Dig Caverns
Most Legend of Zelda games have hidden grottos where Link can find hidden treasure and items. The same is true in Twilight Princess, except these grottos require Link’s wolf form to dig in certain spots in order to access them. There are sixteen Dig Caverns in this game, and unlike places like the Lantern Caverns, these caves typically consist of a single room with one task in order to obtain the cavern’s treasure. Your rewards can range anywhere from Rupees to Chu Jelly to a Piece of Heart. This guide will show you where to find every Dig Cavern and what’s contained within. Note that you cannot enter any Dig Caverns until you gain the ability to transform into Wolf Link at will (i.e. after you obtain the Master Sword). When you suspect you’re near one of these caverns, use your wolf sense to see the dark, sparkly spot in the earth where you can dig!
Dig Cavern #1 – Sacred Grove
After you’ve obtained the Master Sword, return to the place where you just fought the Skull Kid. Blow up the Bomb Rock in the center (and take out the Imp Poe that emerges to collect a Poe Soul while you’re at it). Dig in the spot where the Bomb Rock was located to enter your first Dig Cavern.
Once inside, destroy all the Baba Serpents–don’t forget about the one hanging from the ceiling too. When they’re all defeated, a treasure chest will appear, which will give you a Piece of Heart. Note that in this and most other Dig Caverns, you can cut the tall grass and smash open the pottery to find Rupees and other collectibles. Exit via the beam of light to return to the overworld.
Dig Cavern #2 – Ordon Ranch
Make sure you have an Empty Bottle before you go to this one. Enter the barn as Wolf Link and use your sense to find the soft earth, then dig to enter. Destroy the Rats that attack, but they aren’t the only enemy in here. A Gold Chu will drop the ceiling to engage you as well. Defeat it too, then scoop an Empty Bottle from its remains to obtain Rare Chu Jelly! This is very valuable stuff–it not only fully heals you also increases your attack power for a while. Before you leave, light the two torches in this room to make a treasure chest appear. Open it to collect a Purple Rupee (50). Now exit.
Dig Cavern #3 – Hyrule Field
Go to the southern region of Hyrule Field (bordering Faron Woods). Look for a circle of tall grass in the northern part of this region, and dig in the middle of that circle. Inside the cave, you won’t find anything more than a fishing pond. Fish here, but you won’t catch any actual fish. You may come away with a Bag of Rupees, though–the amount will vary, and you’ll just have to check after you’ve caught it! You can also catch various junk items such as a boot, wheel, or twig.
Dig Cavern #4 – Hyrule Field
Just outside the Castle Town south gate you can find a Goron working on a rock wall to the south. Northwest of him, look for a flock of Guays flying around a tall plateau. Climb up the vines hanging from this structure to get on top. Dig in the center of the circle of stones as Wolf Link. Once inside, numerous Tektites will spring forward across the water to attack you. Transform into normal Link, coax the enemies to land, and destroy them with the sword. You can also use Arrows if you want to fight from a distance. Once they’re finished off, a treasure chest will appear, which contains an Orange Rupee (100). You can also do some fishing in here, as well as slash up tall grass and jars. Exit once you’re done.
Dig Cavern #5 – Lake Hylia
Near the entrance to Lantern Cavern #2 (i.e. follow the wooden walkways east of Lanayru Spring and climb up the ladder), there are clumps of tall grass. Use your wolf sense to find where to dig. Once you’re in, change to your human form and use either the Hero’s Bow or your shield to defeat the Water Toadpolis you find down here. Once you’ve taken care of them all, a treasure chest will appear that gives you an Orange Rupee (100). You can fish in the water here as well.
Dig Cavern #6 – Lake Hylia
Pay Falbi 20 Rupees to play his Flight-by-Fowl game, except you’re not actually going to play it. Pick up a Cucco, and as soon as you jump off the platform, promptly turn around 180 degrees and land on the ledge immediately below Falbi’s attraction. (There is an Imp Poe lurking around here at night too, by the way, if you want another Poe Soul.) As Wolf Link, look for a place to dig, and do so. When you’re underground, revert back to normal Link, then put on both the Zora Armor and Iron Boots. Plunge underwater and defeat the several Shell Blades you find down there. Eliminate them all to make a treasure chest appear on the island at the end of the cave. It too contains an Orange Rupee (100).
Dig Cavern #7 – Hyrule Field
South of the Great Bridge of Hylia is a small wooden bridge. From there, look for a Bomb Rock perched on a ledge, and destroy it with a Bomb Arrow. Clawshot to the medallion hidden behind it. There is another ledge with a Bomb Rock hiding a Clawshot medallion, so repeat the process. Clawshot to a couple more ledges (overlooking the wooden bridge where you just were). Be on the lookout for another Imp Poe as you arrive, and claim a Poe Soul if it’s night. On the same ledge as the Poe is a circle of tall grass. Dig inside the circle to go underground. In here, you’ll have to fight a variety of Bubbles, Fire Bubbles, and Ice Bubbles! They all go down after the same number of hits, but Fire Bubbles can inflict more damage (and burn a Wooden Shield if you have it out), while Ice Bubbles can freeze you. Once they’re all defeated, it will trigger another treasure chest with another Orange Rupee (100) inside.
