves, narrow ledges or routes that become accessible with Ascend, Recall, Ultrahand-built platforms or a well-positioned Zonai flying machine.

Gerudo Summit and the snowfields

Gerudo Summit is the region’s most prominent high point. Risoka Snowfield and Vatorsa Snowfield provide broad, exposed areas where cold, visibility and enemy ambushes become more dangerous. Snowfields are useful for spotting distant ruins and shrine structures, but blizzards can make ordinary map navigation unreliable.

Do not assume that every white plateau is a simple climbing route. Some slopes are too steep to climb safely without stamina upgrades, slip-resistant equipment or a constructed vehicle.

Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower

Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower stands on a high, snowbound ridge. Its entrance is not reached by simply walking into a tower base. The tower’s builders stored supplies in a cave beneath it, and the practical solution is to enter that cave and use Ascend to reach the interior. A diary in the nearby supply area explains the tower’s structural problem and the need for support below.

Unlocking the tower

1. 01
   Approach the tower from the lower Gerudo side or glide from a nearby elevated launch point.
2. 02
   Search around the base for the cave entrance and stored construction supplies.
3. 03
   Enter the cave beneath the tower.
4. 04
   Find a position directly below the tower’s interior floor.
5. 05
   Use Ascend to pass through the ceiling.
6. 06
   Activate the terminal at the top.

Caves and underground entrances

The highlands have a dense network of caves, many of which contain ore, enemies, Bubbul Gems, treasure chests, shrine routes or alternate approaches. Named caves recorded in regional location lists include:

The Statue of the Eighth Heroine Cave is particularly important because it connects the highlands’ geography with Gerudo history and the Eighth Heroine quest line. Thonky’s named-location directory places the cave in Gerudo Highlands and records it separately from the Statue of the Eighth Heroine itself.

---

From Gerudo Canyon Stable

This is generally the safest overland route for a first visit.

Gerudo Canyon Stable is a useful base because it offers horse services and a bed, but it is an edge facility rather than a settlement of the highlands proper.

From Gerudo Canyon Stable: steps

1. 01
   Register at Gerudo Canyon Stable if you have not already done so.
2. 02
   Follow the road north-west into the rising canyon.
3. 03
   Activate shrines and investigate side caves rather than trying to climb every cliff.
4. 04
   Carry cold-resistance meals before the road reaches the snowline.
5. 05
   Continue towards the Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower or branch towards the Yiga Blademaster Station and nearby caves.

From Gerudo Desert

The desert route is convenient if you have already visited Kara Kara Bazaar or Gerudo Town. Travel north through the canyon, then prepare for the sudden temperature change. Sand-seal travel is useful in the desert but becomes less practical once the path turns into steep rock and snow.

From Tabantha and the north

The north-western highlands connect visually and geographically with the colder Tabantha side of Hyrule. This route is possible, but it is usually less convenient for a first approach because of the cliffs and exposure. Players coming from Hebra or Tabantha should use a Skyview Tower launch, glider route or stamina-enhancing meals where possible.

Recommended first expedition

---

The following eight Shrines of Light are listed under Gerudo Highlands in Zelda Dungeon’s regional Tears of the Kingdom directory. Some databases assign borderline shrines differently, especially around Gerudo Canyon, so use the map marker and layer designation rather than relying only on the regional heading.

A practical order is

1. 01
   Visit Gerudo Canyon Stable.
2. 02
   Activate the Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower if it is still dormant.
3. 03
   Search the canyon for nearby caves and the Yiga route.
4. 04
   Prepare at least two cold-resistance effects.
5. 05
   Unlock Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower.
6. 06
   Glide towards Gerudo Summit and the surrounding snowfields.
7. 07
   Sweep the caves beneath major cliffs.
8. 08
   Return to the desert for healing, purchases and story progression.

Recommended first expedition

• Kitawak Shrine
• Mayamats Shrine
• Motsusis Shrine
• Otutsum Shrine
• Rakakudaj Shrine
• Rotsumamu Shrine
• Suariwak Shrine
• Turakamik Shrine

Shrine access notes

Gerudo Canyon Stable

Gerudo Canyon Stable is the principal service point on the approach. It provides the normal stable functions, including horse registration, boarding and travel support. It is also a useful place to rest before entering the cold mountains.

Nearby Gerudo services

These are neighbouring facilities, not central Gerudo Highlands locations:

The Gerudo regional directory separately lists these businesses and settlements under the wider Gerudo area. Do not assume that every named shop in the Gerudo province is inside the highlands.

Nearby Gerudo services

• Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower
• Kara Kara Bazaar
• Gerudo Town

Residents and visitors

Most named Gerudo residents remain in Gerudo Town or Kara Kara Bazaar. Their locations and dialogue can change after the Gerudo regional phenomenon, so a player completing the story in a different order may find some visitors in temporary positions.

---

Cold

Cold is the region’s defining hazard. The most reliable preparation is:

Weather can also reduce visibility. Mark caves and shrines immediately because returning through a blizzard can be much harder than reaching them the first time.

Common enemies

Enemy scaling depends on game progress. A camp that contains ordinary Bokoblins early in the game may later contain stronger colour variants.

Major threats

The wider Gerudo highland and desert region can involve powerful encounters such as Gleeoks, Lynels and other high-level monsters. These encounters are not necessarily confined to the central mountain area, so check the exact map position before treating them as core Gerudo Highlands content.

