How to open the secret Thundra Plateau door in Tears of the Kingdom (TotK)

Not Just a shadow of its former self

There’s plenty of environmental puzzles in Tears of the Kingdom, though the majority of them will grant Link Korok Seeds. However, some puzzles offer great rewards, such as the Thundra Plateau door puzzle and its nostalgic secret.

How to open the secret Thundra Plateau door in Tears of the Kingdom

First, you’ll need to make it to Thundra Plateau. It’s located to the right of Mount Rhoam in Hyrule Ridge. You’ll want to look for the small island at the top of Ludfo’s Bog. The fastest way to get there is by fast traveling to the Taunhiy Shrine on Courage Island and skydiving from there, since it’s directly above Thundra Plateau. The Plateau’s coordinates are (-2283, 0883, 0110).

Once you arrive at the plateau, you’ll notice four pillars around the door. The key to opening the door in this island is to connect the shadow of the South Pillar to the North Pillar.

However, the only way this can be done is during noon. If you’re here before noon, it’s only a matter of waiting. If you arrive while it’s dark, light a campfire and sit by it until noon arrives.

You’ll need to make something that will cast a shadow connecting both pillars. The easiest way to accomplish this is by using four of the Mushroom Trees around the plateau. If you don’t have an axe, any sharp weapon will cut down these trees with ease.

Once you’ve collected enough logs from the Mushroom Trees, use Ultrahand to glue them end to end. Stand up the row of logs lengthwise, and place the bottom at the end of the shadow by the door. Once the shadow connects, a cutscene will play, which will open the Thundra Plateau door for you to enter.

Head into the cave, and you’ll see a small shrine with a chest. Opening the chest will grant you the “Mask of Awakening,” a special piece of armor that’s modeled after Link’s appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Remake.