What is in the Lost Woods
The Lost Woods is the maze of clearings joined by hollow logs, up on the ledge at the north of Kokiri Forest. Each clearing has a few log tunnels; a wrong one sends you out to Kokiri Forest, just outside the entrance. Mido says as much: “I know you’ll get lost! Don’t worry—you’ll just end up back at the entrance!” As young Link the woods hold 2 Pieces of Heart, a Bullet Bag upgrade, both Deku Stick and Deku Nut upgrades, the Forest Stage and 2 Gold Skulltulas. As adult Link you come back for Mido, the Biggoron trade and one more Gold Skulltula. The woods also hold shortcuts to Goron City and Zora’s River, and the way to the Sacred Forest Meadow.
Looking for the turns to the meadow where Saria waits? They are on the Saria’s Song page. This page covers everything else in the woods.
Finding your way
All directions below start from the first clearing as you come in from Kokiri Forest, facing north. Each clearing has a landmark, so you always know where you are:
| Clearing (map number) | Exits from the entrance | Landmark |
|---|---|---|
| Skull Kid stump (2) | Left | A Skull Kid on a tall stump, a small stump in front |
| Bridge clearing (3 to 5) | Left, left | Soft soil, a ledge above the bridge to Hyrule Field |
| Target and memory game (6, 7) | Right | A target hanging from a dead tree, stumps below |
| Goron City shortcut (8, 9) | Right, left | A brown boulder and an exit to Death Mountain |
| Pool to Zora’s River (10, 11) | Right, left, right | A pool of water; Mido stands here as adult Link |
| Forest Stage clearing (12, 13) | Right, left, right, left, left | Two Deku Scrubs, soft soil and an open hole |
| Last clearing before the meadow (15, 16) | See the meadow route | A boulder over a grotto |
The owl in the woods says: “Just follow your ears, and listen to the sounds coming from the forest!” The music does help near the right tunnel, but it is easy to miss. A wrong turn costs you only the walk back in from Kokiri Forest, so the map and the list above are quicker. In Master Quest on 3DS the world is mirrored, so swap every left and right.
Young Link: rewards in the woods
Skull Kid: Piece of Heart (2)
Take the first exit on the left. Once you have learned Saria’s Song, stand on the small stump in front of the Skull Kid and play it. He says: “You know Saria’s Song! We should be friends! Here—take this!” and gives you a Piece of Heart. Being his friend also lets you sell him the Skull Mask in the mask quest.
Target and memory game (6, 7)
Take the first exit on the right. A target hangs from a dead tree. Hit the bullseye with the Slingshot three times in a row and a Deku Scrub says: “Cool! You’re great! You scored three perfect bull’s-eyes!” and gives you a bigger Bullet Bag. It holds 40 seeds, or 50 if you already won the bag at the Shooting Gallery in the Market.
Below the target, two Skull Kids sit on stumps. Stand on the remaining stump and take out your ocarina. They play a tune; play it back. Win all three rounds, each one longer than the last, for the second Piece of Heart.
Bridge clearing: Deku Stick upgrade (3 to 5)
Take left, then left again, to a clearing above the bridge between Kokiri Forest and Hyrule Field. Down by the bridge, a Business Scrub sells a Deku Stick upgrade for 40 Rupees; knock his nut back at him with your shield to make him talk. There is also a Gossip Stone and a soft soil patch: empty a bottle of bugs onto it for a Gold Skulltula, or plant a magic bean. The bridge below is where Saria gives you the Fairy Ocarina as you leave the forest, and where the Running Man’s race ends.
Forest Stage (12, 13)
Right, left, right, left, left from the entrance. The clearing has two Deku Scrubs that sell Deku Nuts and Deku Sticks, and a soft soil patch with a Gold Skulltula (bugs). Drop into the open hole to land on the Forest Stage. Wear the Skull Mask for a Deku Stick upgrade, or the Mask of Truth for a Deku Nut upgrade. The full details are in the mask quest.
