You’re riding through the Heartlands, the sun is hitting the grass just right, and suddenly a bullet whizzes past your ear. Welcome to the frontier. Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just about hunting deer or playing poker in Saint Denis; it’s about the constant, looming threat of outlaws who want your head on a platter. If you're looking for gang hideout locations rdr2 veterans still struggle to clear, you’ve come to the right place. Most people just stumble into these while following the main story, but the real challenge—and the best loot—is tucked away in corners of the map you'd normally ignore.
It’s messy. Clearing these camps isn't a clean process of "aim and shoot." It’s a chaotic scramble of dynamite, screaming O'Driscolls, and hoping your horse doesn't bolt into the line of fire. Honestly, the way Rockstar designed these hideouts makes them feel less like video game levels and more like living, breathing dens of scum. You’ll find them in damp caves, abandoned ranches, and even carved into the side of cliffs.
Why You Should Care About These Hideouts
Look, I get it. You’ve got a long list of legendary animals to hunt and plenty of gold bars to find. But clearing hideouts is basically the fastest way to build up your combat skills and, more importantly, fill your satchel with valuables. Each camp usually has a lockbox or a chest hidden somewhere that contains high-velocity ammo, premium cigarettes, or literal stacks of cash.
Beyond the loot, it's about the 100% completion mark. You can’t reach that elusive trophy without clearing the major gang strongholds. The game tracks your progress against factions like the O'Driscolls, the Lemoyne Raiders, and those terrifying Murfree Broods. If you haven't visited the gang hideout locations rdr2 lists as "essential," you’re essentially playing half a game.
Six Point Cabin: The O'Driscoll Nightmare
Six Point Cabin is probably the first "real" hideout you’ll encounter. It’s located in the Cumberland Forest, just northeast of Valentine. Most players go here during a mission with Bill Williamson and John Marston, but if you go back later, the O'Driscolls often move back in. It’s a tight, claustrophobic area.
Trees everywhere.
The visibility is garbage, which makes it a nightmare if you’re trying to use a sniper rifle. Use a shotgun. The cabin itself usually holds a few items worth grabbing, but watch out for the guys hiding behind the woodpiles. They’ll flank you before you can even get a Dead Eye shot off. It’s a small camp, but it sets the tone for how the rest of the game handles these encounters.
Shady Belle: The Lemoyne Raiders' Swamp Fortress
Down in the humid, mosquito-infested Bayou Nwa, you’ll find Shady Belle. This place is iconic. It’s an old plantation house that the Lemoyne Raiders—bitter Civil War veterans—have turned into a heavily fortified base. Clearing this place is a rite of passage.
What makes Shady Belle interesting is the verticality. You have enemies on the balcony, guys in the parlor, and sentries patrolling the swampy perimeter. It’s one of the few gang hideout locations rdr2 offers that feels like a full-scale assault on a castle. If you’re playing as Arthur, you’ll eventually take this over as a camp, but before that happens, it’s a bloodbath.
Pro tip: Use the Gatling gun if you can reach it. There is nothing more satisfying than turning the Raiders' own heavy weaponry against them while they’re yelling about the "lost cause."
Beaver Hollow and the Murfree Brood
If you hate horror movies, you’re going to hate Beaver Hollow. This is tucked away in the northern part of Roanoke Ridge, and it is arguably the most disturbing location in the game. The Murfree Brood are basically the hills-have-eyes types. They don't just shoot you; they lay traps.
The hideout is a cave. Dark. Damp. Smells like rot.
When you enter Beaver Hollow, you’re not just dealing with guns. You’re dealing with guys rushing you with machetes in the dark. It’s high-stress. The loot here is okay, but the real reward is just getting out of there with your skin intact. Rockstar really leaned into the atmospheric horror here, making it one of the most memorable gang hideout locations rdr2 has on the map.
Hanging Dog Ranch: The Sniper's Paradise
Head out west to Big Valley, specifically the northern end of the Little Creek River. You’ll see a massive barn and a farmhouse. This is Hanging Dog Ranch. Unlike the cramped caves of Roanoke, this place is wide open. It’s the perfect spot to test out your Rolling Block Rifle.
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The O'Driscolls (and later, other factions) use this as a major hub. There’s a Maxim gun in the barn loft that will absolutely shredded you if you try to run across the field. Seriously, don’t do that. You have to be smart. Sneak through the tall grass or pick off the sentries from the treeline. It feels like a classic Western standoff.
