Surviving the treacherous wilderness in Sons of the Forest requires players to secure advanced tools to uncover hidden secrets and progress through the story. Among these essential items, the shovel stands out as a critical tool needed to excavate bunkers, keycards, and buried maintenance hatches across the map. However, acquiring this tool is a complex multi-stage journey that forces players to brave a dangerous underground cave system.
Prerequisites for the Underground Expedition
Before attempting to locate the shovel cave, you must secure two pivotal pieces of exploration equipment hidden elsewhere on the island. The first required item is the Rebreather, which allows you to navigate flooded underwater tunnels safely without drowning. Additionally, you will need to retrieve the Rope Gun to utilize the ziplines installed inside the cave system.
Attempting to enter the cave without these tools will completely halt your progress early in the descent. Ensuring you have a reliable light source, adequate food, and plenty of ammunition is also highly recommended before stepping into the dark. These initial steps guarantee that your character is fully prepared for the hostile mutants waiting in the deep tunnels.
Locating the Shovel Cave Entrance
The specific cave containing the shovel is situated near the center of the island, right at the base of the snow-covered mountain range. You can easily identify the correct location by looking for a small stream that flows into a larger lake area. Near the water's edge, you will notice three deceased modern mercenaries impaled on wooden stakes, serving as a grim landmark for travelers.
The physical entrance itself is a narrow slit in the rock face that requires players to manually break away wooden barricades to enter. Navigating to this point can be tricky on foot, so utilizing your GPS tracker to pinpoint the intersection of the rivers is highly advisable. Once the wooden boards are smashed open, you can squeeze inside to begin the true descent into the subterranean network.
Navigating the Hazardous Caverns
Immediately after entering the cave, you will find a zipline structure stretched across a deep chasm. Equipping your Rope Gun allows you to slide smoothly across the gap to reach the opposite rocky ledge safely. From there, you must dive into a deep pool of water and utilize the Rebreather to swim through a submerged tunnel system.
As you emerge from the water, you will encounter multiple waves of aggressive mutants patrolling the narrow stone corridors. Clearing out these enemies slowly with explosives or ranged weapons will help you maintain your health during the journey. Following the natural flow of the water deeper underground will eventually lead you past ancient skeletal remains and abandoned mining equipment.
Securing the Shovel and Escaping
At the absolute deepest point of the cavern network, the tunnel opens into a massive brightly illuminated chamber filled with modern structures. Near the back of this area, you will find a lone worker's body slumped over a metallic structure. The coveted shovel rests directly on the lap of this deceased explorer, waiting to be claimed manually.
Once the item is securely in your inventory, a nearby cave wall will collapse, revealing a terrifying giant mutant blockading your path. Using explosives like a time bomb is the most effective method to clear this path and create a shortcut leading back toward the surface. Following this newly opened exit path allows you to escape back into the fresh air without backtracking through the entire cave system.
