Lake Hylia at a glance
Lake Hylia is the big lake at the south end of Hyrule Field. It is home to the Water Temple, the Lakeside Laboratory and the Fishing Pond. As young Link you dive here for Ruto’s Letter and fish for a Piece of Heart. As adult Link you find the lake drained until you clear the Water Temple, and after that you can get the Fire Arrows. The lake holds 3 Pieces of Heart (the lab roof, the lab dive and young Link’s fishing prize), 5 Gold Skulltulas and the Golden Scale.
| What | Young Link | Adult Link |
|---|---|---|
| The lake | Full | Drained until the Water Temple is cleared |
| Ruto’s Letter | Yes, with the Silver Scale | No |
| Water Temple | No | Iron Boots and Hookshot |
| Fire Arrows | No | After the Water Temple |
| Fishing Pond | Piece of Heart | Golden Scale |
| Lab roof Piece of Heart | Plant the bean | Bean ride or Scarecrow’s Song |
| Lab dive Piece of Heart | Yes, once you have the Golden Scale | With the Golden Scale |
| Scarecrows | Teach Bonooru a song | Play the song to Bonooru again, then call Pierre with it |
| Gold Skulltulas | 3 | 2 (big tree, lab pool) |
Young Link at Lake Hylia
Ruto’s Letter (5)
In the deep water in front of the Lakeside Laboratory, a bottle lies on the lake bed, with three Green Rupees beside it. Young Link needs the Silver Scale, the prize of the diving game in Zora’s Domain, to dive that deep. Inside is a letter: “Help me. I’m waiting for you inside Lord Jabu-Jabu’s belly. —Ruto PS: Don’t tell my father!” Show it to King Zora so he moves aside, then release a bottled fish in front of Jabu-Jabu to get into his belly. Once you use the letter, the bottle is yours: it is one of the four Empty Bottles in the game. How to carry Ruto through Jabu-Jabu is on the Ruto page, and her story is on the Zora princess page.
More for young Link
- Fishing Pond (4): 20 Rupees, no time limit. Your first record of about 10 pounds or more with the normal lure wins a Piece of Heart. Full rules and prizes are in the fishing article.
- Scarecrows (2): as young Link, play Bonooru an 8-note tune of your own (at least two different notes, and not a song you already know). Come back as adult Link and play it to him again. It is now your Scarecrow’s Song, which calls Pierre at his spots.
- Soft soil (3): next to the lab. Plant a magic bean here for the adult ride to the roof, or empty a bottle of bugs onto it for a Gold Skulltula.
- Tunnel to Zora’s Domain (6): an underwater passage in the north-west corner leads up to Zora’s Domain. Young Link dives in with the Silver Scale. As adult Link the passage is blocked by ice.
- The owl (10) on the path to the island can fly young Link back to Hyrule Field.
Adult Link: the Water Temple and refilling the lake
When adult Link arrives, most of the water is gone and the islands stand on dry ground. The Water Temple’s door is at the bottom of the deep water that is left, next to the island with the warp pad (7).
- Get the Iron Boots from the Ice Cavern and have the Hookshot.
- Put on the Iron Boots and drop into the deep water by the island.
- Underwater, fire the Hookshot at the target above the gate. The gate lifts and you can walk in.
- Beat Morpha. When you come out of the Water Temple, the lake fills back up.
The blue warp pad on the island is where the Serenade of Water takes you.
The Fire Arrows (8 and 9)
A stone tablet on the island reads: “When water fills the lake, shoot for the morning light.” Once the lake is full again, stand on the inscribed stone platform on the island at sunrise and shoot the rising sun with the Fairy Bow. The Fire Arrows appear on the small island to the east (9); swim over to collect them. Play the Sun’s Song at night to skip ahead to morning.
Lakeside Laboratory (3)
The sign reads: “Lakeside Laboratory. Daily trying to get to the bottom of the mysteries of Lake Hylia! —Lake Scientist”. Inside is a deep diving pool.
- Diving Piece of Heart: dive to the bottom of the pool without the Iron Boots. You need the Golden Scale, adult Link’s fishing prize. The scientist says: “You touched the bottom just now. Fantastic! I’ll give this to you!”
- Gold Skulltula: as adult Link, sink to the bottom of the pool with the Iron Boots, roll into the crate and use the Hookshot on the Skulltula inside.
- Eyeball Frog: in the adult trading sequence, bring the Eyeball Frog here quickly and the scientist turns it into the Eye Drops for Biggoron.
The Piece of Heart on the roof
On top of the lab is a Piece of Heart that only adult Link can reach. Either plant a bean in the soft soil next to the lab as young Link and ride the sprout as adult Link, or play the Scarecrow’s Song to call Pierre onto the roof and Hookshot to him. Once on the roof, climb the ladder to the top to collect the Piece of Heart.
Gold Skulltulas, grotto and Gossip Stones
- Gold Skulltulas (5): young Link at night on the small island at the south end (9) and on the lab’s outside wall (Boomerang), and with bugs in the soft soil. Adult Link at night high in the big tree on the island (Longshot), and in the lab’s pool. Full list in the Gold Skulltula article.
- Grotto (10): on the path out to the island, pull back the gravestone to find a hole. Three Business Scrubs inside sell items.
- Gossip Stones (11): three around the edge of the lake.
- From Gerudo Valley: the river at the bottom of Gerudo Valley sweeps you into Lake Hylia, a one-way shortcut.
- Master Quest mirrors the whole world, so swap left and right. The lake’s contents are the same.
Lake Hylia FAQ
Why is Lake Hylia empty in Ocarina of Time 3D?
As adult Link the lake is drained until you clear the Water Temple. Beat Morpha and the water comes back.
How do you get into the Water Temple?
As adult Link, put on the Iron Boots and sink into the deep water next to the island with the warp pad. Underwater, fire the Hookshot at the target above the gate to raise it, then walk in.
Where is Ruto’s Letter in Lake Hylia?
It is a bottle on the lake bed, in the deep water in front of the Lakeside Laboratory. Young Link needs the Silver Scale from the diving game in Zora’s Domain to dive that deep.
How do you get the Fire Arrows?
After the Water Temple, when the lake is full again, stand on the inscribed stone platform on the warp-pad island at sunrise and shoot the rising sun with the Fairy Bow. The Fire Arrows appear on the small island to the east; swim over to collect them.
How do you get the Piece of Heart on the lab roof?
As adult Link, either ride the bean sprout from the soft soil next to the lab (plant the bean as young Link) or play the Scarecrow’s Song so Pierre appears on the roof and Hookshot to him. Once on the roof, climb the ladder to the top for the Piece of Heart.
How do you get the Lakeside Laboratory Piece of Heart?
Dive to the bottom of the lab’s pool without the Iron Boots. You need the Golden Scale, the adult fishing prize. The scientist says you touched the bottom and gives you a Piece of Heart.
How much does fishing cost?
20 Rupees, with no time limit. Young Link can win a Piece of Heart and adult Link the Golden Scale.