How to get through the Lost Woods in Zelda: Ocarina of Time

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The Lost Woods is a mysterious maze in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Some paths will send you to different areas, while others will spit you right back in Kokiri Forest.

However, there is an end to the Lost Woods, and you'll reach it as long as you follow the correct path. To make matters worse, Saria has gone looking for you, and has wound up inside the Lost Woods.

Before you start, we recommend using headphones or blasting the volume on your speakers, as the audio will help you find your way through the woods.

Here's how to get through the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time.

[Ed. note: This guide is for the Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classic version of the game, which is playable if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. This walkthrough uses the updated control scheme, so if you're playing on a Nintendo 64 or 3DS, you may need to press different buttons.]

How to get through the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time

There is one trick to get through the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time: follow the music. Before you enter any room, stand at its entrance and listen closely. The correct path will play a full melodic tune with wind and string instruments, while the wrong paths will only feature the tambourine.

Link standing in a grassy area with three different entrances in Ocarina of Time.

If you're having trouble reaching the end of the Lost Woods, make sure to follow this path: right, left, right, left, straight, left, right. If done correctly, you'll end up in the Sacred Forest Meadow, which is another maze-like structure.

How to get through the Sacred Forest Meadow in Ocarina of Time

Walk up toward the gate to spawn a Wolfos. Defeating them can be a little tricky as they always seem to have their guard up. You'll need to swing your sword just as they're about to attack. It's best to keep your shield up, wait for their attack, and then quickly drop your shield and go for an attack of your own. Once they're defeated, the gate will unlock.

Link standing in front of a humanoid wolf getting ready to attack in Ocarina of Time.

Enter the newly unlocked area, which will change your camera point-of-view to top-down. In this area, there are a bunch of Mad Scrubs hiding around every corner, so keep your shield up. Like their Deku Scrub counterparts, they'll shoot Deku Nuts at you, and you need to reflect them back. However, the Mad Scrubs shoot a lot faster, and you'll need to actually attack them with your swords. Just don't get too close to them before you reflect their Deku Nut or else they'll stay hidden inside their grass mounds.

Link in a tight corridor in a maze with a monster covered in orange leaves in Ocarina of Time.

Continue through the maze and defeat every Mad Scrub until you reach a set of stairs. However, be careful as there are two Mad Scrubs waiting for you at the top. Defeat them and go up the final set of stairs to find Saria, who will teach you Saria's Song (down, right, left, down, right, left). Saria's Song allows you to speak to Saria whenever you'd like.