Let’s be real. Arthur Morgan is always broke at the start. You're out here hunting deer for a few bucks while Dutch is screaming about "faith" and "plans." It’s exhausting. But honestly, you don't need to do any of that. The map is literally littered with gold bars worth $500 a pop, and most players just ride right past them because they’re hidden in burnt-out towns or weird caves.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours in this world. I've fallen off the same cliff at Cotorra Springs more times than I’d like to admit. If you want a list of all gold locations in rdr2, you’re in the right place. We aren't talking about small nuggets or jewelry bags—though those are nice—we’re talking about the heavy hitters. The bars that turn you from a beggar into a tycoon before you even hit Chapter 3.
The "Low Hanging Fruit" Gold Bars
Some gold is just sitting there. No maps, no puzzles, just a lockbox and a dream.
Limpany: The Sheriff's Gift
This is basically a rite of passage. Just south of your Horseshoe Overlook camp is a burnt-out town called Limpany. It looks like a graveyard, but go into the Sheriff’s office. Under the desk, there’s a lockbox. Inside? One gold bar. It used to be part of a famous glitch where you could get infinite gold, but even without the cheat, it’s the easiest $500 you'll ever make.
The Derailed Train (Cotorra Springs)
This one is a nightmare if you're afraid of heights. North of Granite Pass, there’s a ravine with a train wreck. One of the cars is standing vertically. You have to climb the cliffside and jump into the top of that car. It’s sketchy. You will probably fall once. But inside are two gold bars. That’s a cool $1,000 just for surviving a jump.
Braithwaite Manor: The Aftermath
You can't get this one early. You have to wait until the end of Chapter 3 when the "Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern" mission turns the manor into a charcoal briquette. Go back there in Chapter 4. Inside the ruins, under a floorboard in the corner of what used to be the main room, is a gold bar. Catherine Braithwaite won't be using it.
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Treasure Map Hunts: The Big Paydays
If you want the real money, you have to follow the trail. These are the "Explorer" challenges, and they pay out in bulk.
The Landmark of Riches (6 Gold Bars)
This is the holy grail. It was originally a PC exclusive but it's on consoles now too. You start at the Obelisk way out west in Big Valley. It’s a long trek that takes you to a tiny church in the swamp, a mysterious hill home, and finally to a sundial on top of Mount Shann.
The Reward: Six gold bars. $3,000.
You can basically buy every outfit in the game and still have enough for a top-tier Arabian horse.
The Poisonous Trail (4 Gold Bars)
This hunt starts at Cairn Lake in the snowy northwest. It’s a bit of a slog, but the ending is incredible. It leads you to a secret cave behind the waterfall at Elysian Pool. Warning: Bring a lantern. It’s pitch black, and the cave is full of ledges that will kill you. If you navigate the tunnels correctly, you find a stash of four gold bars.
The Strange Statues Puzzle
Okay, this isn't technically a "map" hunt, but it’s a puzzle. East of Donner Falls, there’s a cave hidden in the rocks. Inside are statues with fingers pointing up.
- The Trick: You have to press the buttons on the statues that have prime numbers of fingers (2, 3, 5, and 7).
- If you mess up, go to the back of the statue to reset it.
- The center statue will pop open and give you three gold bars.
Jack Hall Gang & High Stakes
These are the "starter" treasures. Jack Hall gives you two bars ($1,000) and High Stakes gives you three ($1,500). Jack Hall starts with a guy named Maximo near Bard's Crossing. High Stakes starts with a random encounter with a grumpy old man looking through binoculars. If you see him, hogtie him and take the map. Don't feel bad; he's a jerk anyway.
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Every Gold Bar Location at a Glance
Since you're probably looking for a quick checklist, here is how the gold is distributed across the map:
Non-Map Locations:
- Limpany: 1 Bar (Sheriff's Office)
- Cotorra Springs Wreck: 2 Bars (Vertical train car)
- Strange Statues Cave: 3 Bars (Puzzle)
- Braithwaite Manor: 1 Bar (Post-Chapter 3)
- Ridgewood Farm: 1 Gold Ingot (Inside the wall/lockbox in New Austin)
Treasure Hunt Totals:
- Landmark of Riches: 6 Bars
- Poisonous Trail: 4 Bars
- High Stakes: 3 Bars
- Jack Hall Gang: 2 Bars
- Le Tresor des Morts: 5 Bars (Only if you have the Special/Ultimate Edition)
- Elemental Trail: 1 Bar + Crow’s Eye Trinket (Found in New Austin)
Why Most Players Struggle With Gold
Honestly, the biggest mistake is trying to do these as John Marston in the epilogue. Sure, the money is nice then, but Arthur needs it way more. You can get nearly $10,000 worth of gold as soon as you hit Chapter 2.
Also, remember the Fence. You can't just walk into a General Store and hand them a gold bar for a pack of cigarettes. You need to unlock the Fence at Emerald Ranch by doing the mission with Hosea ("The Spines of America"). Or, if you're impatient, just ride down to the Fence in Saint Denis or Rhodes—they’re open for business from the start.
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Practical Steps to Clean Out the Map
If you want to maximize your time, don't just wander. Start with the Limpany bar because it's five minutes from camp. Then, ride north to Cotorra Springs for the train wreck. While you're up there, hit the Strange Statues cave since it's right around the corner.
In about an hour of riding, you'll have 6 gold bars ($3,000). That is more than enough to fully upgrade your camp's medicine, ammo, and food wagons, plus buy the leather working tools for Pearson.
Once you have the cash, go to a Fence, sell the bars, and then go see a Tailor. Being an outlaw is much better when you're wearing custom alligator boots and carrying a gold-plated Schofield Revolver. Just don't tell Dutch you have the money—he'll still ask for more.
Go grab the Limpany bar first. It’s the easiest win in the game. After that, head to the Elysian Pool for the Poisonous Trail, but make sure your lantern is fueled up. The caves are a deathtrap if you're clumsy.