All Secret Places Locations

There are 60 Secret Places (also called Abyss Cressets) scattered across the world of Pywel in Crimson Desert. On the in-game map they appear as Abyss Cressets, but in the Challenge Menu they are listed under the Wandering Footsteps exploration challenge series. Discovering all 60 unlocks the Pilgrim of Wonders trophy and counts toward the Expert Explorer achievement.

Each Secret Place rewards an Abyss Artifact (one Skill Point) and permanently unlocks a Fast Travel point at that location. Because many Cressets sit on mountaintops, cliff ledges, or hidden caves, reaching them often requires creative use of gliding, Force Palm aerial boosts, and careful platforming.

How to Find Secret Places

Secret Places are indicated on the world map by white search areas with a question mark icon ("?"). These search areas can also contain other points of interest, so not every question mark is a Secret Place. To narrow things down, use the Lantern (CTRL on keyboard, L1 on PlayStation, LB on Xbox) while exploring. The Lantern highlights nearby Abyss Cressets with a faint glow, making them easier to spot against rocky terrain.

You can also use Guiding Light (CTRL + Left Click on keyboard, L1 + R1 on PlayStation, LB + RB on Xbox) to send out a pulse that points you toward the nearest undiscovered Cresset. This is especially useful in dense regions like Demeniss and the Crimson Desert zone where multiple Secret Places cluster together.

Useful Abilities

Gliding: Many Secret Places sit on isolated peaks. Glide from a higher point to reach them without climbing.
Force Palm (Aerial): Performing Force Palm in mid-air gives an upward boost. Essential for reaching pillars at locations like Mushroomcap Cliff and An Unreachable End.
Turning Slash: Required at certain Pailune ruins to destroy frozen pools blocking the path.
Nature's Snare: Used after Turning Slash at icy ruins to drain water and reveal hidden passages.

Hernand Region

The Hernand region contains 13 Secret Places. Most are located on mountain peaks and cliffs in the northern and western portions of the map, including several in the snowy Everfrost area.

#	Name	Location	How to Reach
1	Precipice of Silence	Northwest of Spire of Stats	On a mountain peak. Easiest approach is gliding from Secret Place #20 (Haven Past the Snowfall) rather than climbing from below.
7	A Detailed Glance	Southwest of Sunset Valley	On top of the cliffs near the map edge. Follow the cliff path southwest from Sunset Valley.
8	Giant Hand of Everfrost	Northeast of Sanctum of Benediction	On top of the mountain immediately west of the R in the HERNAND map text. The rock formation resembles a giant hand with stone pillars sticking out.
13	A Hill Guided by Light	East of Equinsher Saddlery	On top of the hill directly east of the saddlery. Watch out for the damaging plants growing on the sides of the cliff path.
14	Guide in the Darkness	Southwest of Sanctum of Deliverance	Stand on the stone platform to drop into an underground area. The floor collapses, leading to the ruins below where the Cresset waits.
15	Where Sky Meets Earth	East of Sanctum of Penitence	At the top of the Galepulley. Ride the pulley mechanism to the highest point and the Cresset is at the summit.
17	An Unreachable End	Southeast of Spire of Insight	On cliffs leading out toward the water. Use Force Palm in the air to boost yourself upward and reach the elevated platform.
19	Subtle Gap	Anvil Hill, beside Wild Raiders Camp	Enter through a hole on top of Anvil Hill, or use the cave entrance in the southern part of the raider camp. Both paths lead to the Cresset.
20	Haven Past the Snowfall	East of Snowy Plateau Cabin	Follow the marked road south and west from Kharonso all the way to its end. The cabin on the snowy plateau sits at the peak of the Everfrost mountains.
21	Windcrest	Southwest of Mountain of Frozen Souls Hearth	On top of the cliffs near the map edge. Climb or glide to the southwest cliffs from the Hearth.
22	Hill of the Abandoned	South of Mountain of Frozen Souls Hearth	On top of the cliffs south of the Hearth. A straightforward climb from the mountain path.
60	Watcher on the Cliff	Northeast of Hoenmark Ruins	On the edge of a cliff overlooking the landscape. Approach from the ruins and head northeast along the ridge.

Demeniss Region

The Demeniss region holds 10 Secret Places. Many are clustered southeast of Jijeong Temple, making that area one of the densest concentrations of Cressets in the game. Several locations sit on coastal pillars or atop waterfalls.

