Summary

  • Uncover hidden plots and secrets by exploring various unique areas in Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Find rare items like the Antler Knife, Stuffed Gorilla, and Viking Helm by exploring different regions.
  • Engage in supernatural encounters like encountering a ghost train or visiting a pagan ritual for unique rewards.

Rockstar Game's Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive single-player experience. The map is gigantic without feeling empty, the pace is intentionally meandering, and the gameplay itself is fun but complex. And while you're trotting along through the swamps, countryside, and forests in RDR2, there are plenty of hidden areas to stumble across.

There is a huge range of different secrets to find in the game, some supernatural, some historical, and some are just hilarious cosmetics. Some of these secrets are weapons as well, as there's a huge swath of weapons to be found, customized, and upgraded. So in an effort to help with that, we'll be exploring a few Red Dead Redemption 2 spots that you might have missed.

Updated March 12, 2024 by Jon Eakin: Red Dead Redemption 2 offers you a truly deep and incredible world to explore, with dozens of secrets to find along the way. It's, of course, fun to discover these yourself, but it's inevitable that you'll miss some without a helping hand. We've detailed some of them below for you, with updated features and information.

30 Have A Meal At The Aberdeen Pig Farm

Everyone Loves A Dinner Party

The Aberdeen Pig Farm is inconspicuous but harbors a sinister secret. When you venture near the farm, a man beckons you to come over and join his wife for a home-cooked meal. The dinner conversation is awkward and rough. It takes a turn for the worse as they've spiked Arthur's drink.

Arthur wakes up in a pit with a corpse near him, robbed of his money. The incestuous couple are brother and sister. They've been luring strangers to their farm for years. You can kill them to reclaim your money or bring them near the grave pit for rare dialogue.

How to find the Aberdeen Pig Farm:

Follow the train tracks north of the "B" in Bluewater Marsh.

The northbound road you reach will take you to the Aberdeen Pig Farm's driveway.

How to retrieve your stolen money:

Return to the Aberdeen Pig Farm and deal with the Aberdeens.

Examine the painting of the old woman near the front door.

Retrieve your stolen loot from the hidden cabinet.

Although you can go back as Arthur to retrieve your stolen loot, it stays there even if you never do. That means you can use it as a way to stash all of your cash as Arthur, then retrieve it later as John. Spending it will feel like everything you buy is a gift from your adopted older brother.

29 Don't Miss Big Valley's Hidden Stuffed Gorilla

Hidden In The Ravine, Not Mist

Rockstar loves leaving random props in their games. Sometimes there's a fun real-life connection. Other times, these props just seem randomly added in. In West Elizabeth's Big Valley, there's a gorilla statue lying at the bottom of a ravine. If you haven't completed the hunting challenges, you haven't heard of the taxidermist near Strawberry.

The house's owner, L. Hobbs, is a renowned taxidermist. Most evidence indicates Mrs. Hobbs purchased the stuffed gorilla but never received it since it was at the bottom of the ravine. Collecting exotic species was a big deal for wealthy individuals in the late 18th century.

How to find the stuffed gorilla:

Locate the ravine just south of the "Y" in Big Valley.

When you cross two wooden bridges examine the ravines underneath.

You'll see a broken crate and other debris down one of the ravines.

28 You Can Find A Monk Meditating In The Grizzlies

Reach Enlightenment

The Grizzlies are the perfect place to take in wonderful views. Of course, you do have to worry about random bear attacks. Not even your wits will keep you safe against an angry bear, so be careful looking for Easter eggs and random encounters.

You can find a meditating monk at the top of the East Grizzlies near Cumberland Forest. Don't bother trying to have a conversation since the monk never responds. However, you interrupt his meditation through dishonorable means. Otherwise, enjoy the same view as the monk and have a few quiet moments becoming one with the environment.

How to find the Meditating Mountain Monk:

Make sure you are there at noon in-game time to see the monk.

Climb the mountain located under the "R" in Grizzlies on the map.

Head south off the path once you reach the top towards the mountain's edge.

27 Drink From The Cauldron At The Witch's Hut

Toil And Trouble

Out in the wild, winded forests of New Ambarino, you can discover a lot of bizarre locations. One of these strange sights is a cauldron nestled between a tree hut. If you're worried about being attacked by a witch, you'll be fine. There's no one in that area.

Related

Red Dead Redemption 2: 19 Best Horses, Ranked

Need a new horse, Gunslinger? Here are some of the best in RDR2!

Posts

You can browse through the hut and look at ingredients and scattered books. If you like risks, take a sip from the cauldron. Sure, Arthur blacks out and wakes up away elsewhere. However, it refills all your cores. You can't call that a bad trade, even if a raven is watching you.

How to get to the Witches Cauldron

Head to the hills northeast of Fort Wallace in the Grizzlies East region

You'll find the Witch's Hut just above the "N" in Ambarino

26 Try And Catch The Ghost Train In Lemoyne County

Incorporeal Choo Choo

Do you want to go ghost hunting? In Northwest Lemonye, a ghost train passes by during the early morning hours. You'll have to be vigilant, or you'll miss it. Rockstar has tried to include some type of ghost vehicle. Considering 1898 didn't have cars yet, trains are close enough.

