oot grotos guide

OOT Grotos Guide

Latest posts by Laura May Randell (see all)

Any good Zelda game (and let’s be honest, they’re all good) is going to have plenty of secrets to uncover. And like any good secret, they are usually pretty hard to find. Unless, of course, you have us as your secret weapon.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has plenty of secrets of its own, 33 of which are hidden grottos. Each of these grottos is a small hole in the ground that opens up into a cave below. Every one of them has something of use inside it to reward you for the time and effort it takes to find them.

These rewards range from Golden Skulltulas, chests containing Rupees, Heart Containers, Gossip Stones, or even Fairy Fountains. So whether you are keen to get your gamer paws on those rewards or perhaps you just want the satisfaction of finding all of the secret grottos in Ocarina of Time, you have come to the right place.

There are plenty of these secret grottos speckling the land of Hyrule in Ocarina of Time. The locations of some of them are obvious, while others require you to complete some sort of puzzle to unlock.

Some of the grottos have certain requirements and can’t be accessed without a bomb or a hammer, for example. Some can only be accessed when Link is a certain age.

The easiest way to categorize these grottos, in my opinion, is by location. So that is what we are going to do. I will also include instructions on how to complete each trial that awaits you inside each grotto if applicable, and what precious treasure you can find there. So with all that said, away we go!

Key Notes at a Glance

There are 33 secret grottos hidden around Hyrule. Some contain items of great value, like heart containers or Huge Rupees, others not so much. Here we will go over where they all are and what you can find inside them.

Kokiri Forest

oot grotos zelda
Kokiri Forest Grotto

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

Kokiri Forest is where you start the game, and for that reason, it is also where I will start this guide. There is only one secret grotto in Kokiri Forest, and it is also relatively easy to find. You do have to have access to the Ocarina and be able to play the Song of Storms, though, so you will have to return to Kokiri Forest once you’ve unlocked those things.

Once you do, go back to the Forest and head to the entrance to the Lost Woods. Just outside the entrance to the Lost Woods, there is a Gossip Stone. Play the Song of Storms in front of the Gossip Stone to reveal the hole in the ground.

Drop into the hole and run to the chest at the back of the cavern to collect your brand-new red Rupee.

The Lost Woods

There are also three grottos in the Lost Woods. And since we are already by the entrance, we might as well uncover them now.

The Lost Woods Secret Grotto #1

lost woods secret grotto
Lost Woods Grotto

Head into the Lost Woods and follow these directions: right, left, right, left, and then left again. You will end up in a grassy area. Dodge or kill the Deku Scrubs and run to the grassy area at the very back of the arena.

The hole is hidden in the grass near the corner, so just keep running around, and you will fall down eventually. This grotto is particularly interesting. Inside are some Deku Scrubs who will give you different reactions depending on what mask you are wearing when you enter.

Skull Mask: The Shrubs will upgrade your Deku Stick.

Mask of Truth: The Shrubs will upgrade your Deku Nuts.

Spooky Mask: The Shrubs will attack Link.

The Lost Woods Secret Grotto #2

lost woods secret grotto #2
Lost Woods Grotto #2

Requirements: Bombs

This grotto requires bombs to uncover the entrance. Just before the entrance to Goron City, you will see a boulder. Remove it with a bomb and fall into the hole to enter the grotto.

Inside is one of the more basic grotto layouts with a Gossip Stone, a couple of ponds, and a chest at the back. Run to the back to get a blue Rupee from the chest. There is also a fish in one of the ponds that you can scoop up if you have an empty jar.

The Lost Woods Secret Grotto #3

lost woods secret grotto #3
Lost Woods Grotto #3

Requirements: Bombs

The last grotto in the Lost Woods is just by the entrance to the Sacred Forest Meadow. It’s underneath another boulder just like the last one, so destroy the boulder with a bomb and drop down to the grotto below.

Inside this grotto are two Business Scrubs looking to sell something to Link. If you’re interested in what they have to offer, you can purchase an upgrade for your Deku Nut from one of them for 40 Rupees.

