New Pokemon Snapfeatures a total of 30 courses and, much like the original game, many of them featurealternate routes for players to explore. Some of these are available straight away, but others will need to be unlocked either byincreasing the course’s research levelor by interacting with some of the Pokemon that can be found in the immediate area.
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For the most part, gaining access toNew Pokemon Snap’s alternate routes is relatively simple and after players have done so once, they can typically do so on future runs simply by scanning the area where the new route begins. There are one or two, however, that can be a little tricky to find and several which will need to be unlocked each time that players wish to explore them.
Updated on Jul 04, 2025 by Tom Bowen:New Pokemon Snap’s 2.0 update has now arrived, bringing with it new requests, new Pokemon, and several new courses. Of course, new courses also means new alternate routes, with the three new DLC areas each having their own special detour. In fact, strictly speaking, one of the three new areas added into the game as part of the update is itself an alternate route, even if players are technically able to select it directly from the course select screen. Either way, exploring these new routes will be vital for those hoping to track down all of thenew Pokemon added in the 2.0 update.
Bidoof Dam
Players will unlock the Bidoof Dam route after reaching research level 3 onthe Park (Day) courseand research level 2 inthe course’s nighttime variant. At nighttime, players will take the route by default, but they will need to scan for it while playing in the daytime version of the course.
Secret Side Path
After installing the 2.0 update, players should receive a message from Todd’s overly enthusiastic apprentice, Phil. He’ll suggest scanning a special tree in the nature park during the daytime in order to test out the NEO-ONE’s new shrink function. Doing so once will unlock both day and night versions of Secret Side Path on the course select screen, though players can still continue to access the area by scanning the tree near the lake in a normal Park (Day) orPark (Night)run.
Snorlax’s Den
Players will be able to visit Snorlax’s den in both thedayandnightversions of the Secret Side Path course. In order to do so, all they’ll need to do is scan the reeds near the start of the course, which will lead to the NEO-ONE veering off to the left. Later on, there can also be a slight deviation to the route near the sleeping Torterra depending on how players interact with the Pokemon in the hollowed-out branches, but the change is so minuscule it has absolutely no bearing on a run.
Swamp
To gain access to the swamp route, players will need to hit the Crystabloom near the beginning ofthe Jungle (Night) coursewith an Illumina Orb and then scan the glowing footprints. After doing so, the route will be available in both versions of the course by scanning the area.
Ruins
The ruins route is only available in the nighttime version of Founja Jungle at research level 2 or above. To gains access to it, players should not take the swamp route and instead look for a Liepard sleeping on a cliff over to the right just past the two sleeping Toucannon. Hitting it withIllumina Orbsand Fluffruit won’t seem to have much effect, but if players are successful, the same Liepard will show up behind them just after the NEO-ONE heads out over the branches. This will cause another Liepard to jump down from a branch above and knock players down into the jungle below. Annoyingly, this process must be repeated every time players want to take the ruins route.
Behind the Waterfall
Players can get behind the waterfall at research level 3 in both versions of the course. To do so, they’ll need to look ahead while they’re traveling over the branches and find a Liepard that’s sitting or standing on a rock. Hitting it with Illumina Orbs andFluffruitas early as possible will cause it to jump off the rock rather than fall asleep as it usually would and players can then scan the area to follow the new route. As with the ruins route though, players will have to repeat this process every time they want to get behind the waterfall.
Winter Area
To unlock the winter area inthe Forest course, players will need to reach research level 3 and then use the Melody Player near the Trevenant that’s standing by the floating blue rock. Once it moves the rock, players need to perform a scan and then hit Espeon with an Illumina Orb. The route will remain unlocked in future runs, although players will need to hit the Espeon with an Illumina Orb every time they take it to avoid going to the summer area instead.
Sunny Plains Area
Once players hit research level 3, they’ll notice a lost Deerling over to their right in the second foggy area. They’ll need to illuminate the nearby Crystablooms to guide the Pokemon along the course, although should only hit the one at the back when they reach the alcove with two Crystablooms. If done correctly, Deerling will be reunited with Sawsbuck and the pair will run ahead and open up a new path to the right of the default route. After this, scanning the area will allow players to take the route whenever they please.
Moonlit Cave
Players can pass through the Moonlit Cave inRiver (Night)by reaching research level 2 and then scanning the vines with the three Beautifly on them. For those having trouble finding them, they’re on the right not long after Gyarados' waterfall. After visiting the cave at night, players will be able to go there at research levels 1 and 3 inthe River (Day) courseby scanning in the same area. It’s also possible to get knocked onto land in each course; automatically just past the waterfall in River (Day) and near the start of River (Night) if the Feraligatr dives off the cliff - both at research level 2.
Private Beach
Players can visit the private beach in both versions ofthe Blushing Beach coursewithout needing to increase their research level. To do so, they’ll simply need to perform a scan shortly after passing through the stone archway near where the sleeping Exeggutor blocks their path during the day.
Hidden Bay
Much like the one found at Blushing Beach,Maricopia Reef’s alternate route is accessible from the get go. To gain access to it, players will need to perform a scan in the area betweenthe whirlpooland the rocky section at the end of the course. It’s also possible to alter the path that the NEO-ONE takes around the Wailord by turning the camera left or right when they appear.
Undersea Cave
Once players have reached research level 2 andunlocked the pink Illumina Orbs by photographing the glowing Frillish, they’ll come across a Clawitzer near the beginning of the course.Hitting it with an Illumina Orb will cause it to destroy a boulderthat had been blocking a nearby tunnel and this grants access to the undersea cave. From here on out, players will be able to perform a scan to revisit the cave whenever they return to the course.
Lugia’s Den
If players take the undersea cave route at research level 3 and have already completed the game, they’ll find a Lanturn swimming around in the deep tunnel that leads down to the seafloor’s depths. Hitting it with an Illumina Orb will cause it to swim downwards while a hoard of other Pokemon swim up. Immediately after the Wailord passes, players should see the Lanturn hanging out with two Frillish and will need to hit it with another Illumina Orb so that it continues its descent. Upon arriving at the bottom of the tunnel, performing a scan will grant access to Lugia’s Den, although players will need to repeat the entire process if they wish to return there in future runs.
Oasis
The default routes for theSands (Day)andSands (Night)courses are slightly different. Upon reaching research level 2 in each course, however, players will be able to perform a scan immediately after traveling down the first big sand dune to switch over to the route found in the other version of the course.
Blue Lava Cave
Upon reaching research level 2 and reentering the course, the default route inFireflow Volcanowill change shortly after players enter the main volcano area. After this, players will be able to perform a scan in the same area to choose whether to take the alternate route again.
