The zone Hillsbrad Foothills, or simply 'Hillsbrad', contains quests mostly suited for Horde characters around the level of 20. Located in the southern end of the north island of (Eastern Kingdoms), the hills are home to the towns of Southshore and Hillsbrad (Alliance towns before the Cataclysm), and Tarren Mill (Horde). Some notable locations, such as Durnholde Keep and Azurelode Mine are also found here. Since Hillside lies outside of Thoradin's Wall, it was a crossroads between Alliance and Horde players, which made combat between the two factions likely.

Before the Cataclysm, Hillsbrad was relatively safe and stable. Its hills were green and pastoral, its meadows fertile and its soil rich. Humans loyal to the Alliance controlled Hillsbrad from the town of Southshore, though the Syndicate, murlocs and Forsaken threatened their serenity. The Cataclysm upset this balance, however, as the Horde and Forsaken successfully pushed their way into the borders, destroying virtually everything the Alliance once held and chasing the refugees to Fenris Isle. The entirety of the region is now under Horde control, and those loyal to the Alliance would be foolish to set foot inside their borders.

The current Hillsbrad Foothills is made up of the former Hillsbrad Foothills region as well as the Alterac Mountains, as the two zones have been merged.

Hillsbrad is traditionally the most blood soaked battlefield on Azeroth, despite its pleasant, pastoral setting. In the Second War, it saw several important skirmishes between orcs and forest trolls on one side, and humans and high elves on the other. In the Third War, the Scourge wiped out the human town of Tarren Mill, though later it was claimed as the southernmost holding of the Forsaken. Since then, the undead have been battling fiercely with the humans of Southshore, and the region is infamous for having at one point been impossible to even enter without being slowed down by the constant battle and bloodshed. It was formerly the home of Dalaran before the Third War.