Assassin's Creed Shadows: Hidden Trail Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Hidden Trails in Assassin's Creed Shadows are the 12 open-world parkour challenges built exclusively for Naoe — linear obstacle courses marked with yellow paint and yellow flags that test her shinobi agility from a red starting marker to a chest at the end, rewarding 1,000 XP, 1 Knowledge Point, and a unique named gear piece per trail.

Attempting a Hidden Trail as Yasuke causes him to refuse and redirect the player to switch to Naoe. All 12 locations are documented on Map Master's Japan and Awaji Island interactive maps.

How Every Hidden Trail Works

Look for the red marker on the map — this is the starting point of every trail. Once on foot, follow yellow paint on rocks, walls, and bark, reinforced by yellow flags at key turns and transitions.

Naoe's grappling hook is required on several trails: the hook is the only way to cross specific gaps and reach elevated sections. The path is linear but frequently redirects mid-course through bamboo thickets, rope crossings, cliff ledges, and waterfall routes.

The key technique on hook sections: jump off the hook at the high point of the swing, not on the way down. Releasing too late causes Naoe to slip and fall. If the path is lost, stop and look for the next yellow paint mark rather than continuing straight — the markers are always within visible range of each other.

A shortcut exists on some trails: the chest can occasionally be reached by exploring alternate high-ground terrain without following the painted path end-to-end.

The intended route is always the yellow-marked one, but difficult sections can be bypassed by finding elevated routes around individual obstacles.

Knowledge Points: The Core Reason to Complete All 12

Each Hidden Trail awards 1 Knowledge Point — one of seven activity types in the game that advance Knowledge Rank progression.

There are six Knowledge Ranks in total, and each new rank unlocks improved or new abilities for both Naoe and Yasuke. Hidden Trails are one of the fastest per-activity Knowledge Point sources since each trail is self-contained and completable in 5–10 minutes.

The most efficient Knowledge Rank progression combines Hidden Trails with the other Naoe-focused Knowledge activities — Kuji-kiri meditation spots and Kofun tomb exploration — alongside Kata and Horse Archery for Yasuke's equivalent contribution.

Gear Reward Scales With Player Level

The named gear piece at the end of each trail scales to the player's current level at the time of completion.

Completing trails earlier gives lower stat rolls on the same named piece; completing them at endgame level gives maximum stats on the same item names. There is no time pressure — all trails remain available through the full playthrough and post-story free-roam.

Complete Reward List: All 12 Trails

Japan (10 base game trails):

1. Path of Valor — Izumi Settsu, Senri Hills, near Koyana Ruins Viewpoint. Reward: Tamakichi's Hood.
2. Path of the Brave — Yamashiro, Eagle's Nest Forest, southwest of Shoryuji Castle. Start at the large tree trunk and climb the small platforms. Reward: Hibiki's Gear.
3. Path of Peril — Harima, west side of Mount Kasagata. No combat involved. Reward: Toxic Kusarigama of Malice (Epic — highly effective against groups of enemies).
4. Path of Shadows — Iga, Nabari Wilds, south of the Akame Shi Waterfalls. A waterfall serves as the landmark to begin. Reward: Yu-no-shin's Gear (Epic Light Armor).
5. Path of the Blade — Omi, east of Taga Shipyard. Connects to the Omi Kakurega Assassin Outpost where Naoe uncovers more of the Kakushiba ikki's secrets. Reward: Sumire's Gear (Epic Light Armor).
6. Path of Silence — Tamba, Tamba Highlands, south of Kumoryuji Temple Ruins. Also routes to the nearby Viewpoint — completing this trail syncs the Kumoryuji Temple Ruins Viewpoint simultaneously. Reward: Hibiki's Hood.
7. Path of Wisdom — Wakasa, near a river. The northernmost Hidden Trail in the base game. Reward: Tamakichi's Gear.
8. Path of Secrets — Yamato, southeast of Katsuragi, at a ravine with multiple grappling points. Leads to the Yamato Assassin Outpost where a letter from Naoe's mother Tsuyu reveals Kakushiba ikki history. Reward: Sumire's Hood.
9. Path of Serenity — Yamato, southern area. Reward: Crimson Tanto of Harm.
10. Path of the Chosen — Kii, beach north of Shingu on the eastern coastline. The only Hidden Trail with mandatory combat — a Yamabushi boss fight awaits at the chest. Prepare before approaching the final section. Reward: Yu-no-shin's Hood.

Awaji Island (2 DLC trails):

1. Trail of the Naruto — jump from the cliff edge to a log, then travel west along the main road to a dead end.
2. Trail of Eshima — start at the Derelict House entrance, turn right twice, follow the road north under a red arch.