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Listed below is a complete guide to unlocking all branching routes across the fifteen different courses in New Pokemon Snap.
This page is currently a work in progress and will be continually updated.
The Florio Nature Park (Day) course features one alternate route, which can only be unlocked when completing the following tasks.
How to Unlock the Bidoof Dam Path
The Florio Nature Park’s biggest variation comes at level 2 with the Bidoof dam. If you inspect it, you’ll cross the dam.
How to Unlock the Florio Nature Park (Night) Alternate Path
You will unlock Florio Nature Park (Night)‘s branching path when causing Pinsir to surface. Pinsir‘s reaction will cause Heracross to fall out of the tree above and both Pokemon will move on to another area.
As you near the dam wall, you’ll spot Heracross and Pinsir as they begin to tussle on the path. As a result of the fight, the NEO-ONE will go slightly off course, providing a much better camera angle to capture that perfect shot of the friendly tussle.
How to Unlock the Swamp Path in Founja Jungle (Day)
Having unlocked the Swamp route during Founja Jungle (Night), you will unlock the path automatically for the Founja Jungle (Day) course.
How to Unlock The Waterfall Path in Founja Jungle (Day)
To access the secret path that leads behind the Waterfall in the Founja Jungle (Day) course, you will need to scare the Liepard away from the rock that it falls asleep on just before reaching the lake at the end of the course.
To scare away the Liepard, you will want to throw several Illumina Orbs in its direction, however, it’s important that you throw these Illumina Orbs and also play a Melody before it manages to sit down and fall asleep. Once successful, scan the area and look for the new optional route that will appear.
How to Unlock the Swamp Path in Founja Jungle (Night)
To unlock the alternative Swamp Path, you will need to have unlocked the Founja Jungle (Night) course and have access to the ability to use Melody and Illumina Orbs – you can find out more on how to unlock these items in our Walkthrough.
When playing through the Founja Jungle (Night) course, you’ll eventually reach a Crystabloom that’s located just before the swamp area. Using Melody and an Illumina light the Crystabloom and you’ll notice a pair of footprints are illuminated on the ground nearby. These footprints belong to Slacking and lead through some long, overgrown grass.
How to Unlock the Ancient Ruins Path in Founja Jungle (Night)
To unlock the secret path that leads through the Ancient Ruins, you will need to complete the following tasks in the order listed below:
- Look for the sleeping Liepard at the beginning of the course and wake it up.
Upon reaching the path that leads by the Ancient Ruins, watch as a Liepard jumps down from the branches above and knocks the NEO-ONE to the ground below. You will now have unlocked a secret route.
How to Get Behind the Waterfall in Founja Jungle (Night)
Unlocking the Waterfall alternate path can be a little tricky, as you’ll need to ensure that your timing is just right! To unlock the Founja Jungle (Night) alternate path you will need to keep an eye out for the Liepard that sits on top of a rock as you begin traveling towards the lake at the end of the course.
Before the Liepard sits down, you’ll want to distract it by throwing down some Fluffruit. If successful, play a Melody and watch as the Liepard leaves the area, this will in turn open up the opportunity to explore the route behind the waterfall upon scanning the area.
Research Camp – All Alternate Paths and Routes
Once you have completed the Research Camp course once, Todd will ask you to take a different path and will unlock the option to explore through Professor Mirror‘s laboratory. Scan at the deck in front of the Laboratory entrance.
Elsewhere Forest – All Alternate Paths and Routes
The Elsewhere Forest is one of the more confusing courses to navigate in New Pokemon Snap, as the foggy course offers up to four different routes that each represent a different season – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. In addition to the four seasonal areas, there are also two unique final areas that can be unlocked if you meet certain conditions.
It is also important to note that Elsewhere Forest will always follow the same course layout, no matter which seasonal route you decide to take. You can find the course layout below:
- Foggy Area 1
- Seasonal Area 1
- Foggy Area 2
- Seasonal Area 2
So, you’re probably wondering, how do you unlock each of these four seasonal routes? Well, first, you must unlock Research Level 3, as this will allow you to start your interactions with Espeon, who happens to be the key to unlocking each alternate route.
Looking for a particular route? Click the links below to jump to…
How to Unlock the Summer Route in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock the Summer Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- As you near the area, throw an Illumina Orb at Espeon. It’s very important to remember that no other interactions should be made, as this could risk your chances of spawning the desired season.
- Once you’ve hit Espeon with an Illumina Orb, simply follow the path normally and you will eventually reach the Summer Route.
You will encounter the following Pokemon when visiting the Summer Route: Deerling, Unfezant, Drampa, Shiftry, Pancham, Sawbsbuck, and Bulbasaur.
