How to Complete All Explorer Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2

Alexa Hunter

Mar 31, 2026

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the Explorer Challenges are right in the middle of the main challenge list. Instead of hunting animals or grinding poker hands, these ones are all about tracking down treasures. You just grab any treasure map to get started, and every stash you find counts as the next step—keep going till you’ve nailed all ten. Once you finish them, you can buy the full Explorer outfit from the Trapper and get that free stamina upgrade.

In this article, you’ll learn the exact steps to do them all without ever backtracking or forgetting a single stash. For those seeking additional in-game resources to ease their journey or looking to purchase Steam Key for Red Dead Redemption 2, Lootbar is a reliable source.

Getting Ready Before You Hit the Trail

Before any Explorer Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2, I sort a few basics so the hunt stays fun. Warm clothes are a must for the Grizzlies and Mount Shann—frostbite kills momentum fast. A solid horse with good stamina, like a Missouri Fox Trotter, handles the long hauls between regions without constant stops.

I grab the Legend of the East satchel early because it holds every necklace, bracelet, and gold bar without forcing trips back to camp. Check your documents tab often by holding right on the D-pad; maps appear there with clues once picked up. If you miss one from an NPC or lockbox, fences sell replacements cheap later. I learned that the hard way once, but buying it back still let me finish fine.

Starting Strong with Explorer Challenge 1

Explorer Challenge 1 is dead simple—you just need any treasure map. My usual pick is the Jack Hall Gang Map from the stranger mission “All That Glitters.” Ride west of Flatneck Station in the Heartlands and talk to Maximo. Help him or take the map, your call. Other quick starts I’ve used:

Random encounter with an old man at Lenora View north of Strawberry—rob him politely for the High Stakes map.
Poisonous Trail map in a lockbox under the bed at Cairn Lodge east of Colter.
Sketched map in the fireplace of Reed Cottage north of Annesburg.

Any one pops the challenge and gives the Explorer Holster right away. I start with Jack Hall because it flows straight into the next three without extra riding.

Knocking Out the Jack Hall Gang Chain

The Jack Hall Gang maps gave me my first real win with these Explorer Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2. Once you have the first map, the next three line up like this:

Explorer Challenge 2: Head south of Valentine to Caliban’s Seat. Climb the cliff, hug the right rocky wall, drop a couple short jumps, and at the bottom granite wall reach into the crack. Pearl necklace and second map—$5 cash plus 25 stamina XP.
Explorer Challenge 3: Ride north to Cotorra Springs above Fort Wallace. Zoom in and look between the second “o” and “r” in Cotorra. Central rock pillar holds $15 cash and the third map. Hot springs make it a nice stop.
Explorer Challenge 4: Finish at O’Creagh’s Run in Grizzlies East. Swim or ride to the small island, check the north side by the mossy rock, and grab two gold bars. That’s $10 more and 50 stamina XP—those bars sell fast at any fence.

I always feel flush after this chain because the gold adds up quick.

Tackling the Landmarks of Riches Chain

After Jack Hall I move to the Landmarks of Riches maps for Explorer Challenges 5 through 8. These hit some of the prettiest spots. My tight route every time:

Explorer Challenge 5: Far west to the obelisk by Owanjila Lake west of Strawberry. Inspect the central plaque for the first map, then east to the tiny church east of Lakay in Bayou Nwa. Roof by the bell gives gold and silver earrings plus next map—$10 cash and 50 stamina XP.
Explorer Challenge 6: North of Bacchus Station at Mysterious Hill Home. Climb the grassy roof and reach through the broken window for a gold jointed bracelet and third map. $15 cash and 100 stamina XP.
Explorer Challenge 7: Scarlett Meadows at Bolger Glade east of Braithwaite Manor. Walk the old trenches to the raised slumped dead tree and search inside for silver chain bracelet plus fourth map. Explorer Gun Belt comes here too.
Explorer Challenge 8: Bundle up and climb Mount Shann in Big Valley. At the summit find the old sundial and look under the seventh-hour hand. Six gold bars wait—$15 cash and 100 stamina XP. The view is worth the cold.

These landmarks feel like real frontier postcards, and the gold from Mount Shann pays off huge.

Wrapping Up with the Poisonous Trail Chain

The Poisonous Trail maps finish the last two Explorer Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2 and lock in the full outfit:

Explorer Challenge 9: Grab the Poisonous Trail map from the lockbox under the bed at Cairn Lodge east of Colter. Ride to Face Rock north of Rhodes in Scarlett Meadows and search the dead upright tree beside a rock and two fallen ones. $10 cash, second map, 150 stamina XP—step total hits $20.
Explorer Challenge 10: South of Van Horn Trading Post, find the rocky mound between Fort Brennand and Van Horn Mansion. Dig the center hole for the spring bracelet and final loot. This unlocks the Explorer Off-Hand Holster and completes everything.

Conclusion

Completing the Explorer Challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2 is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite activities in the game. The combination of clues, beautiful rides, and rewards is just too great to pass up, no matter how many times you play through. All you need to do is grab that first map and ride off into the sunset, and you’ll be richer, better equipped, and gain a newfound sense of just how vast the world is.

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