You're riding through the Grizzlies, the snow is blinding, and your horse is agitated because there’s a pack of wolves somewhere in the trees. Then you see it. A strange, swirling pattern etched into the side of a cliff that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, not 1899. That’s the "Geology for Beginners" mission in a nutshell. It’s one of the weirdest side quests in Red Dead Redemption 2, and honestly, finding all the rock carvings locations rdr2 has tucked away is a massive pain if you don't know exactly where to look.
Francis Sinclair is the guy who sets you on this path. You’ll find him sitting on his porch northwest of Strawberry. He’s wearing a sweater vest that looks fifty years out of place and talks like he’s from a 1920s noir film. He wants you to find ten carvings scattered across the map. He doesn't tell you why. He just says they’re important.
Most players stumble onto one or two by accident. But getting all ten? That requires scaling mountains and navigating narrow ledges where one wrong tap of the joystick sends Arthur (or John) screaming into a canyon. It’s tedious. It’s dangerous. But the payoff—and the lore implications—are arguably some of the best in the game.
Where to actually find the rock carvings locations rdr2 hides from you
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. You aren't going to find these by just wandering. Rockstar was incredibly precise with the placement.
Near Strawberry, specifically at Owanjila Lake, there’s one right on the shore. If you head to the southwestern side of the lake and walk along the rocks, you’ll see it. It’s probably the easiest one to snag. No mountain climbing required. Just watch out for the occasional grizzly bear that likes to spawn near the treeline.
Then things get vertical.
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Up at Mount Shann, you have to deal with the elevation. There’s a carving on a cliff face that overlooks the valley. You’ll know you’re close when you see the giant skeleton—another one of the game's many mysteries. The carving itself depicts what looks like a DNA strand and some celestial bodies. It’s bizarre. To get there, follow the path up the mountain and look for a small plateau on the southern side.
North of Valentine and the Dakota River
The Heartlands and the areas surrounding the Dakota River hold a few more secrets. There’s a spot called Window Rock. Most people go there for the Strange Statues puzzle (which gives you gold bars, so do that too), but if you head slightly north of the actual "window" in the rock, you’ll find a carving on a high ledge.
Further east, near Whinyard Strait, there’s one tucked away near the bridge. You have to be careful here. The terrain is slippery. If you’re coming from the bridge, look toward the rock walls on the northern side of the river. It’s etched pretty high up, so you might need your binoculars to spot it before you commit to the climb.
The sheer weirdness of the Cumberland Forest and Grizzlies West
The Grizzlies are the worst for navigation. Period.
One carving is located at Mount Hagen. This is near the end-game area, so if you’re early in the story, it’s a long, cold trek. The carving is on a rock face right at the end of the trail near the summit. It’s cold. Your stamina drains faster. Bring crackers. Or canned peaches. Whatever Arthur prefers.
There’s another one near Bacchus Station. If you go to the top of the cliffs overlooking the Dakota River, north of the station, you have to look for a path that descends slightly. It’s a "hidden" ledge. If you stay on the main forest floor, you’ll never see it. You have to be willing to look over the edge, which is usually a bad idea in this game, but here it's necessary.
- Owanjila Lake: Easy shore access.
- Mount Shann: South-facing cliff near the peak.
- Mount Hagen: End of the trail, high altitude.
- Whinyard Strait: North side of the water, near the bridge.
- Dakota River: High ledge overlooking the water.
Actually, the one near Moonstone Pond is the one that trips people up. It’s south of the pond, etched into a rock that faces the forest. It’s easy to walk right past it because the trees are so dense.
Why the rewards are better than you think
So, why do this? Is it just for a trophy?
Not really.
Once you mail all ten locations to Francis Sinclair, you wait about 24 in-game hours. He’ll invite you back to his cabin. What you find there is... well, it’s a time-travel paradox. I won't spoil the visual details, but pay attention to the sketches on the wall and the "baby" in the room.
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You also get the Old Brass Compass.
This isn't just a souvenir. You need this specific item to craft the Raven Claw Talisman at a Fence. The Raven Claw Talisman permanently slows down the degradation of your weapons by 20%. In a game where your gun gets dirty if you even look at a puddle, that 20% is huge. It saves you money on gun oil and keeps your stats peaked during long missions.
Tips for the frustrating ones near Roanoke Ridge
Roanoke Ridge is creepy. The music changes. The people are... "unfriendly."
There is a carving at Deer Cottage. It’s on a cliffside just to the north of the building. You can actually see the cottage from the carving location. It’s one of the more scenic spots, if you can ignore the sound of the Murfree Brood lurking in the bushes nearby.
The final one most people find is near Annesburg. Go to the "N" in Annesburg on your map. There’s a high ridge overlooking the town. The carving is right there, staring out at the coal mines. It feels fitting—a futuristic carving looking down at the industrial revolution's grimiest corner.
Getting the timing right
Don't try to do these all at once in Chapter 2. You can, but it’s a lot of riding.
The best way to handle the rock carvings locations rdr2 quest is to integrate it into your natural exploration. If you’re heading to the Grizzlies for a legendary animal, grab the carvings nearby. If you’re doing a bounty in Strawberry, hit Owanjila.
Make sure you actually "Inspect" the carving. Just looking at it doesn't count. Arthur needs to pull out his journal and scribble it down. If he doesn't do the animation, you haven't "found" it in the eyes of the game's quest tracker.
Navigating the post-game
If you’re playing as John in the Epilogue, don’t worry. You can still finish this. Francis Sinclair doesn’t care if you’re Arthur or John; the time-space continuum is weird like that. In some ways, it's actually easier to do this later because you have more stamina and better horses to handle the mountain climbs.
Actionable steps for your hunt
To finish this quest efficiently and get your talisman, follow this sequence:
- Trigger the Quest: Head to the cabin northwest of Strawberry and talk to Francis.
- The "Easy" Loop: Hit Owanjila, Mount Shann, and the Dakota River locations first. These are all relatively central.
- The "Northern" Loop: Bundle Mount Hagen and the Whinyard Strait carvings together. Prepare for cold weather—dress Arthur in his Winter Gunslinger outfit.
- The "Eastern" Loop: Hit the carvings near Annesburg, Deer Cottage, and Moonstone Pond in one trip.
- Mail the Coordinates: Go to any Post Office and send the mail.
- Wait and Return: Sleep or do a mission, then check your mail for the invitation. Return to the cabin to see the "ending" of the quest and grab the Brass Compass from the table.
- Visit a Fence: Take the compass and some jewelry (you'll need a Silver Chain Bracelet or similar, depending on the talisman) to any Fence to craft your Raven Claw Talisman.
Don't forget to look at the murals inside the cabin before you leave for the last time. They tell a story that connects the carvings to a bigger picture involving the Epsilon Program—a recurring easter egg in Rockstar games. It’s a weird, sci-fi nugget in an otherwise grounded Western.