How to Unlock the Fall Route in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock the Fall Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Now that the path is clear, scan the area and select the newly unlocked secret route.
- As you start heading down the new path, watch as Espeon follows along and stops nearby.
- Throw down some Fluffruit and watch as Espeon attempts to eat it. It’s very important to remember that no other interactions should be made, as this could risk your chances of spawning the desired season.
- Before Espeon can begin eating the Fluffruit, it will become startled and will run off down the path. Follow Espeon and you will eventually reach the Fall Route.
You will encounter the following Pokemon when visiting the Fall Route: Deerling, Applin, Unfezant, Sawsbuck, and Serperior.
How to Unlock the Winter Route in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock the Winter Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Throw an Illumina Orb at Espeon and follow them as they continue further down the path, where you will eventually reach the Winter Route.
You will encounter the following Pokemon when visiting the Winter Route: Deerling, Sawsbuck, Gardevoir, Bewear, Unfezant, and Ninetails.
How to Unlock the Spring Route in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock the Spring Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Once you near the area, throw a Fluffruit down and wait for Espeon to eat it. It’s very important to remember that no other interactions should be made, as this could risk your chances of spawning the desired season.
- As Espeon begins to eat the Fluffruit, it will stop and begin to run away down the path.
- As you reach the end of the path, you’ll eventually reach the Spring Route.
You will encounter the following Pokemon when visiting the Spring Route: Deerling, Kecleon, Sawsbuck, Unfezant, Bulbasaur, and Shiftry.
How to Unlock The Forest Ruins in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock The Forest Ruins Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- Complete the Foggy Area 2 as normal. There are no special conditions that you need to meet.
- This particular area could be defined as the default path for this course.
You will encounter the following Pokemon when visiting the The Forest Ruins Route: Unfezant, Serperior, Drampa, Bewear, Pancham, Applin, Celebi, Kecleon, Bulbasaur, Lotad, and Magikarp.
How to Unlock the Valley in Elsewhere Forest
To unlock the Valley Alternate Route in Elsewhere Forest, you will need to follow the steps below:
- At the start of the Foggy Area 2, turn right and throw an Illumina Orb at the Crystabloom on the ledge. As it glows, a Deerling will approach it.
- Once Deerling has appeared, use an Illumina Orb on the next Crystabloom, that’s located on the same ledge, not too far away.
- As you continue along the course, you’ll find an opening on the right that features two Crystabloom. Throw an Illumina Orb at the Crystabloom that’s located the furthest away. Hitting the Crystabloom closest to the NEO-ONE will result in you having to restart the course.
- As you continue forward, scan the opening by the two Espurr and you will have permanently unlocked the path that leads to the secret Valley.
When travelling through the Valley, you will encounter every Pokemon that you have discovered throughout the course.
Check back soon for more information!
How to Unlock the Private Beach Path in Blushing Beach (Day)
The Private Beach alternate path is available permanently and does not need to be unlocked in order for the path to be used.
Simply scan the area when nearing the Private Beach and you’ll unlock the ability to travel through the route.
The Private Beach alternate path is available permanently and does not need to be unlocked in order for the path to be used. Simply scan the area when nearing the Private Beach and you’ll unlock the ability to travel through the route.
The first alternate path here isn’t traditional – you’ll simply go around the Wailord to the left or right depending on the direction you’re looking at while you approach.
Near the end of the course, scan to go right. You don’t need to do anything to unlock this alternate route.
The first alternate path here isn’t traditional – you’ll simply go around the Wailord to the left or right depending on the direction you’re looking at while you approach.
Near the end of the course, scan to go right. You don’t need to do anything to unlock this alternate route.
Lental Seafloor – All Alternate Paths and Routes
- You need to first unlock the Illumina Orbs for Maricopia to unlock this route. See How to Unlock All Illumina Orbs for detailed instruction.
- You’ll then need to raise the Lental Seafloor – Undersea course to Research Level 2.
- Then, do the course at Research Level 2. Watch the Clawitzer at the start of the course wander to a cave to the left – throw Illumina Orbs at it as it prepares to fire.
- This will power it up enough so that it destroys the rocks here – scan this to choose the alternate path.
You can also increase Undersea to Research Level 3 to automatically gain access to this path, but earning expedition points a long process. Completing the course through this path will then unlock the Lental Seafloor Illumina Spot for Maricopia.
Seafloor Alternate Path to Lugia‘s Lair
This path will take you to the Legendary Pokemon, Lugia.
- First, raise the Lental Seafloor – Undersea to Research Level 2.
