Skyrim:Dragon Mounds

Dragon Mound near Kynesgrove

Dragon Mounds are ancient dragon burial sites that dot Skyrim's landscape. In appearance, they are simply large, flat, circular areas created out of rings of paving stones. There are no map markers associated with the dragon mounds, and early in the game there is no indication that there is anything remarkable about these features. There are a total of 24 dragon mounds, with 22 being found in Skyrim and two being found on Solstheim.

The dragon mounds were created in the First Era by surviving members of the Dragon Cult, as documented by The Dragon War:

They built the dragon mounds, entombing the remains of dragons that fell in the war. They believed that one day the dragons would rise again and reward the faithful.

The Atlas of Dragons notes the location of a few dragon mounds, but there are few other surviving records of them or their locations.

When the return of the dragons spurs a renewed interest in dragons, the only way to locate all the mounds is to retrieve an ancient Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow. The back of the stone shows a map of Skyrim, with stars representing the location of each dragon mound. Delphine transcribes this information onto a Map of Dragon Burials, although Delphine's map is less accurate than the original stone (for example, the mound near Dawnstar is missing from Delphine's map). All 24 dragon mound locations are listed below; for more detailed information, see the Skyrim map.

As the Main Quest progresses, you learn that the dragons buried in the mounds are not truly dead, and that they are now rising up again. During A Blade in the Dark, you witness this happening when Alduin raises Sahloknir from his mound east of Kynesgrove (map). From this point in the game onward, dragons will proceed to emerge from their mounds.

States

State 0: Dormant

During this state, the dragon mound is closed and looks similar to ancient Nordic burial mounds. All mounds begin in this state.

State 1: Resurrection

During this state, you will be able to witness Alduin resurrect the dragon from the mound. Alduin will then fly off and the resurrected dragon can then be fought.

State 2: Awakened

During this state, the dragon has been resurrected by Alduin and the reborn dragon has stayed at the mound to gather its strength.

State 3: Deserted

During this state, the mound will be open but the dragon will not be near the mound. However the dragon is usually found at a nearby Dragon Lair.

Locations

Name	Hold	State	Dragon	Notes	Image
Karth River Forest (map)	Hjaalmarch	Deserted	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Robber's Gorge Bluffs (map)	Hjaalmarch	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity.
Labyrinthian Peaks (map)	Hjaalmarch	Deserted	No	Opens during Elder Knowledge. The mound is deserted, but Dragon Lair Eldersblood Peak is nearby.
Sea Shore Foothills (map)	The Pale	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Shimmermist Hills (map)	The Pale	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Yorgrim Resurrection (map)	The Pale	Resurrection	Viinturuth	Opens during Elder Knowledge, after you leave High Hrothgar in search of an Elder Scroll. If visited before Alduin's Bane, you can witness the resurrection.
Reachwater Pass (map)	The Reach	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Ragnvald Vale (map)	The Reach	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Elder Knowledge.
Karthspire Bluffs (map)	The Reach	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Rorikstead Resurrection (map)	Whiterun Hold	Resurrection	Nahagliiv	Opens during Alduin's Wall, after leaving Riverwood for Sky Haven Temple. If visited before Elder Knowledge, you can witness the resurrection.
Great Henge Resurrection (map)	Whiterun Hold	Resurrection	Vuljotnaak	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity, after the player visits Delphine in Riverwood. If visited before Alduin's Wall, you can witness the resurrection.
Lone Mountain (map)	Whiterun Hold	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Kynesgrove Resurrection (map)	Eastmarch	Resurrection	Sahloknir	Opens during A Blade in the Dark, when you arrive at Kynesgrove with Delphine.
Bonestrewn Crest (map)	Eastmarch	Deserted	No	Opens during Dragon Rising. The mound is deserted, but Dragon Lair Bonestrewn Crest is nearby.
Witchmist Grove (map)	Eastmarch	Deserted	No	Opens during The Way of the Voice.
Mzulft Foothills (map)	Eastmarch	Deserted	No	Opens during Dragon Rising.
Bilegulch Ridge (map)	Falkreath Hold	Deserted	No	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Evergreen Woods (map)	Falkreath Hold	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Alduin's Wall.
Bloodlet Peaks (map)	Falkreath Hold	Deserted	No	Opens during Alduin's Wall. The mound is deserted, but Dragon Lair Ancient's Ascent is nearby.
Autumnwatch Woods (map)	The Rift	Deserted	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity. The mound is deserted, but Dragon Lair Autumnwatch Tower is nearby.
Autumnshade Woods (map)	The Rift	Deserted	No	Opens during Bleak Falls Barrow. Based on the Atlas of Dragons, it is likely this was the burial site of Odahviing.
Lost Tongue Pass (map)	The Rift	Deserted	No	Opens during Diplomatic Immunity. The mound is deserted, but Dragon Lair Lost Tongue Overlook is nearby.
Frozen Shoals (map)	Solstheim	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Dragon Rising.	Frozen Shoals
Temple Foothills (map)	Solstheim	Awakened	Yes	Opens during Dragon Rising.

Gallery

• 

  Ancient map of dragon mound locations, on the back of the Dragonstone

• 

  Delphine's map of dragon burials made from the Dragonstone

Notes

• Some dragon mounds may spawn dragons of a much higher level than you would normally expect to encounter at your current character level.

Bugs

• If you attack Alduin before the resurrection properly commences, the ressurection will not take place. The cylinder of light above the mound will not disappear either.