The province of Skyrim is big, deep, and beautiful. And even then, we’re still flirting with some major understatements. You could spend days upon days roving the map and still find yourself coming up short in terms of seeing what it has to offer in its entirety. After all, most players are only going to take a single trip from one locale to another, proceeding to utilize fast travel to cut down on the brutality of the time sink. And really, who could blame you for it?

There’s at least one thing to be said for that, though. You’re gonna miss out on a few things when you take the shortcut. That’s just the way it is.

Whether it’s a nook or cranny into which the developers have tucked away an interesting bit of scenery, a funny easter egg, or even a fully fledged and epic boss encounter with a dragon, time was definitely taken to ensure that curiosity, exploration and a preference for the scenic route were entirely rewarding traits to possess.

We decided to do some of the footwork for you here, and highlight some of the bits you might have skimmed over in your travels. We’re focusing on the two polar extremes for this list, the little things and cool locales easily missed by most folks, punctuated by some big, epic boss fights that your average player probably never tackled during their journey.

So grab a good sword, put on your best hiking boots and tell Lydia to grab an extra backpack, because she’s about to carry a burden or twelve. Here are twenty-five easily missed locations and eight less than obvious boss battles to consider on your next Skyrim adventure.

32 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Swallowed Skeleton

Though there’s no loot to be had for this one, sharp-eyed players might have had a laugh at the expense of these poor souls if they were adventuring a short ways north from the Sleeping Tree Camp.

Close examination of what would appear to be your average, everyday mammoth fossil reveals a whole human skeleton inside of it. This poses a fairly interesting question. Did the mammoth just happen to collapse on top of the poor guy, or was he truly swallowed whole by the great beast? Maybe we’re better off not knowing.

31 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Poached Horker Poachers

Poaching horkers is no laughing matter, and this is evidenced quite well by this unmarked locale a short jog to the southeast from Bleakcoast Cave. These two hunters obviously bit off a little more than they could chew, having poached one horker but finding themselves less than prepared to deal with his avenging comrades.

Don’t forget to dig through the inventories of the unfortunate hunters, though. You’ll walk away with a nifty treasure map. It’ll lead you to some hidden loot near Dragon Bridge farm.

30 BOSS FIGHT: Uderfrykte

You'll get your chance to take a swing at this brute in following the Dark Brotherhood quest "The Cure for Madness," while you're giving chase to slippery old Cicero.

Trolls can be a demanding encounter unto themselves, and Uderfrykte is significantly stronger than his garden-variety cousins. But he also shares in their extreme aversion to fire, so it's suggested to turn this to your advantage if at all possible. As a fun tidbit, one incarnation of Uderfrykte or another has appeared in both Morrowind and Oblivion.

29 HIDDEN LOCALE: Rundi's Altar

Southeast from the College of Winterhold you can find a glacier with an altar erected on top of it, along with the eponymous Rundi standing nearby. Well, less standing and more frozen into place, honestly. And quite a gonner. Be mindful of several icy traps as you approach.

This was a part of a quest entitled “The Missing Apprentices,” which was never finished. However, its broken bits and all of the necessities for completing it survived onto the finished release of the game.

28 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Less Fortunate Spartan

This… is… Skyrim! Just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it? Head a ways south from the Shrine to Peryite to feast your eyes on this ode to the sandals-and-abs epic that made yelling and kicking people into a pit the highest form of righteous indignation.

One of the opening scenes of the flick is recreated with a skeleton seeming to have lured a sabrecat into a narrow ravine before thrusting a sword through it. The whole scheme seems to have worked out a lot better for Leonidas than this poor fellow, seeing as he’s now a skeleton and all.

27 HIDDEN LOCALE: Friends Forever

Southeast from Winterhold, and below the bridge leading to the college, you might run across this desperate, yet somehow uplifting scene of a friend refusing to abandon his companion in need. One skeleton’s had his leg caught in a beartrap, and the other has clearly endeavored to free him until the bitter end.

