You're riding through the Heartlands, the sun is hitting the grass just right, and suddenly you see some sketchy guy peering through binoculars on a cliffside. That's usually how it starts. Finding treasure maps in Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just about the gold, though the bars are worth a literal fortune at the fence. It’s about that specific brand of Rockstar Games frustration where you're staring at a hand-drawn sketch of a rock that looks like every other rock in New Hanover.
Most people give up. They see a drawing of a tree and a hole and decide they’d rather just rob a train. Honestly? I get it. But you’re leaving thousands of dollars on the table. If you want to upgrade the camp or buy that fancy Missouri Fox Trotter, you need the gold.
The Jack Hall Gang Maps: Your First Real Payday
This is the one everyone finds first. You meet Maximo on a ridge near Flatneck Station. He’s a "famed explorer," which in this game usually means he's about to get robbed or embarrassed. He tries to sell you the map for ten bucks. Just buy it. Or take it from him. I usually just buy it because I'm playing high honor this time around, but you do you.
The first location sends you to Caliban's Seat. It's a massive rock formation south of Valentine. You have to shimmy along a very narrow ledge. Don't run. Arthur has the footwork of a drunk elephant sometimes, and you will fall off and die. Once you grab the next map from a crevice, you're heading way up north to Cotorra Springs. Look for the rock stacks. They’re arranged in a circle, and the map is hidden inside one of them.
The final stop is O'Creagh's Run. There’s a tiny island in the middle of the lake. Swim out there (make sure your horse has stamina or just use a boat if you can find one) and look under a loose rock. You get two gold bars. That’s $1,000. For a starting player, that's life-changing money. It’s the difference between a rusty carbine and a fully customized arsenal.
Why High Stakes is the Most Annoying Map in the Game
You can't even start this one until you hit Chapter 3. You have to find a random encounter with a rambling old man. He’s usually near Wallace Station or Cumberland Falls. He’s clutching a map and talking to himself. He won't sell it. You have to hogtie him or rob him. It feels a bit mean, but hey, that's the outlaw life.
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The hunt takes you to Cumberland Falls first. You actually have to go behind the waterfall. It’s a classic trope, but it works. Then it’s off to Barrow Lagoon. There’s a log bridge connecting a small island to the shore. The map is inside the log.
The ending of this one is a nightmare. It’s on a cliff face near Bacchus Station. One wrong move and you’re a pancake. You have to drop down onto small ledges that look like they shouldn't be able to hold a human being. The reward? Three gold bars. $1,500. It makes the near-death experience worth it, I guess.
The Poisonous Trail Treasure
This one is easily the most involved. You find the first map in a cabin at Cairn Lake, way up in the snowy Grizzlies. It’s tucked in a lockbox under a bed. Bring a coat. It's cold as hell up there and your health core will drain faster than you think.
- First location: Face Rock in Scarlett Meadows. Look for a hollow tree.
- Second location: A weird mound of stones shaped like a serpent near Van Horn.
- Final location: Elysian Pool.
Go behind the waterfall at Elysian Pool. It’s pitch black. You need a lantern. If you don't have a lantern out, you're going to fall into a pit and lose your mind. There’s a hidden tunnel system back there. You have to crouch through a small hole on the right, navigate some steep drops, and eventually, you’ll find a chamber with four gold bars. That's $2,000.
The Mended Map and the Otis Miller Secret
This one is weird because it's split in two. You have to find two hermits. One is a woman living in a shack at the far north end of the map (Follow the Little Creek River to the mountains). The other is a cranky guy with a dog in Manito Glade, just north of Annesburg. They both have half a map.
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Once you kill them (or sneak in), you get the Mended Map. But here’s the kicker: you can’t actually get the treasure until the Epilogue. The loot is hidden in a cave in Cholla Springs, New Austin. It’s the Otis Miller Revolver and some "erotic photographs" that Arthur apparently finds very interesting. The gun is gold-plated and beautiful, though. It’s a trophy piece.
Strange Statues and the "Hidden" Gold
This isn't technically a "map" in the traditional sense, but it functions exactly like one. There’s a cave near Window Rock. Inside, there are seven statues of men with wings. In the center is a statue of a sphinx-like creature.
You have to press the buttons on the base of the statues in a specific order based on the number of fingers they have. 2, 3, 5, 7. Prime numbers. If you mess up, go around the back and reset it. A compartment opens in the center statue and gives you three gold bars. No map required, just a bit of observation. Most players walk right past this cave and never realize they’re 50 feet away from a fortune.
Don't Ignore the Landmark Map
Added later in the PC and updated console versions, the Landmarks of Riches map is probably the best one for pure cash. You start at the Obelisk on the western edge of West Elizabeth.
- Find the Obelisk.
- Go to the "Tiny Church" in Lemoyne (it’s adorable).
- Go to the Hobbit-style hill home near Bacchus Station.
- Go to the Bolger Glade battlefield.
- Final spot: Mount Shann.
The payout is six gold bars. $3,000. Just from riding around and looking at cool landmarks. It’s basically a guided tour of the weirdest spots on the map that ends with you being rich.
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Practical Steps for Successful Treasure Hunting
Stop trying to find these at night. The sketches on the treasure maps in Red Dead rely heavily on silhouettes and landmarks. If it’s midnight and raining, you won't see the specific "bent tree" or "square rock" the drawing is talking about. Sleep until morning.
Keep your horse nearby. Most of these treasures are in the middle of nowhere. If you get stuck on a cliff or attacked by a cougar (looking at you, West Elizabeth), you need a quick getaway. Also, keep your Eagle Eye active. When you’re near a treasure spot, the gold often gives off a yellow "sparkle" in Eagle Eye mode, just like herbs or collectibles do.
Lastly, go to a Fence immediately. Gold bars are heavy in spirit but take up no space in your satchel. However, they do you no good until they're converted to cash. Seamus at Emerald Ranch is the easiest to get to, but any fence will give you the flat $500 rate per bar.
If you’ve finished the main story and find yourself low on cash for those expensive New Austin clothes, these maps are your best bet. They don't respawn, so once the gold is gone, it's gone. Spend it wisely. Or just buy every hat in the catalog. I won't judge.
The most effective way to tackle these is to bundle them by region. Don't ride from Saint Denis to the Grizzlies for one map. Wait until you have three or four leads in the northern part of the map and do a "treasure run." You'll save hours of real-world time on cinematic horse rides.
Check your satchel under the "Documents" tab frequently. Sometimes the clues are on the back of the photos or written in the margins. The game won't always give you a waypoint; it expects you to actually look at the drawing and match it to the horizon. It's rewarding when it clicks. Frustrating when it doesn't. But that's the West.