If a marker looks close but terrain blocks it, search for the route into that section before farming more enemies.
Follow the route, not every marker
Wildwood's useful story spine is Northern Crossing → Goblin storyline → Goblin King → Clear the Way / Keys of Bark and Stone / Light the Wayfinder Line → Crown of Thorns → Forest Path → Forest King. Optional events can wait unless they solve a concrete material or power problem.
Use Northern Crossing for the Lost Child
When the Lost Child marker looks close but terrain blocks the direct approach, treat Northern Crossing as the entrance clue. Circling the nearby area or clearing extra events does not replace finding the correct approach.
Find the Goblin Hideout from the surface
Start at Wildwood Center, stay on the surface, avoid the misleading Wildwood Caverns turn, use Farmstead General as a landmark and continue north. When the objective changes from Find the Goblin Hideout to Clear the Raid, the navigation checkpoint is complete.
The Goblin King does not end Wildwood
After Hoard King's Fall and the Goblin King, return to the forest route. The three Throne Path objectives are the next real gates; Deeds and Bounties are useful, but they do not replace the remaining campaign.
Crown of Thorns confirms the final push
Once Crown of Thorns changes to Confront the Forest King / Unlock the Door, stop searching for another hidden regional prerequisite. Make one clean Sanctum reset, then use Forest Path as the final readiness test.