Darkwater Pass is a linear cave tucked between waterfalls south of Darkwater Crossing, east of High Hrothgar. Both of its entrances sit beside pools and are reached by paths branching east off the winding track that runs from Ivarstead towards the bridge just south of Fort Amol. Most people come here for one reason: a fisherman has gone missing, and the Falmer are not known for their hospitality.
What you’ll find
- Leveled Falmer and Chaurus – an odd sight, since the cave was clearly once used as a Nordic burial site, complete with chests and burial urns.
- Two tripwires hooked up to swinging claw traps; one of them can also be set off by a lever on the wall beneath it.
- An arcane enchanter in a side room.
- Derkeethus, locked in a cell under a grating. A lever hidden in a small crevice in the northeastern wall nearby opens the secret door to him, and a Darkwater Pit key rests on a burial urn inside his cell.
- Two entrances: the lower, eastern one is the only one shown on the map, while the upper, western one is marked by a cairn further along the track towards Ivarstead.
- Alchemy supplies: plenty of Chaurus Eggs and Glowing Mushrooms inside, plus Blisterwort and Slaughterfish Eggs around the western pool.
Quests
- Extracting an Argonian – free Derkeethus, the fisherman from Darkwater Crossing, and help him get out.
- Arniel’s Endeavor – the dead courier carrying the Keening may turn up in the same pool where Derkeethus is held.
- The book Wind and Sand may be placed here as well.
Notable items
- Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments (Enchanting skill book), lying on top of the arcane enchanter.
Tips
Watch your feet in the corridors – the claw traps hit hard and the Falmer will happily use the noise to find you. The eastern entrance can also be reached the scenic way: head north-northwest from Snapleg Cave and use the Become Ethereal shout to survive the drops. Outside the western entrance, a skeleton chained to a heavy rock lies in the pool wearing low-level armour; it’s easy to spot but the current makes it a pain to loot. A knapsack sits nearby for less soggy plunder.
Good to know
Darkwater Pass is one of very few places where Falmer live in Nord barrow architecture. If you followed Ralof out of Helgen, he later tells Gerdur he was captured near Darkwater Crossing.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Nilheim, Rift Stormcloak Camp, Clearspring Tarn, Rift Watchtower, Sarethi Farm.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
