Dark Souls: How to Reach the Great Hollow and Ash Lake
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Short answer: The Great Hollow is a hidden tree trunk at the bottom of Blighttown: follow the roots of the enormous tree out of the swamp and hit the walls to reveal a hidden room, then another passage. Climb down the roots inside the trunk to reach Ash Lake, where the Everlasting Dragon offers the Path of the Dragon covenant.
Getting into the Great Hollow
Go to the poison swamp at the bottom of Blighttown and follow the path up the roots of the giant tree. Attack the walls to reveal a hidden room with a chest, then attack the walls inside it to open the way to the Great Hollow. Continue through the tunnel and down the ladder to the first bonfire.
Climbing down
- The descent is a long series of jumps between roots; one misstep is a fatal fall, so carry Homeward Bones.
- Crystal Lizards in a tunnel near the top drop upgrade materials and respawn when you reload.
- Further down are Basilisks, whose curse is the main danger, and a spiral ramp inside a trunk.
- The roots end at mushrooms and Mushroom Parents; run through the tunnel to the fog door.
Ash Lake
Past a hollow trunk is a bonfire beside the second and last Hydra in the game. Wear the Rusted Iron Ring for the fight; it gives 10,000 souls and two Dragon Scales, and more scales lie on the beach. Avoid the Man-Eater Shells. Follow the sand trail to the Everlasting Dragon and pray to it to join the Path of the Dragon, whose reward lets you breathe fire with a dragon head. Cutting the dragon’s tail several times gives a rare weapon.
More Dark Souls secrets: the Painted World, the Great Hollow and Ash Lake and Oolacile. More guides: all Dark Souls guides.
Sources
- TrueAchievements: Dark Souls walkthrough, The Great Hollow to Ash Lake
- Gameranx: Dark Souls Remastered, how to access the secret areas
Last checked against sources: 10 November 2026.
