You finally did it. You blasted through that stubborn Elder Baldur in the Forgotten Crossroads with your new Vengeful Spirit spell, and suddenly, the world isn't gray and depressing anymore. It’s vibrant. It’s lush. And it’s absolutely full of acid that wants to kill you. Welcome to Greenpath. If you’re like most players, your first instinct is to panic because you have no idea where you are, and the hollow knight greenpath map isn't just going to hand itself over.
Honestly, Greenpath is the first real test of your navigation skills in Hallownest. The Crossroads was a circle; Greenpath is a vertical, vine-choked labyrinth. You've probably already seen a girl in a red cloak—Hornet—zipping around corners, baiting you to follow her into a pit of thorns.
Don't follow her. Not yet. First, you need to find a humming cartographer.
Finding Cornifer: The Only Way to Stop Wandering Blindly
Finding Cornifer is your top priority. Without him, you’re just guessing. To get the hollow knight greenpath map, you need to head toward the "middle-right" section of the zone.
Basically, once you enter from the Crossroads, keep heading west (left) until you hit the first major vertical shaft. You'll see Hornet standing on a high ledge—she’ll run away because that’s her whole vibe—but instead of trying to parkour after her, drop down. At the bottom of this shaft, head right.
You’ll know you’re close when you start seeing literal trails of paper on the ground. Listen for that iconic, slightly muffled humming. You'll have to navigate some stone platforms hanging by vines. Pro tip: you can actually cut those vines with your nail to drop the platforms, making a bridge. Cornifer is tucked away in a little alcove on the right.
He’ll sell you the map for 60 Geo. It’s a steal. Buy it immediately. If you mess up and miss him—maybe you triggered the boss fight too early and he moved—don’t freak out. You can always buy the map back at Iselda’s shop in Dirtmouth later, though it’ll cost a bit more for the "convenience."
The Landmarks You Actually Care About
Once you have the map, it still looks pretty empty. That’s because you haven't bought the Quill yet. Seriously, if you don't have the Quill and the Wayward Compass from the shop in Dirtmouth, the map is basically a fancy piece of paper that doesn't tell you where you are.
The Stag Station
This is your lifeline. The Greenpath Stag Station is located in the upper-left area of the map. You’ll have to pay a toll of 140 Geo to open it, but it’s worth every cent. It’s right near the path leading toward the Lake of Unn.
The Hunter’s Journal
In the far southeastern corner of Greenpath, there’s a transition that looks like a mouth lined with teeth. Most players avoid this because it looks like a trap. It's not. Go inside and meet The Hunter. He’ll give you the Hunter’s Journal, which is how you track every enemy you kill. If you want that 112% completion, this is where it starts.
The Lake of Unn
To the far west, there’s a massive body of acid. This is the Lake of Unn. You can't do much here early on because, well, acid burns. But keep it in the back of your mind. There’s a secret entrance to a shrine under the lake that requires an ability you won’t get for hours.
Why the Greenpath Map Feels Incomplete
It’s going to happen. You’ll look at your map and see dozens of openings you can’t reach. "How do I get up there?" you'll ask. The answer is almost always: you can’t.
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Greenpath is designed to be visited at least three different times.
- Visit 1: You get the Mothwing Cloak (the dash) from Hornet.
- Visit 2: You come back with the Mantis Claw (wall jump) to reach the higher ledges.
- Visit 3: Late game, you return with Isma’s Tear so you can actually swim in the acid.
There’s a specific spot—the Stone Sanctuary—located in the lower-right area. It’s dark. It’s full of spikes. And it contains a Mask Shard. But if you go in there without the Lumafly Lantern, you are going to have a bad time.
Missing Pieces and Secret Rooms
Think you've mapped everything? You haven't. Greenpath is notorious for breakable walls.
One of the most missed spots is a hidden room above Cornifer. If you exit his room to the left, jump up the floating platforms, and look for a suspicious wall on the upper right, you can find a hidden tunnel. Cutting a vine there drops a shortcut stone, letting you reach a Grub that seems impossible to get otherwise.
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There’s also a Massive Moss Charger (basically a giant bush that wants to eat you) guarding a Geo chest in the lower-middle section. Defeating it clears a path to more of the map that connects back toward the Fog Canyon entrance.
The Hornet Factor
The "end" of the Greenpath map journey is the boss fight with Hornet. She’s located at the far western edge. Beating her is what actually "unlocks" the rest of the game, because she drops the Mothwing Cloak.
Once you have that dash, go back through the areas you already "cleared." You’ll find that the hollow knight greenpath map suddenly makes way more sense now that you can clear those long gaps over acid pools.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Map Completion:
- Bank your Geo: Don't walk into the Hornet fight with 1,000 Geo. Buy the Stag toll or the Hunter's Journal stuff first.
- Mark the Stone Sanctuary: Use a map pin (bought from Iselda) to mark the dark room. Come back once you have the Lantern from Sly.
- Check the "Thorns of Agony" Area: It’s a platforming challenge in the middle-left of the map. It’s tough, but the charm you get is great for beginners who take a lot of hits.
- Save Zote: Or don't. He’s in a room near the top-right, being chewed on by a Vengefly King. If you save him, he’ll show up in the map later to annoy you. If you don't, well... his map icon disappears forever.
Greenpath isn't just a transition zone; it's the moment the game's scale hits you. Take it slow, listen for the humming, and for the love of the Pale King, stop falling in the acid.