You've probably been staring at that crummy piece of parchment for twenty minutes, trying to figure out which jagged peak in the Grizzlies looks most like the doodle. Honestly, the Jack Hall Gang map 3 location video guides you see online make it look way easier than it feels when you're actually riding through the snow. You're looking for a very specific spot in O'Creagh's Run, and if you don't know the exact rock to kick over, you’ll just end up cold, wet, and frustrated.
Most players stumble onto this treasure hunt after meeting Maximo near Flatneck Station. He sells you the first map for ten bucks (or five if you're a cheapskate and turn him down once). By the time you’ve scaled Caliban's Seat and survived the geysers at Cotorra Springs, you’re holding the final clue.
It's a sketch of an island in a lake. Sounds simple. It isn't.
Finding O'Creagh's Run
The "where" is the easy part. You need to head to Grizzlies East. Specifically, you're looking for the lake called O'Creagh's Run, which sits directly north of Emerald Ranch. If you’ve already done the legendary bear hunt with Hosea, you know exactly where this is—it’s the same lake where Hamish Sinclair, the veteran, has his cabin.
Actually getting to the treasure is where people mess up. The map shows a tiny island with two trees. You can see it from the shore, but the water in this game isn't exactly a swimming pool.
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If you try to swim Arthur over there without a full stamina bar, you’re going to drown. Period. It’s a longer swim than it looks. Most Jack Hall Gang map 3 location video creators suggest using your horse. It’s safer. Just ride the horse into the water from the western shore and swim it across.
The John Marston Problem
Here is a detail that catches a lot of late-game players off guard. If you are doing this as John Marston in the epilogue, John cannot swim. I’m serious. If you try to swim to that island as John, you will die almost instantly. Use your horse or look for the small rowing boat that occasionally spawns near Hamish’s shack. If the boat isn't there, don't risk it. Ride your horse.
Spotting the Exact Rock
Once you step onto the island, don't just start mashing the search button. The island is small, but the game is picky about where you stand.
Look for the side of the island that faces south. There’s a flat, grassy area and a cluster of rocks. You aren't looking for a chest. You’re looking for a loose rock on the ground.
- Walk to the south-east side of the island.
- Look for a small, brownish rock that looks slightly out of place.
- The "Search" prompt will only appear when you are standing right on top of it.
Inside, you'll find two Gold Bars. That’s $1,000 at any Fence. In the early game, that is a massive amount of money. It’s enough to fully upgrade your camp’s lodging, buy a high-end horse like the Missouri Fox Trotter, and still have enough left for a new outfit and some premium cigarettes.
Why This Map Trips People Up
The sketch on the third map is actually quite accurate, but the perspective is weird. It shows the Three Sisters—the three mountain peaks—in the background. If you stand on the north side of the lake looking south, the island won't match the drawing. You have to be looking at the island from the south or west to see the silhouette that matches your map.
Also, watch out for the local wildlife. The Grizzlies aren't friendly. I’ve seen players get bucked off their horse by a nearby elk or surprised by a bear right as they’re trying to enter the water.
Quick Checklist for the Final Stash
- Check your Stamina: If Arthur's core is red, eat some cooked meat or a chocolate bar before swimming.
- Navigate to O'Creagh's Run: It's the lake north of Three Sisters.
- Approach from the West: This is the shortest distance to the island.
- Inspect the Rock: It's on the grassy patch, not the rocky slope.
The Jack Hall Gang treasure is basically the "starter" treasure of Red Dead Redemption 2. It's designed to teach you how to look at the environment, but it's also a bit of a test. If you can find this, you're ready for the more annoying ones like the Poisonous Trail or the Le Trésor des Morts.
Once you have those bars, ride straight to the Fence in Emerald Ranch. It's the closest one. Don't carry $1,000 worth of gold around in your satchel longer than you have to—you never know when a random encounter or a stray bullet might ruin your day.
Actionable Next Steps:
Head to a Fence immediately to liquidate the bars. If you haven't unlocked the Emerald Ranch Fence yet, you'll need to complete the Chapter 2 mission "The Spines of America" first. Alternatively, ride down to Saint Denis or the Van Horn Trading Post to sell them right away. Once you have the cash, prioritize the "Tools for Leather Working" camp upgrade or the "Fast Travel" map if you're tired of long horse rides.