The Yiga Blademaster Station is dangerous because the threat is concentrated in an enclosed location. Carry healing food, a shield and weapons capable of dealing with armoured or fast-moving enemies.

---

Korok Seeds

Korok puzzles are distributed along roads, ridges, cliff shelves and mountain passes. Common patterns include:

The best method is to explore from the Skyview Tower outward, using the map to mark suspicious rock groups and isolated ledges.

Bubbul Gems

Nearly every substantial cave is worth checking for a Bubbulfrog. Listen for its distinctive sound, inspect high cave ceilings and use Brightbloom Seeds in dark chambers. A cave that appears to contain only ore or a small enemy group may still have a Bubbulfrog hidden behind breakable rock.

Ore and treasure

The mountains contain ore deposits, especially in caves and exposed cliff faces. Bring a rock-fused weapon rather than wasting ordinary weapons on mining. Rare ore becomes more valuable later when upgrading armour and purchasing expensive goods.

---

The Gerudo Highlands does not have a single regional state switch in the way a town does, but its content is affected by progression.

Before the Gerudo regional phenomenon

Gerudo Town may be under threat, and the desert’s enemies and security arrangements are different. Characters associated with the Gerudo crisis may be found in temporary positions, while some roads and facilities feel less secure.

During the Gerudo regional phenomenon

The story focuses on the sand shroud, the defence of Gerudo Town and Riju’s abilities. Although the main battle takes place in the desert, the wider Gerudo region, including canyon approaches, can be used as part of the preparation and travel route.

After the regional phenomenon

The Gerudo area becomes more stable, and several characters return to ordinary routines or unlock follow-up dialogue and side activities. If you are checking an NPC directory, record whether the entry refers to the pre- or post-phenomenon state.

---

Route A: first visit

1. 01
   Start at Gerudo Canyon Stable.
2. 02
   Stock cold-resistance meals and healing food.
3. 03
   Activate Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower if available.
4. 04
   Explore the canyon caves and check for shrine entrances.
5. 05
   Reach Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower through the cave below it.
6. 06
   Launch from the tower and mark Gerudo Summit, Risoka Snowfield and visible caves.
7. 07
   Investigate Otutsum Shrine and the northern snowfields.
8. 08
   Return towards the canyon and search for the Yiga Blademaster Station.
9. 09
   Complete the Gerudo Canyon Crystal Shrine Quest when you have enough cold resistance and climbing stamina.
10. 10
    Finish the Statue of the Eighth Heroine content when you are ready to follow its lore thread.

Route B: completion sweep

---

Gerudo Highlands appears in both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but the games use the region differently. In Breath of the Wild, the highlands are primarily a cold wilderness containing ancient shrines, Gerudo ruins and the Gerudo Tower. Zelda Dungeon lists landmarks including Gerudo Summit, Risoka Snowfield, the Statue of the Eighth Heroine and several older shrines.

In Tears of the Kingdom, the old mountain geography remains, but the location gains new significance through caves, the Skyview Tower, Yiga activity, Shrine quests and the connection between Surface, Sky and Depths. The Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower replaces the earlier Sheikah Tower arrangement and demonstrates the game’s broader emphasis on vertical exploration.

The Statue of the Eighth Heroine remains one of the region’s most important cultural landmarks. It should be treated as Gerudo history rather than as a generic ruin: the location reflects the tension between official tradition, forgotten figures and the Gerudo people’s understanding of their own past.

---

Is Gerudo Town in Gerudo Highlands?

No. It is in the wider Gerudo region but belongs to the Gerudo Desert area. The same applies to Kara Kara Bazaar. They are neighbouring locations and useful staging points, not central highland settlements.

Is Gerudo Canyon Stable in the highlands?

It is a border facility. Regional map conventions sometimes group it with Gerudo Highlands and sometimes with Gerudo Canyon or the Gerudo Desert approach. For practical purposes, treat it as the highlands’ southern access facility.

How do I enter Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower?

Find the cave beneath the tower, enter it and use Ascend from directly below the tower’s interior. Do not spend all your stamina trying to climb the exposed outer structure.

How many shrines are in Gerudo Highlands?

The regional directory used here lists eight Surface Shrines of Light: Kitawak, Mayamats, Motsusis, Otutsum, Rakakudaj, Rotsumamu, Suariwak and Turakamik. Other guides use broader Gerudo-region boundaries and may show a different total.

Do I need cold resistance everywhere?

No. The lower canyon and desert-facing approaches can be manageable without it, but the upper highlands and snowfields require serious cold preparation. The safest rule is to prepare before leaving the canyon rather than waiting for the temperature gauge to become dangerous.

---

This guide is suitable as a researched base-game regional article, but a perfectly universal boundary list is not possible because published guides categorise the Gerudo Canyon border differently. In particular:

The named-location directories above therefore distinguish central highland landmarks, cave entries, neighbouring facilities and separate map layers rather than claiming that every Gerudo-area location belongs to one uniform region.

Sources

• Gerudo Highlands - Zelda Dungeon Wiki, a The Legend of Zelda wiki — zeldadungeon.net
• Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom: How To Unlock Gerudo Highlands Skyview Tower | Nintendo Life — nintendolife.com
• List of Named Locations - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Guide — thonky.com
• Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom: All Shrine Locations And Maps | Nintendo Life — nintendolife.com