So I'm just starting my second character, and seeing as how I'm still in the low levels, I want to test out just how pervasive the level scaling is. I know how it works in theory, and I've experienced many leveled items/characters, but supposedly there were still things that were supposed to be relatively static or aimed at higher level characters. I'm now making it a point to go and find them. Weren't some of the dungeons designed to be between level 30-50? If so, which ones fall within that range? What are the hardest dungeons in the game?

If I remember correctly, Forelhost had some pretty high level Draugr when I was there with a relatively low-level character. Also Lost Valkygg in Labyrinthian contains 2 Draugr Deathlords with ebony weapons no mather what level you are.

Thanks, that's just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

QFT. Forelhost is an excellent place to train a warrior once it reaches lvl40. It's full of draugr lords, even 2-3 at the same time if you're not careful.
They also respawn in a couple of weeks so it can be cleared more than once (although the quest is done only once)

One difficult dungeon I go to at early level often is at Dustman's Cairn. It's for the second mission for The Companions, "Proving Honor". Depending on how you manage the battle, you get to fight up to 4 Draugr Deathlords at same time.

Valthume. Many of the Dungeons that are recommended for a high level character can be done at a lower level, but the Bosses are always very, very hard. Go snooping around Labrynthian, if you are lucky you can get some nice Ebony weapons at a really low level

That dungeons is entirely level based, I did it at level 30+ in my first playthrough and it contained deathlords, I just went through it at level 4 now and there are no deathlords at all and the highest level enemy was a Draugr Scourge (he was the "boss")

I got there at level 11 and it contained plenty Deathlords. Level 4? That's pretty low. I don't know how you did it. It gets too easy at level 30 because Deathlords stop using disarm spell.

Okay. I just created a new character to test this. I'm on a PC and got the game on Steam, and I'm on version 1.5.26.0.5, and the difficulty is set to Expert. This time I went directly to Whiterun and went to Jorrvaskr. My first (radiant) mission for the Companions was to clear out the Forsworn at Serpent's Bluff Redoubt. I played through 6 times or so and twice it was some fist fight at the inn, and the rest were at Serpent's Bluff Redoubt. So I go there at level 1 and when I clear it out, I'm level 5 and half. I fast travel back to Whiterun and get the Proving Honor mission and when Farkas and I went in to Dustman's Cairn, I was still Level 5.

Everything seems pretty normal going through the dungeon and by the time Farkas and I arrive at the boss fight, I'm level 8 and half.

I the first Draugr that pops out of the coffin is a Draugr Deathlord. I have been paying attention to Dustman's Cairn because facing lots of Draugr Deathlord seemed unusually hard at level 15 or 20, let alone level 8.

Does anybody know when the dungeon level gets determined? Is it your level when you enter the dungeon? Or is it your level when you reach the final cell of the dungeon? Or maybe it's your level when you are told to go to a particular dungeon?

I've done that quest tons of times, and I haven't seen a Deathlord below level 18 or so. Even with PISE and Wars in Skyrim, I didn't see Deathlords at that level.

To add to the OP, I went through Bthardamz at level 11 last night, and it was incredibly difficult. I was very surprised. I usually do that quest at level 25 or higher.

I use Pise I was a level 17 there is a Nordic temple Ragnvald near Markarth. There is lot of Deathlords in there. I have to fight an other day. That is too much.

This is my 3rd playthrough and I am doing it entirely without crafting (in my opinion crafting early game inflates your level too early and you end up struggling with combat greatly), I was level 4 and my only 2 abilities being levelled are 2H and Heavy Armor, in all honesty i'm finding the game much more fun this way, no sneaking, no crafting (although I suspect strongly smithing will be essential at higher levels). Also note that at level 4 you don't have to worry about Farkas being a liability because he is stuck at skill 25 2H regardless of level, so doing the dungeon early means he is actually fairly useful vs the level of enemy you are facing.

Maybe another factor is which quest you are doing as to what type of enemies you get in there, since The Forgemasters Fingers can also be located in Dustmans Cairn?

I just went through Dustman's Cairn again. I left at level 16 and the boss was a Wight. I have no idea how you are getting Deathlords at such a low level.

I went through Dustman's Cairn at about level 30-40 and I don't recall fighting any Deathlords, but there were a couple of Scourges though

Volunruud was the hardest place I tried at low level. The wikis offer several strategies for taking on the boss mob, which looks like other people had difficulty there too.

Volskygge and Arcwind Point should be good places. I've never not encountered a Death-Overlord in those places. Volskygge also has Volsung, an unleveled Dragon Priest in it as well.

I always thought having to face 4 Deathlords at same time on level 11 was a bit ridiculous. So, after obsessing about why this level was so difficult for a month, I did a fresh start by running the "Verify Integrity of Game Cache" check and starting a brand new game, not from a save.

Level 4: Draugrs
Level 8: Draugrs, Big Boss = Restless Draugr
Level 12: MiniBosses = Restless Draugrs, Minions = Draugrs, Big Boss = Restless Draugr
Level 16: MiniBosses = Restless Draugrs, Minions = Draugrs, Big Boss = Draugr Wight

So, I guess my game was corrupt or something.

I too have had deathlords with ebony weapons and scourges in Dustman's Cairn on a level 4ish char. I think there's a bug with the level scaling in that particular dungeon, if you're too low level.

forelhost most definitely ,i always tend to wait till my character is atleast lv 25 before going for that dungon
lots of high lvl draugr some nasty traps but a nice reward if you manage the boss at the end especially the wordwall

Another hard one is the second quest from the companions dustman cairn , those silverblades are aggresive and really can ruin your day

Also found most falmer locations hard at low level especially those big critters they use as pets