You're standing on a windswept cliff in the Grizzlies, clutching a scrap of yellowed paper, wondering why Rockstar Games hates you. Honestly, we’ve all been there. The High Stakes Treasure Map 2 in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a notorious pain because it relies on your ability to recognize a very specific, very snowy rock formation that looks like every other rock in Ambarino.
If you're hunting for the "High Stakes" haul, you probably already realize this isn't a casual stroll. It’s cold. Your horse is agitated. Arthur is shivering.
The High Stakes questline is one of the more lucrative hunts in the game. It’s also one of the easiest to mess up if you don't know the exact landmarks. Unlike the Jack Hall Gang maps which are fairly intuitive, High Stakes demands a bit of mountain climbing and a lot of patience.
The Hunt for High Stakes Treasure Map 2
Before you even worry about the second map, you had to find that grumpy old Scandanavian treasure hunter. He’s usually wandering around the Heartlands or near Riggs Station. Once you’ve "borrowed" the first map from him and headed to Cumberland Falls, you’re rewarded with the specific clue we’re talking about today.
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Map 2 points you toward Barrow Lagoon.
It’s a frozen lake tucked away in the Northwest of the map. It's beautiful, sure, but it's also home to a very cranky grizzly bear that likes to spawn nearby, so keep your Lancaster Repeater ready. The map shows a log bridge. Sounds simple? It isn't. People constantly run circles around the lake because the drawing makes the "bridge" look like a massive fallen redwood, but in reality, it’s a specific fallen tree trunk connecting a small island to the shore.
Most players make the mistake of looking at the cliffs surrounding the water. Stop doing that.
Walk onto the ice. Look for the small island in the middle of the frozen lagoon. There is a fallen tree that acts as a natural ramp leading from the shoreline up onto the rocks of that island. You need to walk across that log. Halfway across, you’ll see a small hole or knot in the wood. That’s where Arthur reaches in to pull out the next clue.
Why This Map Stalls Most Players
The frustration with Red Dead Redemption treasure map 2 usually stems from the perspective. The hand-drawn sketch in Arthur’s journal is deceptive. It highlights the verticality of the mountains in the background, which leads players to believe they need to be high up on the peaks overlooking the lagoon.
I’ve seen people spend hours scouring the Mount Hagen trails. They die of fall damage. They get eaten by wolves.
Actually, the treasure is almost at sea level—or lake level, I guess. The "High Stakes" name refers to the final location of the treasure, not necessarily every step along the way. If you find yourself sliding down a snowy cliffside near the Adler Ranch, you’ve gone way too far north.
Survival Tips for the Grizzlies
Don’t be the guy who rides up there in a summer gunslinger outfit. You’ll drain your health core in minutes.
- Wear the Winter Cowboy outfit. Or anything with heavy fur.
- Check your horse's stamina. Deep snow drains it faster than a night at the Saint Denis saloon drains your wallet.
- The Bear Factor. There is a fixed spawn for a Grizzly near the cabin on the south side of Barrow Lagoon. If you hear a roar, don't ignore it.
The cabin at the lagoon is also worth a quick loot. You can find some premium cigarettes and occasionally a miracle tonic. It’s a good "base camp" before you make the trek to the third and final map location, which—spoiler alert—is much more dangerous than this frozen log.
Moving Toward the Final Reward
Once you have the third map from the log at Barrow Lagoon, the game shifts gears. You’re headed toward Cocytus—well, not literally, but it feels like it. The final destination is Bacchus Station.
This is where the "High Stakes" part really kicks in. You’ll be navigating narrow ledges on the side of a massive cliff face. One wrong move and Arthur becomes a permanent part of the valley floor. The reward for all this trouble? Three Gold Bars. In the RDR2 economy, that’s $1,500.
That’s a lot of customized revolvers.
A Note on the Scandanavian Hunter
If you accidentally killed the treasure hunter before getting the first map, don't panic. You didn't break the game. The map will eventually show up at a Fence. You’ll have to buy it, which feels like a bit of a rip-off considering you could have just tackled a confused old man, but it’s better than missing out on the gold.
Some players report that the hunter doesn't spawn for them at all. This is usually because they haven't reached Chapter 3 yet. While you can technically start some treasure hunts early, the High Stakes one is a bit finicky about your progress. If he isn't appearing at the cliffside near Riggs Station, go do a story mission and come back.
The Nuance of Treasure Hunting in 1899
Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't a game that wants to hold your hand. It wants you to feel the grit and the cold. The treasure maps are designed to be "diegetic"—they exist in the world as physical objects with all the flaws of a 19th-century sketch.
The sketch for Red Dead Redemption treasure map 2 is particularly "flawed" because it uses the mountain peaks as a silhouette guide rather than a GPS coordinate. You have to align the shape of the mountain on the horizon with the drawing in your hand.
It’s old-school navigation.
If you’re struggling, look at the sky. If the mountain peaks don't match the jagged lines on the top of the map, you’re standing on the wrong side of the lake. Walk around to the Western bank and look back toward the East. The silhouette should click into place.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
Don't just wander aimlessly. Follow this sequence to wrap this up quickly:
- Fast Travel to Colter or Strawberry. Strawberry is a longer ride, but you can restock on supplies first.
- Approach Barrow Lagoon from the South. This keeps the sun at your back during the day, making it easier to see the log bridge against the white snow.
- Loot the Cabin First. Get your cores up. You might need the extra health if you slip off the log into the freezing water.
- Inspect the Log. Walk slowly. The "Inspect" prompt can be sensitive. If you’re sprinting across, you’ll miss the window to interact with the knot in the wood.
- Save Your Game. Seriously. The trek to the next location at Bacchus Bridge is full of opportunities to fall to your death. Save now so you don't have to ride back to the lagoon.
The Gold Bars are waiting. Go get them.