The items the other Business Shrub sells change depending on whether you are Adult Link or Little Link. If you are Little Link, you can buy some Deku Seeds for 40 Rupees. If you are an adult, you can purchase some Arrows for 70 Rupees instead.

Sacred Forest Meadow

After you have made your purchases from the Business Scrubs in the grotto outside the Meadow, head in there to find three more secret grottos.

Sacred Forest Meadow Secret Grotto #1

sacred forest meadow secret grotto #1
Sacred Forest Meadow Grotto #1

As soon as you walk into the Sacred Forest Meadow, you will be attacked by a Wolfos. Once you’ve got that out of the way, drop a bomb in the middle of the clearing and fall into the hole.

Inside the grotto, you will find two more Wolfos. Once you kill the two enemies, a magical chest containing 50 Rupees will materialize for you in the center of the grotto.

Sacred Forest Meadow Secret Grotto #2

sacred forest meadow secret grotto #2
Sacred Forest Meadow Grotto #2

Follow the maze inside the Sacred Forest Meadow. Just before you are about to move into the next area, turn around and climb up the ladder behind you to get on top of the maze walls. Drop down into the square clearing to reach the grotto below.

This grotto is a Great Fairy Fountain, so make sure you scoop up some fairies if you have any empty bottles.

Sacred Forest Meadow Secret Grotto #3

sacred forest meadow secret grotto #3
Sacred Forest Meadow Grotto #3

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

This grotto is in the clearing just before you enter the Temple. Head over to the bottom right-hand corner of the clearing and play the Song of Storms on the Ocarina to reveal the grotto.

This grotto contains two more Business Scrubs. These guys are selling potions. You can buy a Green Potion from one of the Business Scrubs for 40 Rupees and a Red Potion from the other one for another 40 Rupees.

Hyrule Field

Most of the grottos in Ocarina of Time are hidden around Hyrule Field. This does make sense, considering it is one of the biggest areas in the game. 8 of the 33 grottos are found around Hyrule Field.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #1

hyrule field secret grotto #1
Hyrule Field Grotto #1

Requirements: Bombs

There is a small forestry area in the bottom right-hand corner of Hyrule Field. Within the group of trees, you will find a boulder. Blow it up, and head into the grotto it was hiding.

This is another basic grotto with a Gossip Stone, a pond with a fish in it, and a chest in the back containing a red Rupee.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #2

hyrule field secret grotto #2
Hyrule Field Grotto #2

In the bottom left corner of the Hyrule Field map, you can find yet another grotto. This one is just outside the entrance to Lake Hylia, to the left of the fenced-off area. The entrance to the grotto isn’t hidden by anything. You just need to walk up to the hole and fall in.

Inside you will find a Gossip Stone, a chest with a blue Rupee in it, and more fish swimming about the small ponds.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #3

hyrule field secret grotto #3
Hyrule Field Grotto #3

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms.

The entrance to Lake Hylia is fenced off to restrict your access until you unlock the ability to use Epona. The entrance is inside a small fenced-off area, but the two gates on the left and right are smaller, so you can just jump right over them if you don’t have Epona yet. Drop a bomb right in the middle of the fenced-off square.

Inside this grotto, another Business Scrub is selling a Piece of Heart for the low, low price of 10 Rupees. If you play the Song of Storms by the pond in there, you can also summon a fairy.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #4

hyrule field secret grotto #4
Hyrule Field Grotto #4

Requirements: Bombs, Slingshot

In the top right-hand corner of the Hyrule Field map, right in between Kakariko Village and the entrance to Hyrule Castle Town, you will find a lone tree in the corner. Drop a bomb behind the tree to reveal the next secret grotto.

Drop down to find a Big Skultulla. A Gold Skulltula is also hiding a little higher up on the wall.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #5

hyrule field secret grotto #5
Hyrule Field Grotto #5

Requirements: Bomb

To the left of the entrance to Hyrule Castle Town, you will find three trees planted in a row. In between the last couple, there is a boulder that is just asking to be blown up. Do so to reveal the next secret grotto.