Be careful because you can still get hit by the ghost train. It's just another thing to keep you on your toes. Unfortunately, it also seems that the train can only be encountered once per playthrough. There's a good chance you've seen it and never realized it.

How to find the Ghost Train:

Head to the train tracks directly south of the "L" in Lemoyne.

Locate the "Welcome to Lemoyne" sign, indicating the correct set of train tracks.

Wait until around 3 am in-game time for the ghost train to arrive.

Camp and retry at the same time the next night if the train doesn't appear.

25 Track Down The Feral Man In Roanoke Valley

Bark At The Moon

In New Hanover, a strange, wild man roams the local woods. True to his calling, the wild man is nude and aggressive. When you first interact with him, he howls and summons wolves. If that wasn't bad enough, the wolves scare your horse and cause you to fall to the ground.

Horses really have no loyalty. In the event you survive the wolves, you can chase the man back to his cave. It's brimmed with carvings and bones. Safe to say he's been there a long time. The community has taken to affectionately calling him the Wolfman.

How to find the Feral Man:

Follow the sound of the Feral Man howling on a full moon for a possible early encounter.

Locate the Feral Man in the forest near the first "R" in Roanoke Valley on the map.

Be sure to pick up the Runaway Diary for his story, but he'll attack you if he is still alive.

You can either kill or capture the Feral Man and turn him in to the jail.

24 The Antler Knife Has Quite The Story

The Knife Of An Unknown Legend

In northwest West Elizabeth, you should travel near the Hanging Dog Ranch. If you go down the beaten path west of the Ranch, you'll discover a dead bear. The Antler Knife is embedded in the bear, but even more surprising is what's underneath it.

Trapped underneath the bear was its victim. Despite being mortally wounded, the woman was able to kill her attacker. Considering how hard it is to fend off bears, let alone kill them, this lady was something else. In life, she could've been a powerful enemy or one heck of an ally.

How to find the Antler Knife:

Head northwest of Hanging Dog Ranch, to the east of the Little Creek River.

Activate your map and look for two corpse markings to find the bear and its victim.

Remove the Antler Knife from the bear.

23 Track Down Marko Dragic's Automaton

The Power Of Science

Side quests can be middling, but the Marko Dragic quest is worth the effort. He's a clear-cut reference to Nikola Telsa with a laboratory ripped straight from history. After you've encountered Marko three times, you'll find out he's been murdered.

Related

Red Dead Redemption 2: 5 Best Places To Find Gold Bars

Here's where you can find gold bars in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Posts

If you follow the mysterious footprints up the mountain, a strange-looking robot sits close to the edge, watching the scenery. Marko's dream of a living automaton came true. The Northern Hills of Ambarino's robotic resident will still be there long after Arthur passes. Keen-eyed fans will notice the robot references the Cybermen from Dr. Who.

How to find Marko Dragic's Robotic Automaton:

Complete "A Bright Bouncing Boy" and collect the Electric Lantern.

Head to the far northwest part of the map halfway between Colter and Spider Gorge.

Climb to the top of the mountain and use the Electric Lantern to locate the robot.

The light bulb will turn red when you are facing the direction of the robot.

22 Add The Civil War Knife To Your Collection

A Piece Of History

Some discoveries are more mundane, but if you like history, you'll enjoy searching for this weapon. In New Hanover, go to Fort Brennan. If you're not fond of using maps, it's northeast of the Kamassa River. In the first building on your left, go inside the basement and collect your reward.

There's no struggle for the Civil War Knife. You can simply pick it up and leave. While it lacks worthwhile damage, the knife looks pretty good for what it's worth. Besides, aesthetics come first. Cowboys were meant to look cool and menacing, so get a knife that suits it.

How to find the Civil War Knife:

Find the Lindsey Wofford Bounty Hunter poster in Saint Denis.

Head to Fort Brennand northeast of Kamassa River near Van Horn Trading Post.

Take out Wofford and his crew of Lemoyne Raiders for a nice bounty

Activate your Eagle Eye vision to locate the trapdoor that leads to the basement.

21 Have A Discussion With A Possible Bigfoot Hidden In A Cave

He Just Wants To Talk

You'll have to be dedicated if you want to meet Bigfoot. This encounter doesn't unlock until you've seen and registered 30 unique animals in your compendium. Then you need to go to North Ambarino and follow an unusual flock of birds down a river.

After all of that, you'll find a cave blocked by an enormous rock. Get closer to the cave, and you'll start talking with the mysterious resident. The stranger locked himself away from the world because he was too big, but now he's become very lonely. This is also the third time Rockstar has included Bigfoot in one of their games.

How to find the blocked hidden cave:

Register 30 animals to the compendium by studying different species with your binoculars or gun scope.

Head to the Calumet Ravine to the east of the Wapiti Indian Reservation.

Startle a flock of birds at the lake and follow them to the blocked cave entrance.