Death Mountain is reached through a locked gate at the top of the stairs north of Kakariko Village, and the only thing that opens it is Zelda’s Letter.
Show the letter to the gatekeeper and he lets you through. Better still, the gate stays open for the rest of the game once he opens it, so this is a one-time errand rather than something to repeat.
Getting Zelda’s Letter First
The letter comes from Princess Zelda herself, at Hyrule Castle.
- Travel to Hyrule Castle, reached through Castle Town.
- Get past the guards on the castle grounds and through to the courtyard. This is the sneaking section, not a fight.
- Speak to Zelda at the end of the path. After a cutscene she hands over the letter.
If Talon is asleep on the crates blocking your route in, waking him is the prerequisite before any of this works.
Opening the Gate
Head to Kakariko Village and go up the stairs to the north. The gate at the top is the entrance to Death Mountain Trail.
Show Zelda’s Letter to the Death Mountain Trail Gatekeeper. He reads it, opens the gate, and steps aside.
From there the trail leads up toward Goron City and the dungeons in that region.
Why the Gate Design Matters
The letter is not a key you carry and re-use. Once the gatekeeper has seen it, the gate is permanently open and anyone can pass, including you on every future visit.
That means there is no reason to delay the errand. Doing it early removes a barrier for the rest of the game at the cost of one trip.
Tips Most Players Miss
- The letter is the only way through. There is no climb, no alternate route, no shortcut.
- Deal with Talon first. He blocks the crates you need to reach Zelda at all.
- The gate never re-locks, so this is genuinely one errand rather than a recurring toll.
Death Mountain opens up a large chunk of the child-era map and the Gorons with it. Our full Zelda guides cover the series, and if you are here for the Switch 2 version, everything that has changed covers what is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Death Mountain in Ocarina of Time? Go up the stairs north of Kakariko Village and show Zelda’s Letter to the gatekeeper at the locked gate.
Where do you get Zelda’s Letter? From Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle, after sneaking past the guards to reach the courtyard.
Does the gate close again? No. Once the gatekeeper opens it, it stays open for the rest of the game.
Is there another way up to Death Mountain? No. The letter and the gate are the only route.