Skyrim:Dayspring Canyon - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) (2024)

Worldspace:
Dayspring Canyon
(view on map)

Added byDawnguard
ClearableNo
Respawn Time10 days
Important Treasure
2920, Morning Star, v1
Console Location Code(s)
DLC1HunterWorldStart, DLC1DawnguardHQExt01, DLC1DawnguardGate3
Region
The Rift
Location
Southeast of Riften
East of Broken Helm Hollow
North-northeast of Stendarr's Beacon
Special Features
# of Tanning Racks1
# of Grindstones1
# of Fishing SuppliesCC1
# of Wood Chopping Blocks2

Dayspring Canyon is the wilderness area surrounding Fort Dawnguard, accessed through a cave entrance southeast of Riften and north-northeast of Stendarr's Beacon.

The canyon's narrow path

The entrance to the canyon is through a narrow fissure in the rock wall a short distance east of the path that leads up to Black-Briar Lodge, along the road to Morrowind. The fissure leads into a narrow crevice that eventually opens into the isolated canyon. It is the only available route to Fort Dawnguard the first time you go there.

Dayspring Canyon People[edit]

Dayspring Canyon
Alvide
Barknar
Jayri
Ollrod
Sern
Tilde
Vori

Related Quests[edit]

  • Dawnguard: Speak with the leader of the Dawnguard.

Walkthrough[edit]

Initial state[edit]

Waterfalls in the canyon

Once through the fissure, there is a snowy path heading east with a few snowberry bushes along it. As the path turns to the southeast, it widens to offer a view of a pool which is fed by melting ice falling as waterfalls from the surrounding peaks. The fertile canyon contains many fauna and flora, including blue, purple, and red mountain flowers, spiky grass and thistles, several types of fungi including bleeding crown and fly amanita, and many butterflies and blue butterflies during the day, with torchbugs and luna moths appearing in the evening and at night. The pool is full of salmon, and there are mudcrabs nearby. Rabbits, foxes, and elk abound in the canyon.

The path leads down past the shore of the pool, where you find a rowboat and two racks, one holding seven whole salmon, and the other drying a net with two food barrels nearby. Past this point, the path turns to the north. Ahead, you get your first view of a fort to the northeast. Farther uphill to the north is an entrance to Mossy Glen Cave. As you near, the fort is identified as Fort Dawnguard. It appears to be a vast, sprawling structure. The path continues past the start of a wooden palisade wall, with some barrels of food behind. Some tools and a saw horse are nearby, implying the palisade is recent work. On your right is a wooden lookout platform. The path passes under an arch formed by a walkway far above. Beyond the arch is a campfire, with Durak standing nearby practicing with a crossbow, and a wood chopping block to the left. You can recover many steel bolts from the tree stump Durak has been using for target practice.

Beyond this area is a fenced vegetable patch containing eight gourd plants, seven cabbage plants, and five potato plants. The path then turns to the south and approaches the entrance to the fort. On your left is another wooden palisade wall, with a gap in the middle. On the other side of the wall, most of the trees have been cut down for the construction. There are two snowberry bushes in this area, and in the northern corner, another entrance to Mossy Glen Cave. To the right of the gap in the wall is another wood chopping block and a woodcutter's axe. The first time you approach the fort, you will meet Agmaer, who has also heard of the vampire hunters and is looking to join. At the entrance, Celann will instruct you to enter to meet their leader.

Later changes[edit]

At the end of the quest Bloodline, a small group of vampires attack Fort Dawnguard. Their bodies remain on the ground until after the quest Prophet, when Dayspring Canyon undergoes a change.

The Dawnguard builds two palisade walls along the narrow path leading to the fort, complemented with chevaux de frise. The inner wall has a heavy wooden gate. Four civilian refugees (Alvide, Barknar, Jayri, and Sern) build a small makeshift camp behind the palisade walls. Tilde and Vori stand sentry on elevated watch posts. Ollrod patrols between the palisade walls. A safe distance from the palisades, two Vampire Scouts scurry back and forth among the bushes near the road.

Notes[edit]

  • On the roof of Fort Dawnguard, you can find the One-handed skill book 2920, Morning Star, v1 next to a bedroll, as well as an amulet of Talos atop a barrel.
  • The grindstone and tanning rack are on the roof of Fort Dawnguard, reachable by climbing the west stairway inside and exiting at the top. While these are technically in Dayspring Canyon, as opposed to part of Fort Dawnguard, they can only be accessed via the fort.
  • Using the Clear Skies shout here will clear away fog and rain, but not cloud cover.
  • You can manage to escape the collision box placed around the map from the roof of Fort Dawnguard by hugging the mountain to the west. From there, if you explore the flat world around it, you can eventually find a strange map square, which is between Froki's Shack and the Ruins of Bthalft according to the map. It is modeled and will load its LOD and a rock tower; when approaching, it emits grotto sounds.
Skyrim:Dayspring Canyon - The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) (2024)

FAQs

Which cave to Dawnguard? ›

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard

If you follow the path all the way down the hill from the Beacon, and fork off to the right, it should be directly in front of you, you will see the 2 fire braziers and a downed tree where the cave is, Dayspring Cave.