This one contains a blue Rupee in a chest, a Gossip Stone, and a fish swimming in one of the ponds.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #6

hyrule field secret grotto #6
Hyrule Field Grotto #6

Requirements: Bomb

In the very top left-hand corner of the map, there is another boulder. Break it and drop into the grotto to find another Fairy Fountain.

There is a giant Peahat guarding the grotto, which can be really frustrating to deal with when you’re trying to access it. The best option is to take care of it. Disable the blades by hitting them with some sort of projectile. Once it falls to the ground, you will be safe to run up to it and deliver the final blows.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #7

hyrule field secret grotto #7
Hyrule Field Grotto #7

Requirements: Bombs, Golden Scale OR Iron Boots

Head directly South from the location of the last grotto in the top left-hand corner of the map towards Lon Lon Ranch. On the way there, you will find a lonely tree. Bomb the tree to reveal the next secret grotto.

This grotto contains a large pond with a Heart Container waiting for you at the bottom. Swim down there if you have the Golden Scale, or drop-down with the Iron Boots to collect it.

Hyrule Field Secret Grotto #8

hyrule field secret grotto #8
Hyrule Field Grotto #8

Requirements: Bomb OR Megaton Hammer, Fairy Bow, Fire Arrows

The last secret grotto in Hyrule Field is just outside the Gerudo Valley entrance. This one is pretty easy to spot since it is underneath a large boulder surrounded by smaller boulders. That kind of formation just screams, ‘I’m a secret’. You can also hear the cow inside mooing from the surface, which isn’t very subtle.

If you’re young Link, you can use a regular bomb to blow up the boulder. But if you’re Adult Link, you will need the Megaton Hammer to destroy it.

Once you drop down, you will see several caverns blocked off by spiderwebs. Burn the spiderwebs away to find a cow that you can milk, a Gold Skultulla, 5 Deku Nuts, and a Gossip Stone.

Lon Lon Ranch

There is one secret grotto in Lon Long Ranch, and since you just found all of the ones in Hyrule Field, it makes sense to get the one in Lon Lon Ranch now too.

lon lon ranch grotto
Lon Lon Ranch Grotto

Requirements: Child Link

You can find this grotto in the bottom right-hand corner of Lon Lon Ranch, but only if Link is a child.

Drop down to find some of our favorite businessmen. Business Scrubs! There are three of them in total, each of which will sell you 5 Bombs for 40 Rupees, 30 Deku Seeds for 40 Rupees, or 5 Deku Nuts for 20 Rupees.

Lake Hylia

lake hylia grotto
Lake Hylia Grotto

Requirements: Epona

There is one secret grotto in Lake Hylia. To get there, you have to have unlocked Epona from Lon Lon Ranch so you can jump over the fence. Then head to the piece of land connecting the two bridges on the Lake and pull the gravestone back to uncover the secret grotto.

There are three more Business Scrubs in here. One is selling 5 Bombs for 4 Rupees, the other is selling 5 Deku Nuts for 20 Rupees, and the last one is selling 30 Deku Seeds for 40 Rupees.

If you are Adult Link at the time you find this grotto, the Business Scrub selling Deku Seeds will be selling arrows for 70 Rupees instead.

Hyrule Castle

hyrule castle grotto
Hyrule Castle Grotto

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms, Bombs

There is one secret grotto in the Hyrule Castle area. Head to the tree that Talon was sleeping under the first time you met him, and play the Song of Storms beside it to open the secret grotto.

This grotto is kind of like the one with the spiderwebs outside Gerudo Valley, but it uses breakable walls instead. Break the walls to find 5 Bugs, a Gossip Stone, 5 Deku Nuts, Deku Seeds, a Gold Skultulla, and 5 Bombs. 

Zora’s River

On the way up to Zora’s Domain, you can find three secret grottos. Here is how you can open them.

Zora’s River Secret Grotto #1

zora’s river secret grotto #1
Zora’s River Grotto #1

Just as you enter Zora’s River, you will come across a rock circle with the entrance to the secret grotto inside it. Inside the grotto, there are some more Business Scrubs selling Green and Red potions for 40 Rupees each.