- Unlock the alternate route in the Lental Seafloor – Undersea, near the beginning of the course (described above), and take that path.
- Eventually, you’ll find yourself in a deep cavern. Look around for the Lanturn here and toss an Illumina Orb at it. You’ll know you did it in time if it dives down.
- Keep an eye on the Frillish couple on the ledge. A Wailord will block your view for a few seconds, but when it passes, the Frillish will now be harassing the Lanturn from earlier. Toss an illumina orb at the Lanturn to free it.
- Grateful for the help, Lanturn will lead you to an alternate route through a dark, tight space. Unfortunately, you’ll need to do steps 2-4 each time you want to go to Lugia‘s lair.
The Lental Seafloor Illumina Spot course, unfortunately, does not feature any alternative routes.
Starting at Research Level 2 you will automatically be able to choose a path by the Oasis that will go to the right.
Starting at Research Level 2 you will automatically be able to choose a path by the Oasis that will go to the left.
Fireflow Volcano – All Alternate Paths and Routes
At Research Level 2, the path to the right toward the caves with Blue Lava will open up as the default path, and be the only path available. At Research Level 3, you will need to choose between the left path and the right path to the caverns with the Blue Lava.
You can choose which path you take at the beginning of the Fireflow Volcano Illumina Spot. Throw a Fluffruit at the Volcarona on the left to go left, and the one on the right to go right. You will need to go to the path to the left to unlock the 4-star photo of Volcarona in New Pokemon Snap.
The alternate routes in the Shiver Snowfields are a bit tricky, as different routes must be triggered in both Shiver Snowfields (Day) and Shiver Snowfields (Night) course. You need both courses to be Research Level 2, as well.
- As soon as you start the Shiver Snowfields (Day) course, look to the left to see an Alolan Sandslash. Take a photo of it.
- Up ahead, but in the same area, keep an eye up on the ledges to he left, just beyond Beartic, to find the Sandslash again. Take another photo of it.
- This will open up a path through the snow to the right during the day, and also in the Shiver Snowfields (Night) course! This will always be available. But, there’s another alternate path, too.
- Now, head to the Shiver Snowfields (Night) level, and take the path to the right you just opened up by doing the above.
- Throw an Illumina Orb at the Crabominable as it’s powering up to punch the tree. This will knock snow onto the Abomasnow, and disturb a hiding Froslass.
- Photograph the Froslass. This will open up another branching path to the right, for both the Snowfields (Day) and (Night) Course. This branching path at (Night) leads to the area where you can find a Legendary Pokemon! Learn how to trigger Suicune to show up on its page.
Outaway Cave – All Alternate Paths and Routes
The first alternate route will be pointed out to you once you reach Research Level 2, it’s in the large, open cavern with the waterfall, and Noibat will lead you to it. Use the scanner to take it!
The second Outaway Cave alternate route requires Outaway Cave to be Research Level 3, taking the first alternate route described above, and triggering a Legendary Pokemon encounter.
- Take the alternate route to the crystal cave, where you first saw Mawile.
- Once through the tunnel, look straight down as you enter the area with crystals – there are two Carbink and a Mawile below.
- Hit those three Pokemon with Illumina orbs, and Diancie will enter from the right.
- Throw Illumina Orbs at the Diancie so it creates a diamond.
- Doing the above method causes the angry Mawile up ahead to trust you, allowing you to take the route beyond it. You just need to scan that area! This is the only way you’ll be able to photograph Jolteon.
At Research Level 2, an alternate path for the Outaway Cave Illumina Spot will open up. This won’t offer additional chances to photograph the Illumina Pokemon Steelix, nor any new Pokemon you didn’t see earlier in the stage.
There isn’t necessarily an alternate path for the Ruins of Remembrance course, but you do need to activate all the Crystabloom (which activate statues at the ruins) by throwing Illumina orbs at them to unlock the final Illumina Spot.
- To unlock the Illumina Orbs for Aurus, photograph a Crystabloom at the beginning of the stage.
- Right in front of the Meganium statue.
- To the right of the Whishiwashi statue.
- A bit difficult to see, in between two pillars by the Milotic statue.
- Throw Illumina orbs at the Edelgoss in front of the Volcarona statue to reveal the Crystabloom here.
- Throw Crystabloom at the Golurk by the Steelix statue.
- The final group of Crystabloom should all be alight except for the center one – hit this with an Illumina orb.
Doing the above will unlock the Ruins of Remembrance Illumina Spot. After beating the game, this is a step to trigger a special action by a Legendary Pokemon – Secret Legendary Pokemon.
The Ruins of Remembrance Illumina Spot course, unfortunately, does not feature any alternative routes.