Scrub grotto: Deku Nut upgrade (15)
In the last clearing before the Sacred Forest Meadow, blow up the boulder with a bomb to open a grotto. One of the two Business Scrubs inside sells a Deku Nut upgrade for 40 Rupees; the other sells Deku Seeds to young Link and arrows to adult Link.
Smaller finds
- Grotto by the Goron City shortcut (8): bomb the boulder. Inside are a chest with a Blue Rupee and a Gossip Stone.
- Boulder (14): bomb it for a Blue Rupee.
- The pool (10): eight Green Rupees lie on the bottom. Dive for them with a scale, or grab them with the Boomerang.
Shortcuts to Goron City and Zora’s River
- Goron City (9): right, then left from the entrance. At first the tunnel is blocked by boulders: blow them up from this side, or open it from inside Goron City. On your first visit, reach Goron City and Darunia by way of Kakariko Village and Death Mountain Trail; afterwards this is a quick way between the two.
- Zora’s River (10): right, left, right from the entrance. Dive into the pool and swim through to Zora’s River, by the waterfall to Zora’s Domain. You need the Silver Scale (or the Iron Boots as adult Link); the Golden Scale is not needed.
Adult Link: what changes
- Mido (11) blocks the path deeper into the woods. Play Saria’s Song and he lets you through; details on the Saria’s Song page.
- The Skull Kids attack. Navi says: “It looks like he doesn’t like grown-ups.” Defeat them or walk on.
- Biggoron trade (2): in the Skull Kid’s clearing, a young man sits against a tree. Bring him Cojiro and he gives you the Odd Mushroom for the old woman in Kakariko’s potion shop. It spoils if you take too long. Bring back the Odd Poultice and a Kokiri girl is there instead. She says he is gone (“Only his saw is left.”) and you get the Poacher’s Saw.
- Night Gold Skulltula (12): plant a bean outside the Forest Stage as young Link, then ride the sprout at night as adult Link to the Gold Skulltula high on the wall. All three are in the Gold Skulltula list, along with the one in the Sacred Forest Meadow.
- The Forest Stage has no judges, and the clearing’s Deku Scrubs are gone.
On to the Sacred Forest Meadow
The far end of the woods (16) opens into the Sacred Forest Meadow. Young Link meets Saria there and learns Saria’s Song once he has met Princess Zelda. Adult Link learns the Minuet of Forest from Sheik and uses the Hookshot to reach the Forest Temple. The Saria’s Song page covers the maze inside the meadow; the Minuet then warps you straight there, past the Lost Woods.
Lost Woods FAQ
How do you get through the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time 3D?
Every clearing has a few log tunnels. The wrong ones send you out to Kokiri Forest, just outside the entrance, so you can never get stuck. Use the map on this page to find each clearing, and the Saria’s Song page for the exact turns to the Sacred Forest Meadow.
Where are the Pieces of Heart in the Lost Woods?
There are two, both for young Link. Take the first exit on the left and play Saria’s Song on the small stump in front of the Skull Kid. Take the first exit on the right and win the Skull Kids’ ocarina memory game.
How many Gold Skulltulas are in the Lost Woods?
Three. Young Link empties bugs onto the soft soil by the bridge and outside the Forest Stage. Adult Link rides the bean sprout outside the Forest Stage at night to reach the one high on the wall. One more is in the Sacred Forest Meadow.
Do I need the Silver Scale or the Golden Scale for the shortcut to Zora’s River?
The Silver Scale is enough, and the Iron Boots also work. The Golden Scale is not needed.
Why won’t Mido let me through the Lost Woods as adult Link?
Play Saria’s Song to him. He recognises it and steps aside, and you can go on to the Sacred Forest Meadow and the Forest Temple.
Where is the Forest Stage?
From the entrance, take right, left, right, left, left. In that clearing, drop into the open hole to land on the stage. The judges only appear for young Link.
What does the Lost Woods target give you?
Hit the bullseye three times in a row with the Slingshot and a Deku Scrub gives you a bigger Bullet Bag: 40 seeds, or 50 if you already won the Shooting Gallery’s bag in the Market.
Is the Lost Woods different in Master Quest?
In Master Quest on 3DS the whole world is mirrored, so every left and right is swapped. What is in each clearing does not change.