Shadowgreen Cavern is a large, overgrown cave north of Solitude, sitting at the foot of the cliffs close to sea level. Quest markers can make it look as if it is just east of the Thalmor Embassy, but the entrance is actually further northeast. Inside you get a surprisingly green underground world with a stream, a pond and a tall rock spire – and quite a lot of things that want to eat you.
What you’ll find
- Wolves, cave bears and sabre cats.
- Spriggans and Spriggan Matrons, plus a Spriggan Earth Mother (Dawnguard).
- A central rock spire topped by a small island with a chest, linked to another ledge by a stone bridge.
- A small steaming pond with mammoth remains.
- A moonstone ore vein, reached by crossing the arch at the top of the spire and dropping from the western edge of the chest ledge; a skeleton with items lies beside it. There is also a corundum vein.
- A random leveled war axe stuck in a tree trunk just left of the entrance.
Quests
Retrieve Noster Eagle-Eye’s helmet – the cavern is one of the possible spots for the helmet, in a chest on top of the central rock formation. It is also a possible location for Meridia’s Beacon, which leads to the Statue to Meridia.
Notable items
- Four chests: an Apprentice-locked one in a tree stump on a ledge above the stream source to the east, one on the spire-top island (with a random spell tome, potions and a leveled mace), an Adept-locked one across the stone bridge north of the spire, and a hidden Expert-locked one on a ledge northeast of the island holding an enchanted leveled weapon.
- A leveled greatsword, shield, coin purse and Potion of Healing at the bottom of the pond.
- Alchemy ingredients galore: blue butterfly wings, taproot, bear claws, red, blue and purple mountain flowers, mora tapinella, glowing mushrooms and nirnroot.
Tips
The Expert chest needs Whirlwind Sprint: leap the gap from the spire island and accept that you will bounce off the cliff wall a bit. Alternatively, walk to the end of the ledge facing the water and sprint into it for a safe landing. Near the first wolf there is a chest you can climb behind to reach a ledge, letting you sneak up on the next two wolves and grab extra ingredients.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Thalmor Embassy, Ravenscar Hollow, Broken Oar Grotto, Ironback Hideout, Brinewater Grotto.
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.