How do I get to Fort Dawnguard from Black Briar Lodge? ›

Outside of Riften, near the driveway that leads up to Black Briar Lodge, there is a cave entrance marked by a lit brazier. Go through the cave and down the path until you find the fort.

How do I get to Fort Dawnguard from Stendarr's Beacon? ›

To the north of the watchtower lies the entrance to the Dayspring Canyon which leads to Fort Dawnguard. The Dragonborn must come down the mountain from the beacon, and look for the small hole in the side of the mountain in front of them. It will be marked by lit torches.

Is it better to join the Dawnguard or vampires? ›

Overall, the physical rewards (weapons, etc) are better if you choose Dawnguard. However, you cannot regularly use the powerful Vampire Lord form until after you've completed the main questline, or else the Dawnguard members will not accept you.

What happens if you go to Fort Dawnguard as a vampire? ›

If the Dragonborn sides with Harkon and agrees to become a Vampire, they will not be able to enter Fort Dawnguard without the NPCs there becoming hostile. Because of this, they will lose out on several benefits of being a Dawnguard member, such as the freedom to purchase and craft Dwarven Bolts.

Why does the Dawnguard keep attacking me? ›

Either you are infected with Vampiris Sanguinaris (check your magical effects listing), or are wearing some sort of vampire-imbued gear.

Why is Dayspring Canyon not showing up? ›

make sure that the Dawnguard DLC is checked or you will not be able to find the entrance to the canyon. Once Dawnguard is installed, if you're level 10 or higher you'll hear rumors about the Dawnguard from guards in the Holds. You may also be approached by a courier who will give you a note about the Dawnguard.

What level should I start Dawnguard? ›

Dawnguard activates when the player's character hits level 10 –although I'd advise players tackle it only after they've shot past level 30 as the DLC contains some powerful foes.

Why can't I find Fort Dawnguard? ›

This location is available only if you have the Dawnguard DLC expansion pack. Fort Dawnguard is located slightly southeast of Riften, far off in the mountains, and is accessible via a small cave. Fort Dawnguard is the home base of the vampire hunting sect, The Dawnguard.

How to get Serana as a follower? ›

When you first meet Serana, she was imprisoned along with an Elder Scroll in an underground tomb within Dimhollow Crypt. The purity of her vampiric blood gives her the title Daughter of Coldharbour. If you complete the entire Dawnguard questline, she becomes a permanent follower.

Can I join the Dawnguard later? ›

Depends. If you cure yourself (with Falion in Morthal) almost immediately, Isren will allow you to rejoin Dawnguard. However, if you waited too long and levelled up your Vampire perks, you will notice that Dawnguard members will start to attack you (especially in towns). At this point, it is too late.

How do I get to Dayspring Canyon in Skyrim? ›

The entrance to the canyon is through a narrow fissure in the rock wall a short distance east of the path that leads up to Black-Briar Lodge, along the road to Morrowind. The fissure leads into a narrow crevice that eventually opens into the isolated canyon.

How do you trigger Dawnguard? ›

You require the expansion to partake on this questline. If you are past level 10, you will begin hearing rumors of the Dawnguard. Travel to Riften and speak to the guard by the front gate. He will place a marker on your map, guiding you to Fort Dawnguard, located in southeast Riften.

Is stendarr a daedra? ›

According to the creation myth presented in the Anuad, Stendarr and the aedra (gods) were born from the mingled blood of Anu and Padomay, the good and evil primal forces, respectively, and therefore have a capacity for both good and evil, in contrast to the daedra, who were born from the blood of Padomay, and thus are ...

Where do I go to start Dawnguard? ›

You require the expansion to partake on this questline. If you are past level 10, you will begin hearing rumors of the Dawnguard. Travel to Riften and speak to the guard by the front gate. He will place a marker on your map, guiding you to Fort Dawnguard, located in southeast Riften.

Can I go to Soul Cairn as Dawnguard? ›

When you enter the portal into the Soul Cairn, if you've joined Castle Volkihar rather than the Dawnguard you can enter without hassle. However you cannot enter the Soul Cairn as a mortal so if you've stayed with the Dawnguard you need help. Serana offers two options. Serana can turn you into a VL.

What level should I go to Dawnguard? ›

Dawnguard activates when the player's character hits level 10 –although I'd advise players tackle it only after they've shot past level 30 as the DLC contains some powerful foes.

What cave do you find Serana in Skyrim? ›

Dimhollow Crypt is a medium-sized cave east of Stonehills and southwest of Frostmere Crypt where Serana is trapped. It contains two zones: Dimhollow Crypt and Dimhollow Cavern.

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