Closed zone

In World of Warcraft, the continents are divided up into sections known in-game as zones (sometimes called regions). Some of them appear demarcated on the maps, but cannot be reached by players in any obvious way. For the purposes of this site, they will be called closed zones. Many closed zones are completely empty and flat, but some may contain interesting buildings, terrain, etc.

Not all closed zones are completely unreachable by players, although most require some creative use of game mechanics to access. In fact, some zones, such as Old Ironforge, remain accessible to players more than 2 years after the launch of the game, suggesting that they may be viewed by developers as easter eggs.

Zones that appear to be demarcated on official maps, but have been described in future expansions can be found in the future zones category. These zones may be opened in the near future and are also mentioned in the coming soon category. It should be noted that many, if not all, closed zones in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms either became accessible or were destroyed in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, due to the introduction of flying mounts and the remodeling of terrain to allow for them.

• Northern Lordaeron
• Western Dun Morogh
• Western Stonetalon Mountains

• East of Tor'Watha

• Mount Kajaro
• Island south of Tol Barad

• Islands near Exile's Reach

• Designer Island
• Development Land
• Programmer Isle

• Old Ironforge (accesible since patch 4.0.3a)
• Ironforge Airfield (accesible with flying since patch 4.0.3a)
• Mount Hyjal (overhauled in patch 4.0.3a)
• Large number of coastal and mountain areas (added in patch 4.0.3a)
• Forgotten Crypt (overhauled in patches 7.0.3 and 7.3.0)
• GM Island (removed in patch 8.2.0)

• Uncorrupted Tanaan Jungle (overhauled in patch 6.2.0)
• Southern Draenor

Unreleased zones:

• Island of Doctor Lapidis
• Gillijim's Isle
• Emerald Dream (unreleased)
• Outland before the first expansion
• Azjol-Nerub as a subterranean zone
• Deathwing Scar
• Farahlon (alternate universe)
• Thal'dranath south of Broken Shore