You're likely standing at the top of a windy ridge in Ambarino, shivering in the game's digital cold, wondering why on earth the poisonous trail treasure map 2 is so much harder to find than the first one. It's frustrating. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece, but Rockstar Games has a habit of making their treasure hunts feel like you're trying to find a needle in a haystack—while the haystack is actively trying to freeze you to death. Honestly, the map itself is a bit of a tease. It looks like a bunch of rocks and a weirdly shaped mound, which, in a game that is 90% rocks and mounds, doesn't really narrow things down.
Most players stumble through the Grizzlies for hours. They check every crevice. They get attacked by wolves. They eventually give up and check a guide, which is probably why you're here.
The hunt for the Poisonous Trail isn't just about the gold bars at the end, though the $2,000 payout (four gold bars) is definitely the primary motivator for any self-respecting outlaw in 1899. It's about the environmental storytelling. You're following the literal "poisonous trail" of a hunt that went wrong long before Arthur Morgan ever showed up. But to get to the third map and the final cache, you have to survive the location of the poisonous trail treasure map 2.
Where the Hell is Face Rock?
To find the second map, you need to head to Scarlett Meadows in Lemoyne. Specifically, you are looking for a place called Face Rock. It's just west of Ringneck Creek. If you look at your world map, find the "R" and "L" in "Scarlett Meadows." The rock is right around there.
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Why is it called Face Rock? Because it looks like a face. A big, side-profile, stony face staring out over the plains. It's one of those things that once you see it, you can't unsee it.
But here’s the kicker: the map isn't on the face. It’s behind it. You’ll want to walk past the "nose" of the rock and head up the hill a bit. You’re looking for a very specific, hollowed-out tree stump. It’s gray, weathered, and looks like it’s been dead since the Civil War. Walk up to it, and you'll get a prompt to "Search." Arthur or John will reach in and pull out the poisonous trail treasure map 2.
What Most Players Get Wrong
A lot of people think the map is inside the "eye" of the rock or hidden in the bushes at the base. It isn't. You have to climb slightly higher than the actual face formation. If you're standing on top of the "forehead" of Face Rock, you've gone a bit too far. Back down. Look for that rotting stump. It’s lonely-looking.
The drawing on the first map was actually quite literal. It showed the side profile of the face and a small dotted line leading to a stump. In the world of RDR2, "literal" is a relative term. The perspective can be wonky.
Decoding the Second Map (The Snake Mound)
Once you have the poisonous trail treasure map 2 in your satchel, open it up. You'll see a drawing of what looks like a giant, coiled snake and a pile of stones. This isn't just flavor art. It’s an actual location in the game world that mimics real-life Effigy Mounds found in North America, like the Serpent Mound in Ohio.
This location is back up north, or rather, north-northeast. You need to head to Van Horn Trading Post and then go west. Look for a hill overlooking the Kamassa River.
The "snake" is a man-made (or at least, human-sculpted) earthwork. It’s huge. From the ground, it just looks like some weirdly shaped hills, but if you climb the nearby watchtower or just look at your mini-map, the shape becomes obvious. It’s a serpent winding across the grass.
Finding the Third Map
At the "head" of the snake, there is a pile of rocks. It looks like a burial cairn. Don't just stand there admiring the view of the river. Walk into the center of the rock circle. You’ll get another prompt to search. This will give you the third and final map.
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I’ve seen people spend twenty minutes running up and down the "body" of the snake thinking the treasure is hidden in the coils. It’s not. It’s always in the head. Think of it like the snake swallowed the secret.
The Reward: Why You're Doing This
Let's talk money. Each gold bar in Red Dead Redemption 2 is worth $500 at a Fence. The Poisonous Trail ends in a hidden cave behind a waterfall (at Elysian Pool, if you want a spoiler for the next step). Inside that cave, if you navigate the pitch-black tunnels correctly, you find four gold bars.
That’s $2,000.
In 1899, that’s a fortune. It’s enough to fully upgrade the camp, buy the best horses in the game, and still have enough left over to pay off every bounty you’ve ever racked up in Saint Denis.
- Step 1: Get the first map from Cairn Lake (in the lockbox under the bed in the cabin).
- Step 2: Go to Face Rock for the poisonous trail treasure map 2.
- Step 3: Go to the Snake Mound for the third map.
- Step 4: Hit the Elysian Pool waterfall for the gold.
It’s a trek. It takes you across almost the entire map, from the snow to the mud to the forest. But it's arguably the most rewarding treasure hunt because it doesn't require the weird, esoteric knowledge that the "Strange Statues" puzzle does.
Survival Tips for the Trail
Honestly, the biggest threat isn't the puzzles. It's the world.
When you're looking for the poisonous trail treasure map 2 near Face Rock, watch out for Lemoyne Raiders. They love to set up ambushes in the woods nearby. Also, keep an eye on your horse. The terrain around the snake mound is steep, and it’s very easy to tumble down toward the Kamassa River, which usually ends with a dead horse and a frustrated reload of your last save.
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Bring a lantern. You can't find the final gold without one, and even searching the stump at Face Rock is easier if you have some light to see the prompts, especially if you're doing this at night.
Real Talk on the "Poisonous" Part
Why is it called the Poisonous Trail? The game never explicitly sits you down and explains it via a cutscene. However, the lore implies the original treasure hunters died of various "poisonous" circumstances—bad water, snake bites, or just the madness of the hunt. When you finally get to the gold, you’ll see the environment is... well, it’s not exactly a health spa. The water at Elysian Pool is literally toxic due to the mining runoff.
It’s a nice bit of irony. You’re chasing gold into a poisoned landscape.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently holding the first map or standing near Scarlett Meadows, here is your immediate checklist:
- Ride to Face Rock: It's located just west of Ringneck Creek in Lemoyne. Look for the rock that looks like a human profile.
- Locate the Stump: Stand behind the "head" of the rock and look for a dead, gray tree stump. Search it to get the poisonous trail treasure map 2.
- Prepare for the Cold/Rain: Ensure you have some cooked big game meat or tonics. The next leg of the journey takes you through some rough weather.
- Head to the Serpent Mound: Travel to the area west of Van Horn. Find the stone circle at the head of the earthwork snake to progress.
- Visit a Fence: Don't carry those gold bars around forever. Go to the Fence in Saint Denis or Emerald Ranch immediately after finishing the hunt to liquidate your find into cash.
The hunt is one of the best ways to fund your early-game upgrades. Don't overthink the drawings on the map; they are more literal than you expect. Just find the landmark, find the container, and keep moving.