World & travel

How to Reach the Barrens in WoW 1.12.1

Section: World & travel 6 min read Vanilla 1.12.1 · x5 Updated 15.10.2026

How to get to the Barrens is one of the first travel questions every Horde player asks: after the starting zones, nearly all orcs, trolls, tauren and many Forsaken continue leveling right here. The Barrens are a huge savanna in central Kalimdor with three dungeons and the Horde's busiest flight hub. Below are the routes for both factions on the WoW x5 server (Vanilla 1.12.1).

The Barrens
The BarrensRoughly level 10-25 zone, Kalimdor
The Crossroads
The CrossroadsThe Horde's main flight hub
Contents
  1. Where the Barrens Are
  2. How to Get to the Barrens as Horde
  3. How to Get to the Barrens as Alliance
  4. Where to Find Things: Dungeons and Landmarks
  5. Routes to the Barrens: Summary Table
  6. Why Go to the Barrens
  7. Related Guides

Where the Barrens Are

The Barrens lie in eastern Kalimdor and border seven zones at once. To the northeast, across the Southfury River, is Durotar with the capital Orgrimmar; to the west are Mulgore and the Stonetalon Mountains; to the north is Ashenvale; to the south, Thousand Needles; to the southeast, Dustwallow Marsh; and in the east the zone reaches the sea at the port of Ratchet. Quests here cover roughly levels 10-25. A full overview of subzones and camps is in the Barrens article.

The zone's main artery is the Gold Road, running north to south. Where it meets the road from Durotar stands the Crossroads; further south is Camp Taurajo; and on the coast lies the neutral goblin town of Ratchet.

Tauren tents among the dry grass of the Barrens
Tauren tents among the dry grass of the Barrens

How to Get to the Barrens as Horde

For the Horde the Barrens are the next zone after Durotar and Mulgore, so the trip is short.

Orcs and trolls (from Durotar):

  1. From Orgrimmar or Sen'jin Village, make your way to Razor Hill.
  2. Follow the road west to the bridge over the Southfury River.
  3. Past the bridge you are in the Barrens. Keep heading west, then take the Gold Road south to the Crossroads.
  4. Discover the flight path and set your hearthstone at the inn.

Tauren (from Mulgore):

  1. From Thunder Bluff or Bloodhoof Village, take the main road east.
  2. The road leaves Mulgore right at Camp Taurajo - pick up the flight path there.
  3. From the camp, turn north along the Gold Road and walk to the Crossroads.

Forsaken (from Tirisfal Glades): take the zeppelin near Undercity to Orgrimmar - the towers stand between Brill and Undercity. From Orgrimmar, head south to Razor Hill and follow the same route as orcs and trolls.

Ghost WolfGhost WolfShaman ability100 ManaRequires level 203 sec castTurns the Shaman into a Ghost Wolf, increasing speed by 40%. Only useable outdoors.

How to Get to the Barrens as Alliance

The Alliance has no flight paths of its own in the Barrens apart from neutral Ratchet, where both factions have flight masters. So your first goal is to reach Ratchet.

  1. By sea from Booty Bay. From Stormwind, travel to Booty Bay at the southern tip of Stranglethorn Vale and take the boat to Ratchet. Discover the flight path right away.
  2. Through Theramore. Board the boat from Menethil Harbor to Theramore, pick up the flight path there and walk west through Dustwallow Marsh into the Barrens, then north and east to Ratchet.
  3. Through Ashenvale. Night elves can head south from Ashenvale, giving the Horde's Mor'shan Rampart and its guards a wide berth. This route is risky: the road to the Crossroads is guarded.

From Ratchet, Alliance gryphons fly to destinations including Theramore and Astranaar. The Crossroads itself is a Horde town with elite guards - stay clear of it.

Where to Find Things: Dungeons and Landmarks

  • Wailing Caverns - south of the Crossroads, on the north side of Lushwater Oasis. The entrance is a cave in the hillside shaped like a serpent's maw, and the portal lies deeper inside. Details in how to get to the Wailing Caverns.
  • Razorfen Kraul - in the southwest of the zone near the Thousand Needles border; see how to get to Razorfen Kraul.
  • The Great Lift on the southern edge takes you down into Thousand Needles.
  • Mor'shan Rampart in the north - the exit to Ashenvale and the Horde entrance to Warsong Gulch.
The pier of the neutral port of Ratchet on the Barrens coast
The pier of the neutral port of Ratchet on the Barrens coast
Mor'shan Rampart on the border between the Barrens and Ashenvale
Mor'shan Rampart on the border between the Barrens and Ashenvale

Routes to the Barrens: Summary Table

PointAllianceHorde
The CrossroadsHostile town, avoidFlight path, inn, quests
Camp TaurajoHostile campFlight path at the Mulgore exit
RatchetFlight path, boat to Booty BayFlight path, boat to Booty Bay
Main way inBoat to Ratchet or on foot from TheramoreBridge from Durotar or road from Mulgore
Совет

From the Crossroads, Horde wind riders fly to Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, Camp Taurajo, Ratchet and many other Kalimdor zones. Discover it as early as possible - it will save you hours of running.

Why Go to the Barrens

The Barrens are the Horde's main leveling zone for levels 10-25: dozens of quests at the Crossroads and Camp Taurajo, centaur and quilboar hunts and the first dungeons. The quest order is in the Barrens leveling guide, and tactics for the first dungeon are in the Wailing Caverns guide. For the Alliance the zone matters mostly because of Ratchet and its boat. To cut travel time across Kalimdor, read the flight paths guide and the world travel guide.

Related Guides

A step-by-step route for both factions is in the guide How to get to Camp Taurajo.

A step-by-step route for both factions is in the guide How to get to the Crossroads.

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FAQ

Where are the Barrens?

In central Kalimdor. Durotar lies northeast across the Southfury River, Mulgore and Stonetalon Mountains to the west, Ashenvale to the north, Thousand Needles to the south and Dustwallow Marsh to the southeast. The zone covers roughly levels 10-25.

How does an orc or troll get to the Barrens?

From Razor Hill in Durotar, follow the road west across the bridge over the Southfury River. The Barrens begin right after the bridge, and the Gold Road south takes you to the Crossroads, where you should pick up the flight path.

How does the Alliance get to the Barrens?

The easiest way is the boat from Booty Bay to Ratchet, which has an Alliance flight master. Another option is the boat from Menethil Harbor to Theramore and then walking west through Dustwallow Marsh.

Where is the Wailing Caverns entrance?

South of the Crossroads, on the north side of Lushwater Oasis. The entrance is a cave in the hillside shaped like a huge serpent's maw, and the dungeon portal itself lies deeper inside the caves.

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