You're riding through the dust of New Austin, probably chasing a legendary animal or just enjoying the way the light hits the sagebrush, and then you remember the treasure. Red Dead Redemption 2 is packed with these little scavenger hunts, but the Elemental Trail feels different. It’s isolated. It’s late-game stuff. Honestly, if you haven’t finished the main story yet, you can basically stop reading right now because you can’t even get to the RDR2 Elemental Trail Map 1 location until you’ve reached the Epilogue and gained access to the lower half of the map.
It's a grind. But the payoff? A Gold Bar and some Crow's Nest loot that makes the trek worth the horse sweat.
Most players stumble upon the start of this quest by accident, or they see a weird icon on their map and wonder if it's a glitch. It isn't. It’s just Rockstar being Rockstar, hiding things in the most desolate corners of the world. Finding that first scrap of paper is the hardest part because the game doesn't give you a waypoint or a "go here" marker. You've just got to know where to look.
Where to Actually Find the First Map
The journey begins at the westernmost edge of the map. I’m talking way out past Tumbleweed. You need to head toward Sea of Coronado. It’s a bleak, beautiful spot, but it’s easy to get turned around in the cliffs. Look for a corpse. Specifically, look for a guy hanging from a wooden structure near the shoreline.
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Shoot the rope.
The body drops, and you can loot him to find the RDR2 Elemental Trail Map 1. It’s a grim start, but that’s the Wild West for you. If you’re having trouble spotting it, use your Eagle Eye. The yellow "scent" particles will highlight the body from a distance, making it stand out against the grey rocks and brown scrub. It's located on the northern shore of the water, tucked away in a spot that feels like the end of the world.
Once you have that piece of parchment in your satchel, the real work begins. The sketch on the map is vague. It shows a chimney and some water. If you aren't intimately familiar with the geography of New Austin, you might spend three hours riding in circles around Armadillo. Don't do that. It’s a waste of time and your horse's stamina.
Deciphering the Sketch: The First Landmark
The first map points you toward a very specific ruin. You’re looking for a place called Benedict Point. More specifically, you’re looking for a burnt-out shack or a lone chimney standing in the middle of nowhere.
Ride east from the Sea of Coronado. You’ll pass through Gaptooth Ridge. Keep an eye out for a water tank. It’s a landmark that sticks out because, frankly, there isn't much else to look at out there. The chimney is part of a destroyed building located just south of the Benedict Point rail station.
Walk up to the chimney. You’ll see a prompt to "Search." Arthur—or John, rather—will reach into the bricks and pull out the second map.
The transition from the first map to the second is where most people lose the scent. The game doesn't hold your hand. There’s no "Quest Updated" notification that pops up with a big yellow circle. You have to open your satchel, physically look at the drawing, and try to match the horizon lines to the mountains in front of you. It’s immersive, sure, but it can be frustrating if the sun is setting and you can’t see the silhouettes clearly.
Why This Treasure Hunt is Different
The Elemental Trail isn't like the Jack Hall Gang or the Poisonous Trail. Those feel like classic adventures. This one feels like a survivalist's test. The rewards are tucked away in places that feel genuinely dangerous. One wrong gallop and you’re tumbling off a cliff in Rio Bravo.
People often ask why Rockstar put this so late in the game. By the time you’re playing as John, you usually have a decent amount of cash. But the Elemental Trail isn't just about the gold. It’s about the Special Horse Stimulant Pamphlet and the sense of completion. It’s for the players who want that 100% completion trophy and won't sleep until every corner of the map is uncovered.
Technical Glitches to Watch For
Sometimes, the body at Sea of Coronado doesn't spawn. It's rare, but it happens. If you get there and there's no hanging man, try this:
- Ride away until the area is off your mini-map.
- Set up camp and sleep for the maximum amount of time.
- Save your game and reload that save.
- Return to the spot.
Usually, a simple cell reload fixes the issue. Also, make sure you haven't already picked it up and forgotten about it. Check your "Treasures" tab in the satchel. I've spent an hour looking for a map I already had in my pocket more times than I’d like to admit.
Moving Toward the Finish Line
After the chimney at Benedict Point, the trail gets even more obscure. The second map leads you to a water tank at a place called Jorge’s Gap. It’s a narrow canyon that’s actually a pretty good spot for a shootout if you’re bored, but for our purposes, we’re looking for a specific structure.
The final map—the one that actually leads to the loot—takes you to a small cemetery. It’s the San Luis River area, specifically a place called Coot's Chapel. There's a grave there with a specific symbol. If you’ve been paying attention to the "elemental" theme, you’ll notice the symbols on the maps correspond to basic elements: earth, water, air, fire.
The treasure is buried near a grave at the chapel. Dig it up. You'll find a Gold Bar. In 1907, a gold bar is worth $500. That’s a lot of canned peaches and gun oil.
Nuance and Complexity: Is it Worth the Effort?
Let's be real for a second. Is riding across the entire desert for $500 worth it when you can make that much by robbing a couple of trains?
Maybe not if you're just looking at the money. But the Elemental Trail is about the "world-building" that Rockstar excels at. The sketches on the maps are beautiful. They feel like something a person actually drew while hiding from the law. There’s a certain meditative quality to navigating by landmarks instead of icons. It forces you to actually look at the environment—the way the rock formations in New Austin are layered, the way the light filters through the dust.
If you're a speedrunner, skip it. If you're a fan of the world, it's mandatory.
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Step-by-Step Action Plan for Success
To get this done efficiently without wandering the desert like a lost soul, follow this sequence:
1. Prep Your Gear
Don't head out to New Austin without plenty of Water and Horse Stimulants. It’s a long ride between locations. Make sure your horse is at least Level 3 bonding so it doesn't buck you off when a cougar inevitably spawns near Gaptooth Ridge.
2. Hit the Sea of Coronado First
Travel to the far west. Look for the hanging man on the shore. Shoot him down. Loot the RDR2 Elemental Trail Map 1. If he's not there, use the "sleep and reload" trick mentioned above.
3. Navigate to Benedict Point
Go east. Find the chimney south of the rail station. It’s lonely and sits near some dilapidated wood. Search the base of the chimney for Map 2.
4. The Jorge’s Gap Water Tank
This is the trickiest one to find because the canyon is confusing. Look for the elevated water tank on the ridge. The map is hidden in the supports or the piping.
5. Finish at Coot's Chapel
Head to the chapel near Armadillo. Look for the grave with the elemental symbol. Dig. Profit.
6. Cash In
Take that Gold Bar to the Fence in Thieves Landing or Emerald Ranch. Don't sit on it. $500 in your pocket is better than a heavy bar in your satchel, especially if you plan on buying that fancy Missouri Fox Trotter from the Blackwater stable.