7 Secret RDR2 Gold Bar Locations That Will Make You Rich By Chapter 2 (Working 2025)

The pursuit of wealth in the Wild West is a timeless endeavor, and as of December 10, 2025, the fastest way to line Arthur Morgan’s pockets remains the acquisition and sale of Gold Bars. These precious metal blocks are the single most valuable item in Red Dead Redemption 2’s Story Mode, each fetching a hefty $500 at a Fence. Starting a new playthrough, especially in Chapter 2, can feel restrictive, but knowing the secret locations of these high-value items can instantly unlock all the upgrades, weapons, and camp improvements you need, transforming your early-game experience from a struggle for survival to a life of luxury.

This guide cuts through the clutter to deliver the most reliable, up-to-date, and high-yield gold bar locations. We focus on spots accessible immediately after reaching the Horseshoe Overlook camp, allowing you to amass over $6,000 in cash before even meeting the O’Driscoll gang leader, Colm O’Driscoll, for the first time. Forget hunting for pelts; this is the quickest path to becoming a wealthy outlaw.

The Essential RDR2 Gold Bar Locations for Early Game Riches

To truly maximize your starting capital, you must prioritize locations that do not require any Treasure Maps, as these can be time-consuming to unlock. The following list details the most lucrative and easily accessible gold bar locations in New Hanover and surrounding areas.

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1. Limpany Burned Town: The Easiest $500

This is arguably the most famous and simplest gold bar to acquire, making it a must-do for every new playthrough. The abandoned town of Limpany is located just southwest of the Horseshoe Overlook camp, near the Dakota River. It's an easy ride and requires no combat or puzzle-solving.

• Location: Limpany, New Hanover.
• Item: 1 Gold Bar.
• Steps: Head to the burned-out Sheriff's Office. Look under the desk inside the building. A lockbox containing the gold bar is waiting for you.
• Value: $500.

2. The Strange Statues Puzzle: A $1,500 Jackpot

The Strange Statues puzzle is the single highest-value non-glitch location in the early game, yielding three Gold Bars. It’s located in a cave system in the Granite Pass area, east of the Bacchus Bridge.

• Location: A cave east of the "I" in Ambarino, near the Kamassa River.
• Item: 3 Gold Bars.
• The Puzzle Solution: Inside the cave, you will find seven statues of figures with varying numbers of fingers. To open the central compartment, you must press the buttons on the statues that correspond to the prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, and 7.
• Statue Finger Counts:
  • Statue 1 (No right arm): Press (2 fingers).
  • Statue 2 (Two missing arms): Press (3 fingers).
  • Statue 3 (Left hand on head): Press (5 fingers).
  • Statue 4 (All arms): Press (7 fingers).
• Total Value: $1,500.

3. The Train Wreck Site: Two Bars for a Short Climb

This location is slightly more remote but offers an excellent return of two Gold Bars. The wreck is a massive pile of crashed train cars in the ravine that cuts through the northern part of the map, near the "N" in Roanoke Ridge.

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• Location: East of the "N" in Roanoke Ridge, deep in the ravine.
• Item: 2 Gold Bars.
• Steps: The gold bars are found inside one of the wrecked train cars. You will need to carefully climb the wreckage to reach the car that has slid down the embankment. A lockbox inside contains the treasure.
• Value: $1,000.

4. Braithwaite Manor’s Hidden Corpse

This is a quick stop once you venture south into Lemoyne. While the manor is a major location in the story, you can find a secret gold bar hidden on a body near the boathouse on the northwest side of the property.

• Location: Northwest shore of Braithwaite Manor, Lemoyne.
• Item: 1 Gold Bar.
• Steps: Look for a small, ruined stone structure or jetty near the water. The gold bar is found on a decomposing body or inside a lockbox nearby.
• Value: $500.

5. The Jack Hall Gang Treasure Map

While this requires an initial investment, the Jack Hall Gang Treasure Map is the first and easiest map to complete, rewarding you with two Gold Bars.

• Location: The map is bought from a "Treasure Hunter" NPC who can be found on the road north of Flatneck Station for $10.
• Item: 2 Gold Bars.
• Final Location: The final treasure is found on a small island in the middle of O’Creagh’s Run, near the legendary bear hunting area.
• Value: $1,000.

6. The Poisonous Trail Treasure Map

The Poisonous Trail is a more challenging but highly rewarding treasure hunt, yielding a massive four Gold Bars. It’s a multi-step process involving a coiled snake-shaped mound and a waterfall.

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• Location: The first map is found in a cabin in Cairn Lake, inside a lockbox under a bed.
• Item: 4 Gold Bars.
• Final Location: The gold is hidden behind a waterfall in the Elysian Pool. You must crouch and walk through the waterfall to find a small cave where the treasure is stashed.
• Value: $2,000.

7. The "Unlimited Gold" Strange Statues Glitch (Working 2025)

For players who prioritize maximum cash flow over pure immersion, a specific exploit related to the Strange Statues location is still being reported as working in late 2025. This method allows Arthur Morgan to infinitely loot the three Gold Bars from the Strange Statues cave.

• The Method: The glitch involves solving the puzzle, taking the three Gold Bars, and then immediately saving the game *before* the autosave triggers. You then load the manual save, and the Gold Bars should have respawned in the compartment, allowing you to collect them again.
• Warning: Glitches can be patched at any time. Use this method at your own discretion. The base $1,500 is guaranteed, regardless of the glitch.

Selling Your Gold Bars: The Fence is Your Best Friend

Unlike most items in Red Dead Redemption 2, Gold Bars cannot be sold to a regular General Store or a Trapper. They are considered "Hot" items, meaning they must be sold to a specialized vendor known as a Fence.

Finding the Fence

The earliest and most convenient Fence location is unlocked during Chapter 2 as part of the story mission "The Spines of America." This fence is located in the town of Emerald Ranch, New Hanover. You must complete the mission to unlock the ability to sell Gold Bars and other stolen goods.

• Value per Gold Bar: $500.
• Best Fence: The Emerald Ranch Fence is the easiest to access from the early-game camps like Horseshoe Overlook and Clemens Point.
• Total Potential Wealth: By completing the Limpany, Strange Statues, Train Wreck, Braithwaite Manor, and the two major Treasure Hunts (Jack Hall and Poisonous Trail), you can amass 13 Gold Bars, totaling $6,500 in cash—enough to buy virtually every early-game upgrade and weapon.

Topical Authority & Related Entities for RDR2 Wealth

Mastering the gold economy in RDR2 is about more than just finding the bars; it's about understanding the game's mechanics. The $500 value of the gold bar is the benchmark for all other loot.

• The Role of Arthur Morgan: As the player character, Arthur's ability to carry all 27 potential Gold Bars (totaling $13,500) makes him an instant millionaire in the game's context, allowing him to purchase the best horse, all camp ledger upgrades, and the most powerful weapons like the Schofield Revolver or the Litchfield Repeater immediately in Chapter 2.
• Other High-Value Items: While Gold Bars are king, don't ignore Gold Nuggets ($25 each) and Gold Jewelry (varying value), which can also be sold to the Fence.
• Chapter Progression: The best time to collect these items is at the start of Chapter 2. This is when the map opens up, but before the main storyline missions ramp up, giving you maximum freedom to explore New Hanover, Ambarino, and Lemoyne.

By following these updated locations and focusing on the high-yield spots like the Strange Statues and the Poisonous Trail, you can quickly turn Arthur Morgan into the wealthiest outlaw in the Van der Linde gang, setting yourself up for a comfortable and fully-upgraded experience for the rest of your story mode journey.