You’re staring at the map of Limgrave, and it looks empty. It isn’t. Not by a long shot. Elden Ring hides its best content behind cracks in cliff sides and bushes you’ve walked past twenty times. Finding every Elden Ring dungeon location is basically a full-time job if you aren't using a map or a really specific set of intuition skills. Most players think they've cleared an area because they beat the main boss. Wrong. You probably missed three catacombs and a cave full of crystal-snorting snails.
Honestly, the Lands Between is a Swiss cheese of tunnels.
Why the Map Lies to You
The physical map you find at those little stone pillars? It’s a liar. It shows the roads, the big legacy dungeons like Stormveil, and the general topography. It does not show the "Minor Dungeons." These are the lifeblood of your build. If you need a specific Spirit Ash or a Smithing Stone, you have to go hunting.
Look for the statues. You’ve seen them—those hunched-over stone guys with a faint blue light coming out of their chests. If you interact with them, they point a literal laser beam toward the nearest Elden Ring dungeon location. But here’s the kicker: the beam stays on your map until you enter the dungeon. If the beam is still there, you haven't found the door. Sometimes the door is five hundred feet below you in a canyon you didn't know existed.
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The Limgrave Starter Pack
Limgrave is dense. It's the most packed area in the game because FromSoftware wanted to hook you early.
- Stormfoot Catacombs: Just northwest of the Church of Elleh. It’s got those annoying jade goblins (Imps).
- Groveside Cave: Right near the start, tucked into the northern cliff wall.
- Coastal Cave: You actually have to go down to the beach for this one. It's the only way to reach the Church of Dragon Communion on the island.
Most people miss the Highroad Cave. You have to drop down into the riverbed north of the Murkwater coast. It’s a long drop, but there are spirit springs to catch you. If you’re looking for the Shamshir, that’s where it lives.
Liurnia and the Vertical Nightmare
Liurnia of the Lakes is a disaster for navigation. It's huge. It's wet. It’s full of lobsters that can snipe you from a mile away. The Elden Ring dungeon location density here shifts from the center of the map to the edges. Because the center is just a shallow lake, almost every cave is carved into the massive cliffs surrounding the water.
Take Stillwater Cave. It’s at the very southern tip of the lake, hidden in the muck. If you don't hug the wall, you'll walk right past the entrance. Then there's the Academy Crystal Cave. You need a Stonesword Key for this one, and it’s tucked into the western side of the Raya Lucaria cliff base.
Caelid Is Just Mean
Caelid doesn't want you there. The dungeons here reflect that. Gaol Cave requires two Stonesword Keys and is filled with exploding burning corpses. It’s located on the edge of the swamp.
But the real "get out of here" moment is the War-Dead Catacombs. You can’t even find this place until you beat Starscourge Radahn. Once the boss is dead, ride all the way to the northernmost tip of the desert arena. It’s a dungeon where high-level spirits are eternally fighting each other. It’s a great place to die instantly if you aren't careful.
The Underground Secret
Most players don't realize that Siofra River and Ainsel River have their own sub-locations. These aren't just "zones." They contain specific tucked-away spots that function like mini-dungeons. In Siofra, you have the Deep Siofra Well which leads back up to Caelid, but getting there requires navigating a gauntlet of archers who basically have heat-seeking missiles.
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Don't Forget the Hero's Graves
These are the elite tier of Elden Ring dungeon locations. They are the ones with the chariots. You know the ones—massive, instant-kill wooden machines that roll back and forth while you hide in alcoves praying to Marika.
- Fringefolk Hero's Grave: Literally at the start of the game. You need two keys. Don't go in there at level 1 unless you want to cry.
- Auriza Hero's Grave: Outside Leyndell. This one has two chariots. It’s a puzzle as much as a dungeon.
- Gelmir Hero's Grave: Up on Mt. Gelmir. You actually have to ride the chariot to finish it.
How to Find Any Entrance
If you’re stuck looking for a specific Elden Ring dungeon location, look for the "gold streaks" on the map. Sometimes, the map art itself gives it away. Look for small, dark circular holes or grayish rectangles drawn onto the cliff faces of the map. Those are usually mine entrances (Tunnels).
Tunnels are different from Catacombs.
- Tunnels: Look for the orange-ringed holes on the map. These always have weapon upgrade materials.
- Catacombs: Usually found in the middle of a cliff face, marked by a statue nearby. These have Spirit Ashes and Grave Glovewort.
- Caves: Usually found at sea level or river level. These are more organic and usually have armor or talismans.
The Altus Plateau has some of the best hidden ones. Sainted Hero's Grave is right in the middle of the plateau, but it’s easy to miss because the entrance is a small stone structure surrounded by Leyndell soldiers. To the north, the Old Altus Tunnel is tucked into the valley leading toward the Shaded Castle.
The Mountaintops and Beyond
By the time you hit the Mountaintops of the Giants, the Elden Ring dungeon location count drops, but the difficulty spikes. The Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave is a massive ordeal. You have to lure enemies into circles of light just to hurt them.
And then there's the Consecrated Snowfield. You can't see anything because of the blizzard. Finding the Cave of the Forlorn here is a nightmare. You have to follow the frozen river east. If you hit the giant octopus, you've gone too far.
Actionable Strategy for Completionists
Don't just wander. That’s how you get frustrated.
First, clear the map of all "orange holes" to get your Smithing Stones. This keeps your damage high. Second, find the statues in each region and follow their light. Third, check the base of every minor Erdtree. Almost every Erdtree has a catacomb nearby, usually themed around the roots of the tree.
Finally, use the environment. If you see a trail of glowing white footsteps, follow them. They lead to invisible scarabs or hidden entrances. If you see a group of enemies gathered around a random hole in the ground, jump in. It’s probably a dungeon.
The Lands Between is designed to reward curiosity, but it rewards observation even more. Hug the cliff walls. Watch the map icons. Kill the lobsters first. You’ll find them all eventually.
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To maximize your efficiency, always carry at least five Stonesword Keys. Nothing is worse than finding a hidden door at the bottom of a canyon and realizing you can't open it. Keep your eyes on the cliffside elevations, as FromSoftware loves to hide entrances halfway up a spirit spring jump. Check the ravines specifically; nearly every major ravine in the game terminates in a cave or tunnel entrance. Once you’ve cleared the visible landmarks, these "end-of-the-line" spots are where the remaining 10% of the game’s content hides.