Gerudo Highlands Region Guide — Exploration & Secrets in TotK

Overview

The Gerudo Highlands occupy the elevated plateau northwest of Gerudo Town, forming a dramatic contrast to the scorching desert below. This high-altitude region is perpetually cold, snow-covered, and relatively isolated from the main story path. Despite being overlooked by many players, the Gerudo Highlands contain numerous shrines, hidden caves, a geoglyph, Frost Talus spawns, and some of the best views in Hyrule. This guide covers everything worth finding in the region.

Region Boundaries and Access

The Gerudo Highlands are bounded roughly by:

• North: Tabantha Frontier border
• East: Gerudo Desert escarpment (steep cliff descent)
• South: Gerudo Canyon Pass
• West: Open border into Tabantha

Access routes:

• Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower (easiest entry — launches you directly into the highlands)
• Climbing the escarpment from Gerudo Desert using stamina food
• Paragliding west from the Tabantha towers

Cold resistance is mandatory at all elevations above the canyon — cook cold-resist meals (Spicy Pepper dishes, Warm Doublet, Snowquill armor) before ascending.

Key Landmarks

Gerudo Summit

The highest point of the highlands, accessible after significant climbing. The peak offers one of the widest field-of-view vistas in the game, useful for spotting distant geoglyphs and sky islands. A Korok Seed puzzle is located near the summit — a rock matching puzzle on the peak itself.

Statue of the Eighth Heroine

The highlands contain the famous Seven Heroines statues from BotW, plus a hidden eighth statue. Visiting all eight and solving the associated side quest yields valuable rewards. The eighth heroine's statue is at the far end of the highland plateau, partially buried in snow.

Gerudo Canyon Pass Shrines

The pass itself — running north-south through the highlands — hosts several shrines clustered along the road, making it an efficient shrine-farming area once the initial cold is managed.

Shrines in the Gerudo Highlands

| Shrine Name | Coordinates (approx.) | Type | |------------|----------------------|------| | Mayaumekis Shrine | -3652, -0918, 0490 | Puzzle | | Siwakama Shrine | -4082, -1552, 0432 | Combat | | Rakashog Shrine | -3470, -1760, 0310 | Traversal | | Cipoahni Shrine | -4253, -0678, 0494 | Blessing |

Caves and Hidden Areas

Ice Cave Network (Northern Highlands)

A series of interconnected ice caves runs beneath the northern plateau. These caves contain Luminous Ore deposits, Ice Keese nests, and at least two Korok puzzles inside rock chambers. Bring a flame weapon or fire arrows to melt ice barriers blocking inner passages.

Frost Talus Clearings

Multiple Frost Talus enemies are spread across the open highland plateau. Each one drops Sapphires, making the highlands one of the best Sapphire farming zones in the game. Equip fire arrows and cold-resist armor simultaneously for efficient farming runs.

Enemies

| Enemy | Location | Notes | |-------|----------|-------| | Ice Keese | Caves, nighttime | Fire arrows | | Ice Lizalfos | River crossings | Weak to fire | | Frost Talus | Open plateau | Fire arrows on surface, then melee | | Bokoblin camps | Road overlooks | Standard combat | | White-Maned Lynel | Peak area | Elite encounter — advanced prep required |

Resources and Materials

• Sapphire — Frost Talus drops, cave ore deposits
• Amber, Flint — Standard ore nodes throughout
• Spicy Pepper — Grows on bushes near the lower canyon transitions
• Chillshroom — Cave floors and shaded cliff bases
• Summerwing Butterfly — Rare; spawns near thermal vents on the west edge

Tips

• The Gerudo Canyon Skyview Tower is the single best preparation step before exploring this region
• Snowquill armor (purchased in Rito Village) provides cold resistance and is the most convenient option
• The geoglyph visible from the highlands is one of the larger ones — scan it for a Dragon's Tear location
• The Eighth Heroine side quest is worth completing before leaving — the reward includes a quality piece of equipment
• Fast-traveling between highlands shrines makes the Frost Talus farming loop very efficient

Related Guides

• Gerudo Guide
• Gerudo Town Guide
• Faron Region Guide
• Frost Talus / Stone Talus All Types Guide
• Snowquill Armor Guide