What I mean is this: at Volskygge there's a gate puzzle (fox, wolf, bear, snake). When you solve it the gate opens but then closes behind you.

I wandered into the place many levels ago on accident and kept going because I was about to level up. Once I got to my next level I decided to turn and go back out. But I couldn't. So I ran through the place and when I got to the end there was dragon priest. Said dragon priest killed me repeatedly so I bailed down the hill and escaped. Several levels later I went back to get him but the gates won't open. All the bandits and draugr had respawned up to that point (IIRC) but I couldn't activate the mechanisms to re-open the gate.

I think there's a back way to get to the dragon priest but I'd rather go through the dungeon again.

Anyone know?

Bad news, that part of the dungeon is inaccessible again. If you did not get the Mask and or Word of Power the first time, then you can't go back.

If you are on PC, you may be able to use the console to get past this. Either Disable the door or use TCL to walk through it.

The Word Wall and the Dragon Priest are in the exterior world and can be encountered by walking up the hill from the entrance of Volskygge.
If you want the experience from doing a dugeon crawl, the exit door does not have a bar and you can work your way to the closed gate from the exit.

I could not remember this so I actually went home and loaded up the game. Yes, you can reach the Word Wall and Priest and never set foot in Volskygge. In fact, when I got this word and mask, I did not go into the dungeon. And, I popped in the dungeon real quick to see if I had ever been in there, and I have not, so I have another place to explore.

Okay cool. That's what really matters anyway. For whatever reason I remember trying to climb back up that hill later on but wasn't able to. I'll give it another shot.

I don't think you can get there from the bottom entrance area. I actually stumbled on this place by walking to it from the other side of the hill.

Could you use a horse to get up there?