The Long Dark has an in-game map system that allows players to draw their own as they explore the world. However, some people would rather see a map right from the first moment they start a game. Due to a high demand, players of The Long Dark have made their own over the years, making sure that those who want a little guidance have it at the ready. This guide is a collection of region maps and transition zones to help you find your way in the quiet apocalypse.
The Long Dark Region Maps
Because there are no official maps for The Long Dark released by Hinterland, the collection below is a mix of community made and in-game drawn maps. Some will be more detailed than others, but all should be useful enough to help players avoid getting stuck out in the cold. Because the game is updated so often, and we’re at the mercy of talented community members to keep our maps detailed and accurate, not all will be of equal value. We’ll continue to update this guide with newer maps as we find them. Credit to Whiteberry, Stray Wolf, and stmSantana for their work on some of the detailed maps we’ve used in this guide.
Mystery Lake Map
- Connections: Forlorn Muskeg, Mountain Town (Milton), Ravine (to Coastal Highway), Winding River (to Pleasant Valley)
Mystery Lake is considered an easier map to survive on thanks to a good mix of indoor locations and access to most wildlife. There can be quite a few wolves, but shelters are nicely spaced out. Being caught out in bad weather is rarely a concern. This is a good region to get a feel for the game, but can also lead to false confidence in players when they wonder into more unforgiving zones.
Mountain Town (Milton) Map
- Connections: Mystery Lake, Milton Basin (to Forlorn Muskeg), Hushed River Valley
Mountain Town (Milton in story mode) features many houses, meaning it can be a great place to find clothing items. Wolves can be problematic in town due to the short sight lines caused by the many buildings. It’s a necessary stop on the way to Hushed River Valley, perhaps the most punishing zone in The Long Dark. Mountain Town is a pretty cool place to visit, but not somewhere many players would want to live.
Hushed River Valley Map
- Connections: Mountain Town (Milton)
Hushed River Valley might be the deadliest region in The Long Dark, featuring no indoor locations aside from caves. Expect to spend almost every moment outside and be ready to do a lot of climbing to make your way around the zone. It’s easy to get lost and unforgiving if you do. If you want to truly test yourself, walk in and refuse to walk back out for 30 days. If you live, you’ll be one of the best out there, assuming you aren’t playing on Pilgrim or Voyageur.
Forlorn Muskeg Map
- Connections: Broken Railroad, Milton Basin (to Mountain Town), Mystery Lake, Bleak Inlet
Forlorn Muskeg is another region that doesn’t feature any indoor locations. There are buildings but they are mostly exposed to the elements. Most of the ice is weak, which makes travel difficult. It does feature one of the in-game forges, so it’s a region most players will visit eventually. There are two bears and lots of wolves, but you can see them coming a mile away. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, there’s good loot to be found here, including crazy amounts of Cat Tails to eat.
Bleak Inlet
- Connections: Forlorn Muskeg, Ravine (to Coastal Highway or Mystery Lake)
Bleak Inlet is the newest region in The Long Dark, and for reasons other than lack of indoor locations, perhaps its most dangerous. It is the first region to feature Timberwolves in Survival mode. Timberwolves travel in packs and present a significant challenge to even veteran players. Bleak Inlet also features two new workstations which are not currently found in other zones: the Milling Machine and Ammunition Workbench. The Milling Machine can be used to repair tools and weapons during the Aurora, and the Ammunition Workbench can craft ammunition for the Rifle and Revolver. If you’ve got what it takes to survive the Timberwolves, there’s good hunting to be had in Bleak Inlet.
Broken Railroad Map
- Connections: Forlorn Muskeg
Broken Railroad is a small zone that exists almost entirely near a set of railroad tracks that run through it. If there are wolves near the tracks it can be tough to navigate without confrontation, and it will only take a day or two to fully explore the zone. Good place to visit if you need a Forge and don’t have the gear or skill to sleep in Forlorn Muskeg while you use that one.
