Karthspire Camp sits deep in the Karth River valley east of Markarth, overlooked by the Sundered Towers and the throne of Red Eagle directly below Red Eagle Redoubt. Across the river to the west lies Karthspire, the cave that hides Sky Haven Temple. The camp itself is a staging area for local Forsworn, who have teamed up with a hagraven – and they sit right in your path during the main quest.
What you’ll find
- Lower area: three tents built on wooden platforms that bridge the river.
- The hagraven’s alcove: straight ahead up a small valley, with an altar holding a dead giant and a tent containing an alchemy lab and two apothecary’s satchels.
- The smithing terrace: to the right, a two-tiered stone area with a chest and a nearly complete smithy – forge, grindstone, tanning rack and workbench. Only a smelter is missing.
- Beds for the camp’s residents.
Quests
You pass through here on the way to Karthspire during Alduin’s Wall. Once that quest has started, the Forsworn here become noticeably tougher.
Notable items
- Block skill book A Dance in Fire, Book II, in a tent in the lower area.
- A chest on the smithing terrace.
Tips
Timing matters. Clear the camp right before starting Alduin’s Wall, or during it with Delphine and Esbern helping out – either beats facing the powered-up Forsworn alone.
The valley also has a very high dragon spawn rate, especially if you fast travel straight to the camp. That can work in your favour: let a dragon and the Forsworn sort each other out, then mop up whoever is left standing. Just don’t stand between them while they do it.
Good to know
The camp cannot be cleared, so it does not count toward dungeon-clearing achievements, and its Forsworn come back over time. Karthspire across the river, on the other hand, stays empty once you have dealt with it.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Karthspire, Red Eagle Redoubt, Soljund’s Sinkhole, Four Skull Lookout, Reachwater Rock.
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.