It's so funny you say that- initially the gates were visible from anywhere in the map, but I changed it because I wasn't sure if that would make it too easy. Also, I initially had the bonfires in there, then took them out because again, I wasn't sure if that would make it too easy, and put them back after someone else suggested a wayfinding system.
I think this is a sign that in the future I need to just not overthink things it and go with my initial feelings, haha!