#	Name	Location	How to Reach
3	Breathless Lake	Northwest of Hexe Sanctuary	In a crater lake set against the cliffs. Head northwest from the sanctuary and look for the lake tucked into the rock face.
4	Peak's Green Bloom	Southeast of Jijeong Temple	On top of a pillar rising from the water. Glide from a nearby cliff or use Force Palm to reach the pillar's summit.
16	Rock Worn Down by the Ocean Wind	South of Bowsprit Cape	Immediately east off the shore, in a small alcove carved into the rock pillar. Drop down carefully from the cliff above.
23	Wrecked Dream	South of Bloodsteel Camp	On a thin rocky outcrop leading out into the water. Follow the narrow ridge south from the camp.
24	Hill of Serenity	Northeast of Thornbriar Fortress	In the middle of an empty field area at the edge of a cliff. The Cresset sits on the cliff's edge with a panoramic view.
25	The Stairway Falls	Southeast of Thornbriar Fortress	At the top of the river on the final waterfall. Climb alongside the waterfalls to reach the uppermost ledge.
26	Strange Rift	Bowsprit Cape, south side	In a cave halfway down the cliffs on the south face of Bowsprit Cape. Look for a cave opening while descending the cliffside.
27	Peak of Enlightenment	Southeast of Jijeong Temple	On top of the east mountain peak. Climb the mountain from the temple side for the most direct route.
28	Sanctuary of Reflection	Southeast of Jijeong Temple	Inside a cave near some small ponds. Enter the cave system southeast of the temple and follow the passage to the Cresset.
29	Thunderwater Falls	South of Sanctum of Revelation	At the top of a waterfall cliff. Climb to the very peak of the waterfall where the river drops off.
30	Edge of Learning	Southwest of Jijeong Temple Pagoda	On a stone pillar in the water. Glide from the pagoda cliffs or use an aerial boost to land on the narrow pillar.

Delesyia Region

The Delesyia region contains 6 Secret Places. These are spread across the coastal areas and mountains, with several requiring careful navigation around cliff edges and castle fortifications.

#	Name	Location	How to Reach
12	Cliffside Marine Erosion Pillar	Northeast of Delesyia Castle	On a pillar at the edge of the water across the bay. Glide from the castle cliffs or swim across and climb the eroded rock formation.
18	Rock Atop the Altar	North of Serpent Shrine	On the northernmost cliff edge of the same island as the shrine. Follow the island's coastline north to the highest point.
32	The Secret-Laden Cave	West of Marni's Steel Armory	Drop through a hole northwest of the Abyss Nexus to reach an underground area. The Cresset is inside the cave below.
33	Peak of the Innovative Mind	Southeast of Sanctum of Veneration	On top of the mountain. Climb the peak southeast of the sanctum for a straightforward ascent.
34	Cape of Hope	Southwest of Woodrock Cabin	Located at the bottom of the E in the DEWHAVEN map text. Head southwest from the cabin along the coastline.
35	Hunter's Overlook	West of Arrowhead Rock	Halfway down the cliff face. Glide from the top and angle your descent to land on the ledge partway down. Do not jump straight down.

Crimson Desert Region

The Crimson Desert zone is the largest area and holds 18 confirmed Secret Places. The desert landscape features towering cliffs, quicksand hazards at Forebearer's Barrens, and rocky pillars along the coastline. Many of these locations sit on elevated terrain that requires climbing or gliding to access.

#	Name	Location	How to Reach
6	Blazing Sand	Eastern Crimson Desert, near Ashen Rift	Directly east of the N in the CRIMSON DESERT map text, near the Ashen Rift location. The Cresset sits among the scorched sand dunes.
9	Trial of the Sandscale	Forebearer's Barrens	In the middle of an active quicksand area. You must glide directly to the center platform where the Cresset stands. Walking through the quicksand will pull you under.
31	Threefold Fork	East of Spire of Clockwork	On the small island in the middle of the three-way river junction. Swim or glide to the island at the fork.
36	Forgotten Cliff	Southwest of Varnia Saltroad Camp	On top of the cliffs southwest of the camp. Climb the cliff face from the camp side.
37	Saltshade Hill	Southwest of Oasis Hearth	On top of a tall cliff. Be cautious of rockworm enemies on the north approach. The south route avoids enemies and offers an easier climb.
38	Everflowing Spring	Oasis (Merchant's Rest Place)	In the middle of the oasis, slightly east of Oasis Hearth. The Cresset is near the water source at the heart of the oasis.
39	Crimson Ridge	Southwest of Kharati-ram Camp	On top of the cliffs directly between the I and D in the CRIMSON DESERT map text. Climb the ridge from the camp.
40	Hangman's Crest	West of Hangman's Pass	On top of the rock pillar forming the southern part of Hangman's Pass. Climb the pillar from its base.
41	Peak of Abundance	Eastern edge, above Skin Collector's Hideout	On top of the hill directly above the hideout. Follow the trail uphill from the Skin Collector's location.
42	Arehaza Peak	South of Duskway Camp Ironcrawler Station	On top of the mountain in the center of the rainforest area. The tallest peak in the jungle canopy holds the Cresset.
43	Hill of Grief	Forebearer's Barrens	On top of the mountain directly north of BA in the FOREBEARER'S BARRENS map text.
44	Remnants of Ruin	Forebearer's Barrens	Directly north of the map text, in the ruins east of the giant quicksand pit. Navigate carefully around the quicksand to reach the ruins.
45	The Desert's End	North of the C in CRIMSON DESERT text	On a stone pillar slightly out into the water along the northern coastline. Glide from the mainland to the pillar.
47	Mushroomcap Cliff	North of Varnia Saltroad Camp	On top of a tall rock pillar. Jump onto the shorter neighboring pillar first, then use Force Palm mid-air to boost up to the main pillar's summit.
49	Whitesand Cliff	North of Varnia	On top of the cliffs near the northern map edge. A straightforward climb from the Varnia area heading north.
57	Peak of Grief	Northwest of Well of Enlightenment	On top of the mountain northwest of the well. Climb the peak for a challenging but direct ascent.
58	The Dragon's Gaze	Northwest of Great Gate of Urdavah	On top of the mountain northwest of the gate. The rock formation at the summit resembles a dragon looking outward.
59	Sandsea Waymark	Eastern Crimson Desert	In the center of the O, S, and E in the CRIMSON DESERT map text, at the top of the mountain. Climb to the summit of the peak at the heart of the desert.

