Darston Mountainous Mystery Side Quest
Image: Nintendo Life

The Summit Cave is one of the many mini-dungeons hiding in caves across Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. And you can explore this one during the A Mountainous Mystery Side Quest

Just north of Goron City, you need to clear The Rift on Eldin Volcano Main Quest, which includes completing the Eldin Temple Dungeon and defeating the boss.

This guide covers both A Mountainous Mystery Side Quest and the Summit Cave, including how to defeat the miniboss at the end of the dungeon, and the rewards you get for completing the cave and the Side Quest.

Where to find A Mountainous Mystery Side Quest

A Mountainous Mystery Map Location
Image: Nintendo Life

You'll find A Mountainous Mystery at Goron City, once you've cleared out the big Rift and completed the main dungeon of the region, the Eldin Temple.

At Goron City, talk to the Gorons in the centre. One of the Gorons will mention that their leader, Darston, is investigating a cave and he hasn't come back. You need to find him and help him, so accept the quest.

Darston Location

Warp to the Lizalfos Burrow and then use your Echoes to climb up the cliff on the left — it's close to where the Heart Piece was.

Then head north to find the Summit Cave, a new cave just above the Burrow. Speak to Darston to find out that a fabled Flame Giant has awoken, and his flames need putting out. That's your cue.

A Mountainous Mystery - Solution & Rewards

The Summit Cave is a very short dungeon, so head inside. Bring some heat-resistant Smoothies for you — if you need to make some, check out our Recipe List.

Completing this Side Quest will reward you with the Goron's Bracelet Accessory.

Goron's Bracelet Echoes of Wisdom
Image: Nintendo Life

Summit Cave Walkthrough

After speaking to Darston and progressing the quest, head inside Summit Cave and you'll be greeted to a large room full of lava. This whole dungeon is full of lava, but you'll rely on your trusty Lava Rock to get through it.

Lava geyser puzzles

In the first room, drop a Lava Rock onto the lava geyser and hop up to the wall. Then, climb along the wall to the next Lava Rock. Jump onto the next climbing wall and drop another Lava Rock Echo onto the next geyser. and make your way to the next screen.

Here, continue to use the Lava Rock Echo to make it to the back platform. Then, use one on the existing Lava Rocks, Bind it, and place it on one of the geysers. Then throw an Echo onto the other, then make your way through the door.

A Mountainous Mystery Summit Cave lava
Image: Nintendo Life

The next room is very straightforward, just make your way through the room, avoiding the Fire Keese that are torching the grass. Use Lava Rocks again to reach the back wall and climb down the ladder.

Rising lava room

In this side-on section, you simply need to make your way across, to the right, by climbing and running when the lava sinks down. There's a chest up a climbing wall with 50 rupees.

Continue to head right, avoiding the lava. In the last patch of lava, drop a Lava Rock on the lava, then send a Tweelus to the other side. You can also use a Strandtula if you're quick. Otherwise, until the lava rises to reach the final room. Head through the door for a boss.

Flame Giant Boss - How to defeat

You'll recognise this boss — it's basically the Seismic Taelus boss from Suthorn Ruins, but with added fire.

The first phase is exactly the same as the Suthorn Ruins boss: distract it with an Echo, Bind the orb, pull it, attack the orb. Do this a few times and you'll move on to the next phase.

Here, the Flame Giant will cover itself in redder, hotter flames. You can still grab the orb, but with its new spin attack, it gets harder to remove. You can put out the flames using ice or water-based Echoes if you need to.

Otherwise, you deal with this fight in exactly the same way as the first phase. Once you defeat it, you'll get some rupees and a Heart Piece.


That's all for this section of our Echoes of Wisdom guide. If it's more Side Quests you're after, have a look at our complete Side Quest guide for a list of all rewards and locations. And for other guides, check out our main Echoes of Wisdom walkthrough.