Zora’s River Secret Grotto #2

zora’s river secret grotto #2
Zora’s River Grotto #2

Requirements: A Magic Bean OR a Cucco

When you’re about halfway to Zora’s Domain, you will come across a couple of high platforms. How you reach the top of the platforms depends on whether you are Child Link or Adult Link, but it’s definitely easier to access this one as an adult. If you are Adult Link and you have access to magic beans, you can hitch a ride to the top on that.

If you are a child, however, you will need to fly over with a Cucoo.
Once you get to the ledge, you can just drop straight in to find some ponds, one with a fish in it, a Gossip Stone, and a chest in the back containing a red Rupee.

Zora’s River Secret Grotto #3

zora’s river secret grotto #3
Zora’s River Grotto #3

Requirements: Bombs

Just before you enter the second section of Zora’s River, turn back to face the way you came.  Follow the wall to the left and jump onto the platform. Climb the tall ladder to reach the top of the platform. Blow up the boulder in the center of the stone circle to reveal the entrance to the grotto. This one is a Fairy Fountain.

Zora’s Domain

zora’s domain grotto
Zora’s Domain Grotto

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

Once you’ve made your way through Zora’s River, there is actually only one secret grotto waiting for you inside Zora’s Domain. You can find it by playing the Song of Storms on the first floating island you reach inside the Domain.

This secret grotto is another Fairy Fountain, so don’t forget to stock up on fairies while you’re there.

Kakariko Village

There are two secret grottos to find in Kakariko Village. 

Kakariko Village Secret Grotto #1

kakariko village secret grotto #1
Kakariko Village Grotto #1

The first one is right in the middle of town. Just drop a bomb right in the middle of the square to reveal it, and drop down to collect your prize.

This secret grotto has two ReDeads lurking in it. Once you kill them, you will get a chest with a Huge Rupee in it. A Huge Rupee is worth 200 Rupees, so it is definitely one of the most valuable secret grottos you can find in Ocarina of Time. 

Kakariko Village Secret Grotto #2

kakariko village secret grotto #2
Kakariko Village Grotto #2

The other secret grotto is already open and waiting for you to discover it behind Granny’s Potion Shop. The more obvious secret grottos rarely contain anything of incredible value, and they, like this one, usually just contain a chest with a red Rupee, a Gossip Stone, and another fish in another pond. Classic.

The Desert Colossus

desert colossus grotto
Desert Colossus Grotto

Requirements: Silver OR Golden Gauntlets

The Desert Colossus is one of the coolest locations in Ocarina of Time, and it contains many goodies. Including but not limited to the Spirit Temple, a Heart Container, and, of course, another secret grotto.

The grotto is under a silver boulder to the right of the statue, so pick that up and jump down to find some Business Scrubs selling potions. Like the other potion salesman, you can pick up one Green or one Red Potion for 40 Rupees each.

Gerudo Valley

To reach Gerudo’s Fortress, you, of course, need to travel through Gerudo Valley. On the way, make sure you pick up the goodies from inside the two secret grottos that you can find there.

Gerudo Valley Secret Grotto #1

gerudo valley secret grotto #1
Gerudo Valley Grotto #1

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

Play the Song of Storms behind the Carpenter’s Tent to find two more Business Scrubs selling potions. You know the drill, they are selling Red and Green Potions for 40 Rupees apiece.

Gerudo Valley Secret Grotto #2

gerudo valley secret grotto #2
Gerudo Valley Grotto #2

Requirements: Adult Link, Gauntlets

Drop down the right side of the valley onto a platform. You will find another silver boulder there, so lift that up to access the secret grotto below. It’s not a very exciting one. It only contains one Octorok who is viciously guarding a grand total of 39 Rupees.

Gerudo’s Fortress

gerudo’s fortress grotto
Gerudo’s Fortress Grotto

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

Once you have snuck your way into the Fortress, you can play the Song of Storms by the crates on the left-hand side of the building to open the next secret grotto. There is a Fairy Fountain in that one.

