Exploring Monster Hunter Wilds can feel pretty on-rails at first. It’s hard not to spend your time traveling directly from objective to objective when you have the convenient option of letting your Seikret automatically run towards the monster you’re hunting or any known resources. Although it’s easy to assume that various maps of the game are barren, each one has a fair selection of hidden areas.
Some of these secret areas are easily missed pop-up camps for you to fast travel to or rest in, while others are caves that are only accessible if you crawl or swim. Either way, these locations are surrounded by good loot to farm and incredible views to enjoy.
Windward Plains’ Area Three Platform
You’re told early on that some places will only be accessible with your Seikret. You can find a great example of this early on in the Windward Plains. Located right above the Area Three South Pop-up Camp is a spot with Mining Outcrops, Fulgurite Shards, and the very rare Nightflower Pollen-granting Ephemeral Blossom. The quickest way here is to fast travel to the campsite and then ride your Seikret next to its food trough behind the tent. Jump off the mount and your hunter will climb up the ledge.
Windward Plain’s Best Mining Outcrop Farm
This next spot requires you to leave your Seikret behind. Located near the entrance to Rey Dau’s nest in Area 17 is a Mining Outcrop. Directly next to it is a small opening that your hunter can crawl under. On the other side are three ascending platforms accessible by climbing long sets of vines or using multiple Wedge Beetles. All together, you’ll be able to gather from four to eight additional Mining Outcrops.
Scarlet Forest’s Area Six Camp
One of the best missable spots in the Scarlet Forest is the Area Six Flowering Rocks Pop-up Camp. Situated between Areas Two and Three, it’s only accessible by going through some tree roots on the south side of Area Six. Aside from being a safe camp in a convenient part of the map, there is also a nice fishing area with Glass Algae to gather and potentially two Ancient Wyvern Coins to find.
Scarlet Forest’s Underwater Area
Every video game should have hidden caves behind waterfalls. Finding the Grand Hub’s Gigacrake is a fun secret in itself, but the Scarlet Forest takes it even further with two waterfall caves. What is arguably the coolest lies just north of the Area 12 Northeast camp. If you’ve already encountered Lagiacrus after Title Update Two, you want to go towards the monster’s nest in the unlocked Area 19.
This spot doesn’t seem like much besides an aesthetically pleasing fishing spot at first glance. The trick is approaching the end of the mound and pressing Circle/B to dive into the water. Your hunter’s swimming path is on rails, but you can use your Slinger to gather numerous Weathered Treasures and Glass Algae. Even more Weathered Treasures await you in the small stone structure at the end.
Oilwell Basin’s Crimson Rivulet Camp
I rode past this location many times before I discovered its existence in the Oilwell Basin. When traveling to Area 16 from Area 12, there is a small path on the right side with a steep drop. At the bottom of this trail is the Area 12: Crimson Rivulet Pop-up Camp. On top of being situated in a convenient location, it’s also near a relaxing pool of water where you can fish.
Iceshard Cliffs’ Watchtower
Your Seikret is a must for this one. Connecting Areas Seven and Eight is a slope between two ledges. Climbing in from the former’s direction, ride your Seikret left to find a small gap next to an Adamant Seed pick-up. Jumping across and climbing up the vines leads to the Area Seven Watchtower Pop-up Camp.
There are a couple of Mining Outcrops and occasionally a crab holding an Ancient Wyvern Coin, but the real joy is the view to the left. You can see all across the Forbidden Lands from up here.
Iceshard Cliff’s Sinkhole
Within the hallway between Areas Eight and 16 is a small hole in the wall. Inside is a massive sinkhole leading down to the Area 18 Sinkhole camp. Not only is this a safe camp in a great spot, but there is a nice variety of gatherables here and in the tiny cave right behind the camp.
Ruins of Wyveria’s Secluded Ruins
The Ruins of Wyveria can feel like the tiniest map due to its vertical orientation, which makes Area Six feel ostensibly large in comparison. There are three campsites in this area, however, the most interesting is on the north side near two Vespoids. Along the wall will be a thin stretch of vines leading up to a pipe. On the other side is the Secluded Ruins Pop-up Camp and a lovely view of the Lost Path of Wyveria that connects to the Iceshard Cliffs.
Ruins of Wyveria’s Gap in Rubble
It wouldn’t feel right if there wasn’t another random hole in the wall. You can find just that on the West side of Area Eight, literally next to the number “8” when viewing the map. This hole leads to the appropriately named Gap in Rubble Campsite where you can find some Blackened Fossils and a handy fishing spot.
