Wheres The Shovel In Sons Of The Forest Location And Directions

Finding essential survival gear in Sons of the Forest is a crucial step for players who want to uncover hidden bunkers and progress through the storyline. Among all the tools available on the island, the shovel stands out as a vital item needed to exhume graves and unearth underground facilities. Knowing where to look and how to prepare beforehand will save you from unnecessary trips into dangerous territory.
Required Tools Before Searching for the Shovel
Before heading out to locate the shovel, players must gather two prerequisite items to navigate the cave system successfully. You will need the rope gun to cross large chasms and the rebreather to traverse submerged tunnels. Attempting to enter the shovel cave without these two tools will prevent you from reaching the item.
The rebreather can be located in a cave near the northern coastline, while the rope gun is hidden in a cave near the helicopter crash site. Gathering extra supplies such as food, medicine, and explosives is also highly recommended due to high mutant activity inside. Taking time to prepare your inventory ensures a much smoother expedition.
Locating the Shovel Cave Entrance
The shovel cave is situated on the western side of the map near the base of the central snowy mountain range. You can easily spot the entrance by looking for three deceased workers impaled on wooden spikes near a river intersection. Wooden boards cover the cave opening, which can be broken down using any melee weapon.
Once you clear the wooden barricade, step inside and prepare your light sources and weapons for close-quarters combat. A slingshot can also be picked up from one of the bodies outside before heading inward. Navigating the cave requires constant vigilance as hostiles lurk along the narrow pathways.
Navigating Through the Cave to Find the Shovel
Inside the cave, use your rope gun to zipline across the deep chasm right near the entrance. After landing, dive into the nearby body of water using your rebreather to swim through the underwater tunnel. Emerging on the other side leads to a wet incline that slides you into a larger cavern area.
Continue following the linear path while battling or avoiding groups of aggressive mutants along the way. You will eventually encounter a second submerged section that requires another dive using the rebreather. Upon surfacing from this final water tunnel, move toward the soft light where a dead worker holds the shovel.
How to Safely Exit the Shovel Cave
After collecting the shovel, you must backtrack through the cave system toward the waterslide area. A large mutant will break through a nearby rock wall, blocking the primary escape route. Using explosives like grenades or molotovs will quickly eliminate the monster and clear the exit path.
Follow the newly opened tunnel past smaller enemies until you reach a drop-off leading back outside to the forest surface. With the shovel now in your possession, you can return to marked points of interest across the island. Digging up dirt mounds and buried hatches will reward you with high-tier loot and key story progression items.