If you’re hunting for gold in the Grizzly Mountains, you’ve probably realized by now that Rockstar Games doesn't make things easy. Finding the Poisonous Trail Map 2 is one of those moments where you might find yourself screaming at the screen because every rock starts looking exactly the same after forty minutes of riding through the brush. Honestly, it's frustrating. You’ve already found the first map at Cairn Lake, tucked away in that frozen cabin where Flaco Hernandez was hiding out, and now you’re staring at a sketch of some weird rock formation that looks like a face.
It’s not just about the money, though the gold bars at the end of this trail are worth a cool $2,000 at any fence. It’s about the hunt. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that rewards patience, but it also tests your ability to spot a needle in a haystack—or in this case, a hole in a hill.
Where Exactly Is the Poisonous Trail Map 2?
To get your hands on the Poisonous Trail Map 2, you need to head over to Face Rock. It’s located in Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne. If you look at your world map, find the "R" and "L" in "Scarlett Meadows" and look just to the west. You'll see a distinct rocky outcrop. The map itself is literally tucked inside a hollow tree stump right near the top of the hill.
Most players make the mistake of looking at the face. Don't do that. You want to be behind it or slightly above it. Walk around the ridge and keep your eyes peeled for a dried-up, broken stump. It’s unremarkable. It’s easy to miss. But once you interact with it, Arthur (or John) will reach in and pull out the next clue.
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Why is this specific location so iconic? Rockstar designers used real-world geological inspirations for Lemoyne, blending the red clay of Georgia with the mysterious rock formations of the Appalachian foothills. Face Rock is a nod to those "Old Man of the Mountain" style landmarks that dot American folklore. It feels grounded in the world, like something a 19th-century outlaw would actually use as a waypoint because it's impossible to forget once you've seen it from the right angle.
Decoding the Sketch
Once you have the Poisonous Trail Map 2 in your satchel, open it up. It’s a messy drawing. You’ll see a series of hills and a very specific, snake-like mound. This is where people usually get stuck for hours. They wander around the Heartlands thinking it’s a natural ridge. It isn't.
It’s the Serpent Mound.
You need to ride north of Van Horn Trading Post. Specifically, look for the area labeled "Roanoke Ridge." To the west of the main road, you’ll find a massive earthwork in the shape of a snake. This is actually based on the real-life Great Serpent Mound in Ohio, an effigy mound built by indigenous peoples. In the game, it’s eerie. It’s quiet. And if you go there at night, the atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife.
Finding the Final Map
At the "head" of the snake mound, there’s a pile of stones. Deep inside that pile is the third and final map. You don't need tools. You just need to stand in the right spot until the "Search" prompt appears.
The transition from the Poisonous Trail Map 2 to the third location is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. You've moved from the snowy peaks of Ambarino to the red dust of Lemoyne, and now you're heading into the dark, damp forests of Roanoke. It’s a journey across the map that shows off just how diverse the landscape is.
The Elysian Pool Secret
The third map points you toward Elysian Pool. This is where things get "poisonous." If you’ve spent any time in Roanoke Ridge, you know the water there is nasty. It’s grey, oily, and the fish are all mutated. This ties into the broader lore of the Butcher Creek inhabitants and the mining pollution from Annesburg.
The treasure isn't just sitting in a chest. You have to go behind the waterfall.
- Enter the Cave: Walk straight through the curtain of water at the north end of Elysian Pool. Bring a lantern. It is pitch black.
- The Steep Drop: Keep right as you enter. You'll find a small ledge you have to drop down. Be careful—if you slip, Arthur might take a nasty tumble and you'll have to start the climb again.
- The Crawlspace: Look for a tiny hole in the wall. You literally have to crouch and squeeze through.
- The Chamber of Gold: After some platforming and a bit of sliding down damp rocks, you’ll reach a chamber with four gold bars.
Four. Gold. Bars.
That is $2,000. In the 1899 economy, that's enough to buy every upgrade for your camp, a top-tier Missouri Fox Trotter, and still have enough left over to pay off every bounty in the five states.
Why Most Players Struggle
The biggest hurdle with the Poisonous Trail Map 2 isn't the map itself; it’s the distractions. Red Dead 2 is designed to pull you off the path. You’re riding to Face Rock and suddenly a stranger is being bitten by a snake, or the Murfree Broths are trying to ambush you.
Also, the visual cues on the map are subtle. The drawing of the "snake" on the second map doesn't look like a snake unless you’re viewing it from an aerial perspective, which the game doesn't give you. You have to use your brain. You have to look at the curves of the earth.
There’s also a bit of a misconception that you can skip steps. You can't. If you go to the Serpent Mound without having the Poisonous Trail Map 2 in your inventory, the prompt to search the rocks simply won't appear. The game forces you to play the role of the investigator. You have to follow the trail, or the trail stays cold.
Practical Tips for the Hunt
If you’re heading out now, do yourself a favor and pack some Thyme Game or Minty Big Game meat. Your stamina is going to take a hit while you're climbing around Roanoke Ridge.
- Check your Satchel: Ensure you actually looked at the map. Arthur needs to "read" it for the game to register the next location.
- Time of Day: Visit the Serpent Mound during the day. The lighting makes the shape of the mound much easier to distinguish from the surrounding grass.
- Horse Care: The terrain in Roanoke is treacherous. One wrong step and your horse is down a ravine. Hitch your horse near the road and walk the last few hundred yards to the mound.
The Poisonous Trail is arguably the best treasure hunt in the game because it forces you to engage with the world’s history and its environmental degradation. It’s not just about the loot; it’s about the descent into the literal and figurative darkness of the American frontier.
Once you have those gold bars, take them to the Fence at Emerald Ranch or Saint Denis. Don't sit on them. Bounties can be expensive, and there’s no sense in being the richest corpse in the graveyard.
Final Steps to Success
- Go to Face Rock in Scarlett Meadows and find the hollow stump for the second clue.
- Travel to the Serpent Mound west of Van Horn and search the rocks at the snake's head.
- Navigate the cave behind Elysian Pool waterfall, making sure to bring a light source.
- Collect the four gold bars and sell them immediately to maximize your early-game or end-game wealth.
Everything about this questline feels earned. From the moment you find that first map in the frozen north to the final slide into the gold chamber, you are living the life of a desperate man looking for a big score. It's one of the few activities in the game that perfectly balances challenge with a massive, tangible reward.
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Next Steps:
- Head to Scarlett Meadows to find the Face Rock formation.
- Ensure your Lantern is equipped before entering the Elysian Pool cave system.
- Visit a Fence immediately after collecting the bars to convert them into cash.