Dark Gate

The course of the Dry River in the far north of Dimbar led into a cavern in the walls of the Echoriath. That cavern led in turn to a tunnel that passed on into the mountains in utter darkness: the secret Hidden Way that led towards Gondolin. At its end was a gate in the darkness, guarded by sentinels who could challenge and capture intruders before they could be seen. This gate was called, naturally enough, the Dark Gate, but it was also the First and Outer Gate of the Seven that led on through the ravine of the Orfalch Echor to reach the fabled city of Gondolin.