Dig Cavern #8 – Hyrule Field
In the northern region of Hyrule Field (bordering Zora’s Domain), go to the eastern part of this region and look for the telltale ring of tall grass. Activate Wolf Link’s senses, and dig where you find a spot. Once inside, take out the Baba Serpents first, then reactivate your wolf sense to find, not one. but two Imp Poes trying to get the drop on you! Use Midna’s area attack to target both, then pluck the Poe Soul from them one at a time. There is no treasure chest in here, not even for defeating all the Baba Serpents; the two Poe Souls are your prize. Feel free to slice up the tall grass and jars in here too if you wish.
Dig Cavern #9 – Hyrule Field
Close to the previous Dig Cavern is another one, also in northern Hyrule Field. Use Wolf Link’s senses around more tall grass to find it. You’ll want to quickly revert back to human Link once you enter because time is of the essence. You’ll encounter eight Red Chus and eight Blue Chus. Defeat each quickly if you want any Red Chu Jelly (replenishes 8 hearts) or Blue Chu Jelly (replenishes all hearts)–obviously you’ll want to prioritize Blue Chus if you can. Be sure to defeat them before they merge together into a monstrous Purple Chu because Purple Chu Jelly has random effects and is generally less reliable than its red or blue counterparts. You’ll be better served by the red or especially blue jelly!
Dig Cavern #10 – Hyrule Field
Go to eastern Hyrule Field, right outside Castle Town. Look for vines on a higher ledge near the Castle Gate, and Clawshot your way up. On top of the ledge you’ll find a circle of stones. Dig inside, where you’ll encounter four Helmasaurs. Use the Clawshot to pull off their masks and defeat them with the sword. When they’re all gone, you’ll gain a treasure chest that contains an Orange Rupee (100).
Dig Cavern #11 – Gerudo Desert
When you first arrive at Gerudo Desert, proceed north. You’ll soon find a trio of skulls in the sand (and, if it’s night, an Imp Poe too, for your Poe Soul collecting needs). Burrow down as Wolf Link where the skulls are lying. Once inside, take out four Skulltulas to cause a treasure chest to appear and claim an Orange Rupee (100) inside. You can optionally destroy the jars hanging from threads if you want as well.
Dig Cavern #12 – Gerudo Desert
Go to the southeastern part of the desert, north of the Warp Portal. Look for a tall rock at the end of a cul-de-sac and three skulls nearby. Dig here to enter your next cavern. Revert to human Link, and be ready to face one each of a Red Chu, Blue Chu, and Purple Chu. As usual, focus on the Blue Chu first, and make sure none of them merge, as they’ll turn purple if they do. Your potential prizes here are Blue Chu Jelly and Red Chu Jelly (or Purple Chu Jelly).
Dig Cavern #13 – Gerudo Desert
In the northwestern area of the desert (if you’re looking at the map, see what looks to be the top half of the area?–you want to search in the western part of this segment), look for a tree on a ledge you can Clawshot to. Once you’re up there, run a little bit north, and you can fight an Imp Poe for a Poe Soul if it’s night. Regardless, activate your wolf sense to find a place to dig down underground. Below, you’ll find yourself surrounded by Bomb Rocks. Before you deal with those, you’ll have two more Imp Poes on you immediately! Stay in wolf form and fight them off–claim a couple Poe Souls from them. Now blow up all the Bomb Rocks. There are various goodies to be grabbed from jars and the like. But what you want to focus on are three torches scattered around this room, including one on a raised platform. Use your Lantern to light all three to make a treasure chest appear, containing an Orange Rupee (100). Between two Poe Souls (three if you count the one above ground guarding this place) and 100 Rupees, this is a very lucrative Dig Cavern indeed!
Dig Cavern #14 – Hyrule Field
This cave requires the Spinner. Make your way to the narrow canyon in Hyrule Field north of the Bridge of Eldin. Defeat some Bulblin Archers at a wooden bridge and look for a Spinner groove. Ride it all the way to a distant ledge over a gorge. Once there, dig as Wolf Link in the middle of the circle of tall grass to enter the cavern. Three Stalfos will rise up to attack you. The most efficient way to destroy them is with Bomb Arrows–if you get them close together, you can dispatch all three with one shot! Bombs are required to put them down for good, so if you don’t have any, look for a small treasure chest against the east wall that will give you Bombs (5). Once all the Stalfos are defeated, a larger treasure chest will appear, and it contains a Piece of Heart. When you exit this cave, either ride the Spinner out or use Midna to warp.
Dig Cavern #15 – Snowpeak
You’ll need to wait until you’ve obtained the Ball and Chain before you can take full advantage of this Dig Cavern. Follow the Reekfish Scent’s trail as Wolf Link. On the southern part of the climb up the mountain, look for a lone pine tree a little off the trail. (If it’s night, you can find an Imp Poe here and collect another Poe Soul.) Dig next to the tree, and as you enter, dispatch the Ice Keese that attacks. Use the Ball and Chain to destroy only one part of the ice wall in front of you (you’ll want to keep part of the wall up for cover from Freezard attacks). On the other side are four Freezards, so be patient and methodical in your Ball and Chain attacks. Destroy them all, and you’ll be able to open a treasure chest for an Orange Rupee (100) as a result.
Dig Cavern #16 – Snowpeak
In the eastern part of your climb up Snowpeak mountain, once again follow the Reekfish Scent but veer off a bit after you climb up a steep, icy slope. At night, you’ll once again encounter another Imp Poe by a tree if you want to fight it for its Poe Soul. Dig next to the tree to enter the final Dig Cavern, destroy the Ice Keese that converge on you, then blow up the Bomb Rocks in here. You’ll find a Red Chu in hiding; defeat it and scoop up some Red Chu Jelly if you want it.
