The Headwaters of Harstrad is a quiet clearing in the northeastern part of Solstheim, added with the Dragonborn expansion. Its real secret is Harstrad Cave, a tiny cave hidden behind a narrow waterfall in the Harstrad River. You’ll most likely come here because a mycologist from Tel Mithryn needs its special water.
What you’ll find
- Harstrad Cave – a very small cave tucked behind the waterfall. You find it by following the river east of Benkongerike.
- One spriggan – the only inhabitant, randomly leveled. It can turn out to be a Spriggan Earth Mother even if you’re low level, which makes for a surprisingly tough fight in such a small space.
- A high-level chest – the reward for getting past the spriggan.
- Magical water – the cave waters are said to attract spriggans.
Quests
During Healing a House, Elynea Mothren asks you to soak some Taproot in the waters inside the cave. She warns you that spriggans like to gather there – and she’s right, so don’t treat it as a casual errand.
Notable items
- High-level chest inside Harstrad Cave
Tips
Don’t let the cave’s size fool you. A Spriggan Earth Mother can appear even on a fresh character, and she hits much harder than the cosy setting suggests. Come prepared with fire damage or a sturdy follower, and fight near the entrance so you have room to back off. If the river route confuses you, just stick close to the water heading upstream from Benkongerike and look for the thin curtain of falling water – the entrance hides right behind it.
Once the spriggan is gone, take a minute to empty the chest, finish your Taproot soak and enjoy one of the calmer corners of the island. Solstheim doesn’t offer many of those.
Good to know
The location is also known simply as Harstrad Cave, so don’t be confused if a quest or a guide calls it by that name instead.
Nearby
Closest places on Solstheim covered on TamrielSaga: Benkongerike, Snowclad Ruins, Wind Stone, Hrothmund’s Barrow, Saering’s Watch.
Map position and editor ID read from the Dragonborn game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
