How to get to Shadow Keep’s Back Gate in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The Shadow Keep’s Back Gate is one of the Shadow Keep’s many exits in Elden Ring’s DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, but the back gate is also the only entrance to the Hinterlands.

The back gate will lead you to a few landmarks such as the Scaduview Chalice and the Hinterlands, the elusive top-right of the map in the Realm of Shadow, which is required for the Ruins Map (2nd) in the Count Ymir questline.

Reaching the back gate is a challenge in itself as there is no clear entrance on the map, but you know that it has to be through the Shadow Keep.

Read on to find out how to get to the Shadow Keep Back Gate Site of Grace and how to get to the Hinterlands.

How to get to the Shadow Keep Back Gate Site of Grace

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Jeffrey Parkin

To start, teleport to the Church District Entrance Site of Grace, which can be found northwest of the Cathedral of Manus Metyr.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Hop over to the building ahead of you and continue along the rooftop to the right towards the next building. Jumping to the next building may seem impossible, but you can make the jump if you use the pointed rooftops. Sprint across the pointed rooftop and jump across to the building to the northwest.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Continue along the edge of the building to the right until you reach the northern corner. Cross over to the platform to your right and quickly jump over to the building northwest of you to avoid the newly-spawned enemies.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

On this building, there is a Fire Knight that we recommend to defeat, but you can also sprint past them. Proceed south to the lower half of the roof and look southeast to find a buttress, which is the sloped stone support. Jump onto the buttress and continue to the rooftop, which has a massive hole in it.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Hop into the hole to the arches below and move over to the large hole in the floor to the southwest. Drop in and follow the path to the northwest, which is home to a few Fire Knights. Either defeat them or run past them, and enter the third door on your left. Follow this path and ride the elevator to the top to find yourself at the Specimen Storehouse.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Proceed to your left to find the Storehouse, Backsection Site of Grace and activate it. Head west and climb up the ladder ahead, which will lead you to yet another Fire Knight with its back turned to you.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Avoid the Fire Knight and go up the stairs to the east. Behind the bookshelf, you’ll find a hole in the wall that leads to a wooden path that wraps around the outer wall of the Shadow Keep. Follow the path to find the Storehouse, Loft Site of Grace.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Ride the elevator to the top of the archways and follow the path on your left to find a ladder leading up. Climb up the ladder and follow the path ahead of you towards the large wooden gear. Drop down to the gear and jump over to the wooden platform.

Graphic: Johnny Yu | Source images: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Continue forward until you hit the edge of the platform and drop down to the area below. From here, proceed through the door to the north and take the elevator down. Follow the pathway to find another elevator and ride that down to find the Shadow Keep, Back Gate Site of Grace.

How to get to the Hinterlands

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Johnny Yu

Starting from the Shadow Keep, Back Gate Site of Grace, turn into the corridor on your right to find a Statue of Marika. Walk up to the statue and perform the “O Mother” gesture to unlock the secret entrance to the Hinterlands.

You can now continue to find the Ruins Map (2nd) location required to continue the Count Ymir questline.

Looking for more Shadow of the Erdtree guides? Check out our guides on new Elden Ring DLC weapons, armor, map fragments, sites of grace, and talismans. We’ve also got location guides on where to find Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, and an interactive Elden Ring DLC map.