Lost Woods & Sacred Forest Meadow

1. Entering the Lost Woods

Head into the woods after your visits to Kokiri Forest and Hyrule Castle, where Kaepora Gaebora greets you near the entrance. Track the forest music's volume through the branching hollow tree trunks, heading Right, Left, Right, Left, Straight, Left, and Right to reach the Sacred Forest Meadow entrance.

Tip: Listen closely as the music gets noticeably louder in front of the correct opening.

2. Gate Encounter

Approach the locked iron gate blocking access to the corridor maze to initiate a confrontation. Defeat the Wolfos by raising your shield with Z-targeting, waiting for it to jump or strike, and slashing its exposed back since it actively ducks to deflect frontal attacks. Once defeated, collect any dropped health or rupees as the iron gate opens.

3. The Hedge Maze

Step into the corridor maze lined with tall hedges and stone walls, which is patrolled by Mad Scrubs. When they spit three Deku Nuts in rapid succession, raise your shield to deflect a projectile back at them, then chase them down for a sword slash, or stun them with a Deku Nut or your Slingshot. Pick up any dropped Recovery Hearts, Deku Nuts, or small rupees along the way.

Tip: Stun the hopping Mad Scrubs with a Slingshot or Deku Nut if you struggle to catch them on foot.

4. Secret Grotto Ladder

Before ascending the steps to the sanctuary, look at the opposite wall and climb up the ladder. Drop down into the secret grotto pit to find a Fairy's Fountain. Use an Empty Bottle here to scoop up a Fairy, which will provide revives or rapid healing for your upcoming journeys.

5. Meeting Saria

Walk up the sanctuary stairs to the deep clearing where Saria sits playing her Fairy Ocarina on a stump. Speak with her to begin your musical rehearsal, and perform the melody using either your controller buttons or by humming and whistling into the Nintendo Switch 2 built-in microphone. Finishing the rehearsal teaches you Saria's Song, which you can later play to Darunia, Skull Kid, or use for hints.

Tip: You can use your new song later to telepathically contact Saria for hints, perform for Skull Kid for mini-game rewards, or play it for Darunia to advance the questline.

The short version

What matters

• Saria's Song, which allows you to progress the story with Darunia, receive hints from Saria, and earn mini-game rewards from Skull Kid.
• Catching a Fairy inside an Empty Bottle at the hidden Fairy's Fountain pit across from the sanctuary steps for quick healing and revives.
• Defeating the Wolfos guarding the entrance gate to gain entry into the Sacred Forest Meadow hedge corridors.

Common mistakes

• Navigating the branching hollow tree trunks randomly; follow the auditory volume of the forest music or the exact sequence (Right, Left, Right, Left, Straight, Left, Right).
• Attacking the Wolfos head-on while it guards; keep your shield up, lock on with Z-targeting, and only strike when its back is exposed after an attack.
• Missing the ladder on the wall opposite the sanctuary stairs, which leads to the hidden Fairy's Fountain grotto before speaking with Saria.

What you can skip

• Chasing Mad Scrubs into narrow hedge corners when you can simply stun them in place using Deku Nuts or the Slingshot.