Carter Hydro Dam & Winding River Map
- Connections: Mystery Lake, Pleasant Valley
Winding River is a transition zone that connects Mystery Lake (via Carter Hydro Dam) to Pleasant Valley. It has a lake that is commonly home to a wolf, but there is a chance for some decent loot if you explore it on the way through. Kill the wolf and it’s not a bad place to camp for the night if you’re dressed appropriately.
Ravine Map
- Connections: Mystery Lake, Coastal Highway, Bleak Inlet
The Ravine is one of my favorite transition zones. If you climb into the ravine there can be a Distress Pistol, and the zone is good for a few rabbits and likely a deer. Bring warm clothes and enjoy a peaceful camp out without any predators present before going to Coastal Highway, Mystery Lake, or Bleak Inlet. Just be sure you can climb back out of the actual Ravine before you climb down.
Pleasant Valley Map
- Connections: Winding River (to Mystery Lake), Timberwolf Mountain, Cinder Hills Coal Mine (to Coastal Highway), Blackrock
The Pleasant Valley region map is huge, as is the zone itself. There is a lot of open space and the weather is awful, so be careful not to get caught outside. There are lots of bears with large zones of control, but the openness of the map means players can often see threats coming from a long way off. This region got a bit of an overhaul recently, and players can now find some additional buildings and areas worth exploring. Pleasant Valley also offers one of the access points to Blackrock.
Timberwolf Mountain Map
- Connections: Pleasant Valley, Ash Canyon, Blackrock
One of the most rewarding and challenging zones in The Long Dark. Scale Timberwolf Mountain and you have truly accomplished something noteworthy. If you are fully geared and a skilled survivor, try living at the Mountaineer’s Hut at the base of the mountain by the lake. When you feel like you’ve got it all figured out, take a hike to either Ash Canyon or Blackrock to test yourself against some of the toughest terrain and wildlife The Long Dark has to offer.
Blackrock Map
- Connections: Pleasant Valley, Timberwolf Mountain
Blackrock was added to Survival late in 2021, and brought with it a zone that is filled with Timberwolves, but also one of the most unique buildings ever added to the game; Blackrock Prison. There’s unique loot to be found there, and it’s certainly a cool place to visit, but I’m not sure you’d want to make Blackrock your home.
Once you make your way to Blackrock Prison, the above map will help you scour the complex for some unique loot. Be ready for both Wolves and Bears.
Ash Canyon Map
- Connections: Timberwolf Mountain
Ash Canyon is an extremely cold region of The Long Dark. It was released on December 7, 2020, and features few true indoor locations. There are many winding paths and steep slopes, making survival more difficult than many other regions. There are two pieces of gear you’re going to want from this zone: Crampons and the Technical Backpack.
Coastal Highway Map
- Connections: Crumbling Highway (to Desolation Point), Pleasant Valley, Ravine (to Mystery Lake or Bleak Inlet)
A player favorite is Coastal Highway. It has the best fishing opportunities in the game, and popular base locations out on the lake and at its shore. You can live here indefinitely if you have the right gear, and the lake provides long lines of sight to see predators coming from a literal mile away. It’s an indoor stove on Jackrabbit Island away from being the perfect zone.
Crumbling Highway Map
- Connections: Coastal Highway, Desolation Point
Crumbling Highway is a very small and very dangerous transition zone in The Long Dark. It is narrow and usually features at least one wolf that will be hard to bypass, and often difficult to spot. Try to get as much height as you can when moving through to zone to spot the wolves before they spot you.
Desolation Point Map
- Connections: Crumbling Highway (to Coastal Highway)
The Desolation Point region map gives away that it’s a rather small zone in terms of content, but it does have a forge at the Riken, so that’s the main attraction. It’s relatively easy to avoid predators and it tends to have decent loot, although for an inexplicable reason, there’s no fishing on this big hunk of ice.
Those are all the region maps in The Long Dark, but new zones are expected to be added in the future. We’ll keep this guide updated with any new additions. In the meantime, check out The Long Dark coverage we currently have on Guide Stash.
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