Now that is the very definition of friendship.

It’s unfortunate that these two met their demise in such a way, but at least you can scoop up an alchemy skill book along with a few ingredients from the nearby satchel. It’s not stealing. You’re just preserving their legacy!

26 BOSS FIGHT: Karstaag The Giant

Getting the chance to take on this Morrowind throwback will be a process, but it's totally worth the effort. You'll need to have the Dragonborn DLC installed, for starters, then travel to the Glacial Cave on Solstheim and locate Karstaag's Skull, towards the back. Then just haul the thing over to the Castle Karstaag Ruins and ready yourself for a fight.

After you've gained entry and bashed a few rieklings, place the skull upon the large throne and face down the ghostly giant. It won't be easy, as he's immensely strong, immune to frost, paralysis, and poison, can summon ice wraiths, and deals frost damage by simply being near him. Good luck!

25 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Lovers' Camp... Before The End

Skyrim has a penchant for ill-fated romance, it seems. This unmarked campsite is north of the Old Hroldan inn and south from Soljund’s Sinkhole, and you’ll find the expired lovers nearby. Might want to deal with the wild animal that did them in before combing the area, though.

You’ll find Karan’s journal near her final resting place, and thumbing the pages will reveal the whole ordeal to be an homage to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. These two may have met a less romantic end, to be sure, but the set up is too familiar to be a coincidence.

24 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Border Crossings

The largely impassable “border crossings” dotting the borders of Skyrim possess a nice bit of trivia and lore that you can impress your friends with. I know my friends were impressed. My cats do count as friends, right?

There’s one leading to Hammerfell, but of particular note are the crossings to Morrowind and Cyrodiil. One of the passes to Morrowind is east from Refugees’ Rest, and at the Rest itself is a short decree of particular interest to fans of The Elder Scrolls III. The passage to Cyrodiil, due southwest from Southfringe Sanctum, is likely the one your character was plucked from during the game’s introduction.

23 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Mournful Giant

If you’re just itching to catch a bad case of the feels, head northeast from Mistwatch, or east from the Sulfur Ruins, to take in one of the more depressing, yet somehow touching scenes that we’re going to cover today.

You’ll come across a giant standing next to a hot spring pond, where his favorite mammoth has met with an unfortunate and untimely end. He doesn’t even grow hostile if you approach, sparing you no more than a sideways glance before he returns to mourning the loss of his furry friend.

22 BOSS FIGHT: Yngol's Shade

Fancy a bit of tomb raiding? Well, let's kill two birds with one stone and tackle Yngol's Barrow, to the northeast of Windhelm. We'll even snag a super cool helmet while we're at it.

As always, grab some extra potions and check your equipment. He's no pushover.

You'll need to solve a puzzle or two, but Yngol's Shade will by far be the more dire impediment. Depending on your level, he can either appear as a draugr or dragon priest, but he will be equally donezo in either case. Fire is helpful, but remember that he will be highly resistant to both frost and poison. Don't forget to pilfer his helmet!

21 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Iceberg Explorer

Locate the “Tower” Standing Stone between Winterhold and Dawnstar and head north from there. You’ll eventually set eyes on a flag planted into an iceberg, with a skeleton clinging to it for dear life. Or afterlife? That probably makes a little more sense, given his condition.

As to what purpose planting a flag into an iceberg serves, or why he was there to begin with, there’s little indication. Perhaps the iceberg wasn’t always so near to shore, and he was signaling for rescue? In any case, there’s a heavy armor skill book to reward your efforts, as well as a chest containing some random loot.

20 HIDDEN LOCALE: Lost Treasure Of Purewater Run

This one won’t take you far out of your way if you have Purewater Run discovered. Just make a short trip to the northeast from there, and look for where the two waterfalls meet. Your curiosity and time will be rewarded with a coin purse, a leveled weapon, and a treasure chest. And a skeleton, of course.

Can’t have a hidden locale without a skeleton, it seems.

