# The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich

> From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

> [!infobox]
> ![loc lake zarovich trail 1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-lake-zarovich-trail-1.webp)
> **Region:** [Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/regions/lake-zarovich.md) · level 8
> **Resting:** Risky
> **Light:** dim, outdoors
> **Getting here:** the travel map (The Hill Trail)
> **Quests:** [Grandda's Trail](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/granddas-trail.md), [The Ravens' Ransom](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-ravens-ransom.md)

## Overview

A stony trail through pines and boulders in the hills between Lake Zarovich, Lake Baratok and the wolves' den. Where the roads of this region turn into fights.

Pines, boulders, a trickle of meltwater across the path, and the lake glinting far below through the trees.

**Resting:** Risky: a rest here can be interrupted.

![loc lake zarovich trail overview](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-lake-zarovich-trail-overview.webp)
*The whole place from above.*

## Getting here

### Ways in

- **The travel map:** The Hill Trail, in Lake Zarovich, the wolf hills and Lake Baratok. It shows once visited vallaki and (quest.the ravens ransom or quest fens trail at or past the blazes).

### Ways out

| # | Exit | Leads to | Only when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | On along the trail, west | the travel map |  |
| 2 | On along the trail, west | the travel map |  |
| 3 | On along the trail, east | the travel map |  |
| 4 | On along the trail, east | the travel map |  |

## Map

![lake zarovich trail](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/maps/lake-zarovich-trail.svg)

**Key:** gold, people; red, containers; purple, hidden finds; teal, skill checks; white, exits; orange, traps. The numbers match the lists on this page.

### Close up

![loc lake zarovich trail spot1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-lake-zarovich-trail-spot1.webp)
*Ilarie*

## People

- **[Ilarie](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/ilarie.md)**, A Hunter on the Hill Trail: The hill trail, 07:00–18:00 (#5)

## What to find

| # | Where | What | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | something hidden under a stump (hidden) | [Hunting Trap](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#hunting-trap) | Search: Perception DC 13 |

The containers here also get random magic items and potions, rolled for a party of level 8 the first time you come ([Random Treasure](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/random-treasure.md)). Hidden finds need a Search (F) nearby; the party's best roll counts.

## Fights

- *The count's fowlers drop out of the dead pine, and the bats come down after them like a black sheet shaken…*, in [The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md): [Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md), [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md). Scales with your level.
> [!example]- By party level (the first line your party fits is the fight you get)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when fowlers ready and level ≥ 7: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), A Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 4 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (3800 XP; surprise: party)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when fowlers ready and level ≥ 6: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), A Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 3 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (3750 XP; surprise: party)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when fowlers ready: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 2 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (1900 XP; surprise: party)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when not fowlers ready and level ≥ 7: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), A Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 4 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (3800 XP)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when not fowlers ready and level ≥ 6: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), A Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 3 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (3750 XP)
> - **[The Hill Trail above Lake Zarovich](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-hill-trail-above-lake-zarovich.md)**, when not fowlers ready: The Count's Fowler ([Vampire Spawn](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vampire-spawn.md)), 2 × [Swarm of Bats](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/swarm-of-bats.md) (1900 XP)

## Quests and lore

- [Grandda's Trail](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/granddas-trail.md): Thistle was raised in the deep woods by a trapper called Fen Burley. He followed a wolf the size of a pony into a wall of fog and never…
- [The Ravens' Ransom](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-ravens-ransom.md): Urwin and Danika Martikov's younger boy flew out of the inn's window after dark to look at the castle, and didn't come home.