Years after its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to provide players with a massive world to explore, driven by both official content hidden in its map and a dedicated PC modding community that constantly enhances the experience. From complex, multi-stage treasure hunts to new graphical upgrades for the game’s wildlife, players remain deeply engaged in the Western epic.
How to Start the High Stakes Treasure Map Quest
One of the game’s more rewarding optional side-quests is the High Stakes Treasure Map, which becomes available after players progress past Chapter 3. Unlike other missions, this quest is triggered by a random encounter with a specific Stranger who does not appear on the minimap.
Players should remain vigilant for this NPC, who can often be found muttering to himself along the paths between Wallace Station and Cumberland Falls, or wandering throughout the Heartlands. Acquiring the map from him, often by force or purchase, begins a three-part hunt.
High Stakes Map 1: Cumberland Falls
After obtaining the initial map, players must travel to Cumberland Falls. The clue is located behind the waterfall itself. Approach from the eastern side of the falls to find a small path that leads behind the rushing water. After climbing a ledge inside this small nook, players can find the next map hidden in the top right.
High Stakes Map 2: Barrow Lagoon
The second map leads north into the Western Grizzlies, an area that requires players to equip warm winter clothing. The destination is Barrow Lagoon, located northwest of Valentine. Players should search the frozen lagoon to find the next clue, which is located on a small, rocky island in the middle, lodged in a tree trunk that forms a bridge.
High Stakes Map 3: Bacchus Station
The third and final map is the most challenging, as it depicts a winding path up a hillside. Players should head toward Bacchus Station. West of the “S” in the word “Station” on the main map, there is a large hill. At the top, a path faces the bridge, leading down toward a ledge. Players must follow this path left, sprinting up the sloped rocks to avoid sliding. A small jump across a gap will lead to a final ledge where the treasure is hidden.
New Mod Delivers Sharper Textures for RDR2 Wildlife
While players track down treasure, the game’s PC modding community continues to upgrade its visual fidelity. Red Dead Redemption 2 famously features around 200 different animal species, and a new, free modification aims to improve one of its most menacing predators: the alligator.
The mod, titled “HD Gators” by creator AClassySliceOfToast, is available on the popular NexusMods platform. According to the description, the modification “revises all alligators with high-resolution textures.”
A Visually “Absolute Highlight”
Despite its focused scope, the mod has been embraced by players. The download size is a mere 15.9 megabytes and requires a free NexusMods account. Comparison images show a significant upgrade, replacing the original, somewhat “spongy” textures with crisp, sharply defined scales that make the creatures appear far more threatening.
User comments on the platform have praised the free graphical update, with some calling it an “absolute highlight” and “a classic!” This small update is one of many that showcase the community’s ongoing dedication to enhancing the game’s already impressive open world.