Anyway, sometimes all it really takes is a minimal stroll off the beaten path. Skyrim’s more than willing to reward the wanderers among us.

19 HIDDEN LOCALE: Lunar Forge

If you stumble across the Silent Moons Camp northwest of Whiterun, poke around the ruins outside of the cave system. At the top of the main structure, you’ll locate a forge, but this one’s a bit special.

After dealing with a bandit infestation, you’ll find several weapons bearing a unique enchantment laying about, as well as a book expanding on the lore behind them. While most of the explained lore behind the “Silent Moons” enchantment isn’t mechanically functional, it’s still pretty cool. Don’t forget to nab the smithing skill book on your way out.

18 BOSS FIGHT: Vulthuryol

In order to encounter this hidden dragon, you'll first need to reach Blackreach. Given that Blackreach is a massive underground hub area, you've got options - a lot of them. You can enter via Dwemer ruins at Alftand, the Tower of Mzark, Raldbthar, and others.

Once you've gained entry, you'll want to look for a large, glowing orb near the center building. It shouldn't be hard to get eyes on. Once you're near enough to it, it's as simple as using your "Unrelenting Force" shout on it. Afterward, Vulthuryol will make his appearance. Maybe wait a minute before you engage, as he will promptly go on a rampage and take care of many of Blackreach's inhabitants for you if left to his own devices.

17 HIDDEN LOCALE: Fossilized Giant Mudcrab

What would The Elder Scrolls be without mudcrabs these days? Probably not that different, honestly. Maybe a few less delicious steamed crab legs. Mmh. Crab legs. A world without those isn’t a world we want to live in, virtually or otherwise.

Speaking of crab legs, take a light jog west from Broken Fang Cave and feast your eyes on this behemoth, if you haven’t already been directed there during the “Kyne’s Sacred Trials” quest. Just imagine how much butter you’d need to slather on these bad boys.

16 HIDDEN LOCALE: Fool's Gold Island

This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered a skeleton hugging a flagpole over the course of this list. What gives? Are they all getting their tongues stuck to the frost on a dare? Is there a serial “lick the flagpole” darer on the loose in Skyrim, leaving these poor souls to their fate once the deed is done?

This island is located to the west of the Broken Oar Grotto, and make sure to pack your pickaxe and alchemy satchel if you’re planning a trip. There’s gold ore and ingredients aplenty if you’re up for a visit.

15 HIDDEN LOCALE: The Chill

You could definitely be forgiven for never seeing this one. For one, it’s in the far end of the map, due north of Winterhold. It also doubles as Winterhold’s prison, and as we all know, going to jail isn’t high on anyone’s priority list.

Whatever your excuse is, you’ve definitely missed out.

It’s probably the most unique and awesome of Skyrim’s prisons, if just a bit on the brutal side. I mean, it’s a frozen cave filled with a few rusty cages and guarded by frost atronachs. The College really doesn’t screw around when it comes to delinquents.

14 BOSS FIGHT: Kvenel The Tongue

If you're in the mood to fight an angry ghost and scoop up a couple of unique weapons in the process, just set out north from Whiterun. Your destination? The tomb of Volunruud.

Upon entering, you'll stumble across a collection of notes that will begin the quest "The Silenced Tongues." Conveniently, you're here to complete it. Press on, your objective won't be hard to find, though he'll be well guarded and well equipped. Take care during the fight, as it's possible a frost atronach or two will be summoned over the course of it.

13 HIDDEN LOCALE: Hunter, Hunted

Yet another case of the poacher’s prey turning the tables can be witnessed to the west from Drelas’ cottage. Once you arrive on the scene you’ll witness a fallen hunter and mother nature’s victorious champion looming over him.

Deal with the feisty critter in the manner of your choosing and make sure to check the hunter’s inventory, you know, just to ensure that his possessions don’t go to waste. You’ll walk away with whatever valuables he’s got on him in addition to a light armor skill book.