Pailune Region

The Pailune region is a frozen northern territory that becomes accessible during Chapter 7 of the main story. This harsh land of heavy snowfall, blizzards, and treacherous mountain passes is believed to contain the remaining 13 undiscovered Secret Places (numbers 2, 5, 10, 11, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56). The Pailune map can be revealed by activating the Toll of Pailune bell after completing Chapter 7.

Community mapping of the Pailune Secret Places is ongoing. Below is a summary of what is currently known about these locations.

#	Name	Status	Notes
2	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
5	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
10	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
11	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
46	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
48	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
50	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
51	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
52	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
53	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
54	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
55	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.
56	Unknown	Undiscovered	Believed to be in the Pailune region. Check back for updates as community exploration continues.

Pailune Exploration Tips

Activate the Toll of Pailune bell after finishing Chapter 7 to reveal the full Pailune map, including question mark areas that may contain Secret Places.
Bring cold resistance gear or consumables. Pailune's blizzards deal passive damage over time if you are not properly equipped.
Several Pailune Ancient Ruins feature frozen pools that block paths. Use Turning Slash to shatter the ice, then Nature's Snare to drain the water.
The terrain is steep and icy. Gliding is often safer than climbing, since icy surfaces can cause you to slide off cliff edges.

Rewards

Every Secret Place you discover grants two rewards: an Abyss Artifact that provides one Skill Point for upgrading your abilities, and a permanent Fast Travel point at the Cresset's location. Since Secret Places are often in remote or hard-to-reach spots, these fast travel points are particularly valuable for returning to areas that would otherwise require long travel times.

Challenge	Requirement	Reward
Wandering Footsteps I	Discover 10 Secret Places	Title unlock
Wandering Footsteps II	Discover 20 Secret Places	Title unlock
Wandering Footsteps III	Discover 30 Secret Places	Title unlock
Wandering Footsteps IV	Discover 40 Secret Places	Title unlock
Wandering Footsteps V	Discover 50 Secret Places	Title unlock
Wandering Footsteps VI	Discover all 60 Secret Places	Title unlock + Pilgrim of Wonders trophy

Tips and Strategy

Work region by region. Clear all known Secret Places in one region before moving to the next. This keeps fast travel points close together and minimizes backtracking.
Use the Lantern constantly. Get into the habit of pulsing your Lantern (CTRL / L1 / LB) while exploring. The glow highlights Cressets even when they are hidden behind rocks or inside caves.
Prioritize high ground. Almost every Secret Place is either on top of something or hidden below something. When you enter a question mark zone, head for the highest point first and scan downward.
Upgrade Force Palm early. The aerial boost from Force Palm is required for at least three Secret Places (An Unreachable End, Mushroomcap Cliff, and several Pailune locations). Unlock it before attempting a completionist run.
Track progress in the Challenge Menu. Open the Challenge Menu and check the Wandering Footsteps series to see how many Secret Places you have found and how many remain. The challenge tiers at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 give you clear milestones.
Save Pailune for last. Pailune unlocks during Chapter 7 and has the harshest environmental conditions. By the time you reach it, you should have all the traversal abilities needed to handle its steep, icy terrain.

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