Breaking Down the Loot at Hanging Dog
- The Barn: Check the loft for ammo crates.
- The House: Usually contains a few cans of food and some jewelry on the nightstand.
- The Backyard: Don't forget to loot the bodies; these guys usually carry decent pocket watches.
Fort Mercer and the Del Lobo Gang
Now we’re talking about the epilogue. Once the map opens up into New Austin, you get to revisit Fort Mercer. If you played the first Red Dead Redemption, this place will give you chills. It’s a massive stone fort occupied by the Del Lobo gang.
This is arguably the hardest hideout in the game.
The walls are thick, the gates are reinforced, and the Del Lobos are crack shots. You can’t just walk in the front door. Well, you can, but you’ll die. You have to find angles. There are several ways to approach the fort, but the most effective is usually picking off the guards on the ramparts before breaching the main courtyard. It’s a long fight. Bring plenty of Snake Oil and chewing tobacco because your Dead Eye meter is going to be empty before the halfway point.
Thieves' Landing: The Lawless Port
Thieves' Landing is a bit different. It’s not a "hideout" in the traditional sense of a hidden camp; it’s an entire settlement run by the Del Lobos. There’s no law here. No sheriffs, no bounties, just pure chaos.
Walking into Thieves' Landing is like walking into a hornet's nest. One wrong move and the whole town starts shooting. It’s a great place to farm for XP and loot because the enemies just keep coming. It lacks the structure of a place like Shady Belle, but it makes up for it in pure volume of targets. Just be careful near the water; falling in while being shot at is a quick way to lose your progress.
Gaptooth Ridge: The Abandoned Mine
Deep in the westernmost part of the map lies Gaptooth Breach. It’s an old mining facility, and it’s crawling with outlaws. What makes this one of the coolest gang hideout locations rdr2 features is the underground section.
You fight through the surface buildings, picking off snipers on the crane, and then you descend into the mine shafts. It’s pitch black. You’ll need your lantern or a very itchy trigger finger. The close-quarters combat inside the tunnels is intense. It’s easy to get cornered, so keep a sawed-off shotgun handy.
The Nuance of Clearing Hideouts
A lot of players think you just kill everyone and leave. That’s a mistake. The game actually rewards you for how you handle these situations. Sometimes, the last remaining gang member will surrender. You have a choice: kill him, or let him go.
Does it matter? Honestly, not for your completion percentage. But for your Honor meter? Absolutely. If you’re playing a "High Honor" Arthur or John, letting them flee is the way to go. If you're playing a cold-blooded outlaw, well, you know what to do.
Also, pay attention to the environment. Rockstar hid little lore bits in these hideouts. Letters, newspaper clippings, and even dialogue you can overhear before the shooting starts. It builds the world. You realize these aren't just "red dots" on a map; they’re people with backstories, even if those backstories are mostly about being terrible human beings.
Strategic Tips for Survival
If you’re going to hit these hideouts, don’t go in half-cocked. Here is the reality of how to survive:
- Scope it out. Use your binoculars. Tag the enemies. Know where the snipers are.
- Health is everything. Eat a big game meat meal before you start. You want those gold cores.
- Horses stay back. Nothing ruins a raid like your favorite horse catching a stray bullet. Hitch them a safe distance away.
- Loot as you go. If the fight is moving to a new area, take five seconds to loot the bodies nearby. If you wait until the end, some bodies might despawn, and you’ll miss out on those precious gold teeth and wedding bands.
The variety in gang hideout locations rdr2 provides is what keeps the endgame interesting. From the snowy peaks of Ambarino to the dusty plains of New Austin, there’s always someone who needs to be cleared out.
Your Next Steps in the Frontier
Now that you know where to look, it’s time to actually do the work. Start with the smaller camps like Six Point Cabin to get your rhythm down. Once you feel comfortable, head south to Shady Belle. The game doesn't hold your hand with these; you have to find the right approach that works for your playstyle.
Check your "Progress" menu frequently. It will tell you which gangs you've encountered and how many of their hideouts you’ve successfully cleared. If you're aiming for that 100% completion, make sure you don't miss the ones in the epilogue area, as those are often the ones players overlook after the main story ends. Grab your repeating shotgun, stock up on Express ammo, and go claim those rewards. The West won't civilize itself.