Death Mountain

Death Mountain is the home of 4 of the 33 secret grottos in Ocarina of Time. 2 of which are found on the Trail and another 2 around Death Mountain Crater.

Death Mountain Trail Secret Grotto #1

death mountain trail secret grotto #1
Death Mountain Trail Grotto #1

Requirements: Child Link, Bombs

This is another secret grotto that can only be found when Link is a child. It is located on a platform just before the part of the mountain where you have to dodge the lava rocks.

Break the boulder and fall inside to find a Cow, Some Hearts, and 26 Rupees. Every time you jump in and out of the grotto, the Rupees will respawn. So take that opportunity to get as many as you can. It’s the easiest way in the game to farm Rupees.

Death Mountain Trail Secret Grotto #2

death mountain trail secret grotto #2
Death Mountain Trail Grotto #2

Requirements: Ocarina of Time, Song of Storms

This is one of the most obvious and rewarding secret grottos in all of Hyrule. We all know by now to look out for the stone circles, and you will find one just outside the entrance to Goron City.

Play the Song of Storms in the circle to find a secret grotto containing another Huge Rupee, a Gossip Stone, and a pond containing the all-important fish. Because what would one of those secret grottos be without the fish?

Death Mountain Crater Secret Grotto #3

death mountain crater secret grotto #3
Death Mountain Crater Grotto #3

Requirements: Bombs

As soon as you enter the Crater from the Death Mountain Trail, keep your eyes peeled for the telltale circle of rocks. Blow the boulder in the middle up with one of your Bombs, and boom! you’ve found another secret grotto.

It’s another one of those classic secret grottos with a Gossip Stone, a pond (don’t forget the fish), and a treasure chest awaiting you at the end with 5 Bombs in it.

Death Mountain Crater Secret Grotto #4

death mountain crater secret grotto #4
Death Mountain Crater Grotto #4

Requirements: Bombs

Bomb the boulder right outside the entrance leading to Goron City to find the last secret grotto on Death Mountain.

This one is another Business Scrub Shop. You can buy 5 Bombs for 40 Rupees, 5 Deku Nuts for 20 Rupees, 30 Deku Seeds for 40 Rupees as a child, and 30 Arrows for 70 Rupees as an adult.

Goron City

goron city grotto
Goron City Grotto

Requirements: Hookshot, Ocarina of Time, Song of Time

The last of the 33 secret grottos is located in Goron City. You can find it on the middle platform in the lava room at the top right-hand corner of the Goron City map. Play the Song of Time at the entrance to make a stone platform appear. Hop onto the platform and hookshot your way to the ledge.

The grotto is already open, so hop inside to find another Business Scrub Shop. You can buy 5 Bombs for 40 Rupees, 5 Deku Nuts for 20 Rupees, 30 Deku Seeds for 40 Rupees as a child, and 30 Arrows for 70 Rupees as an adult.

FAQs

Question: Is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time the only Zelda Game that has Hidden Grottos?

Answer: No. You can also find secret grottos in Twilight Princess, Wind Waker, and Majora’s Mask.

Question: What Version of Ocarina of Time is the Best?

Answer: Ocarina of Time was rereleased as a 3DS game that features far better graphics, but it’s hard to argue with the original. You can also play the original Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo Switch Online Service if you have the Expansion Pack, but there were changes made to the graphics, so it’s no longer as atmospheric. It is arguably more accessible, though.

Question: What are the Best Secret Grottos in Ocarina of Time?

Answer: The grottos in Kakariko Village and the Death Mountain Trail that contain Huge Rupees, the one with a Heart Container in Hyrule Field, and the one outside Lake Hylia where you can buy a heart container for 10 Rupees from the Business Scrub. They are the most valuable secret grottos, in my opinion.

OOT Grotos Guide: Hey! Listen!

If you have followed this guide, you have now uncovered all of the secret grottos in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Nice! Or perhaps, you have just used this guide to figure out what secret grottos are worth finding or not. In any case, hopefully, this guide helped you out on your adventures through Hyrule.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top