Red Dead Redemption 2 Dinosaur Bones locations
There are 30 dinosaur bones in Red Dead Redemption 2, scattered from Roanoke Ridge in the northeast all the way to Gaptooth Ridge in New Austin. Collecting them is part of the A Test of Faith stranger mission: meet the paleontologist Deborah MacGuiness northeast of Flatneck Station to start it. The bones only become collectible after that first conversation, so talk to her before you go hunting, then mail the coordinates of each find to her from any post office.
Rewards arrive by mail as you send bones in:
1 bone mailed: a Quartz Chunk, used to craft the Bear Claw Talisman at a fence (Health Core drain slowed by 10%)
15 bones mailed: a Skull Statue
All 30 mailed: an invitation to Firwood Rise northwest of Fort Wallace, where Deborah rebuilds the skeleton and hands over the unique Jawbone Knife
Eight of the bones are in New Austin, which Arthur cannot safely enter, so plan on finishing the set as John in the epilogue. Nothing is missable; every bone stays in place across chapters. You can also browse all 30 on the interactive Red Dead Redemption 2 map. The locations below follow a route from Roanoke Ridge west through the Grizzlies and Heartlands, into Big Valley, and finally across New Austin.
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Dinosaur Bone #1, Roanoke Ridge Valley Overlook location
On the clifftop northeast of Deer Cottage, above Brandywine Drop. The bone lies close to the cliff edge overlooking the valley.
Dinosaur Bone #2, Roanoke Ridge Van Horn location
In a small clearing among the trees northwest of Van Horn. It is a single small bone on open ground, so switch on Eagle Eye when you get close.
Dinosaur Bone #3, Roanoke Ridge Kamassa River location
On the cliffs above the west bank of the Kamassa River, north of Elysian Pool. The claw-shaped cluster sits on a plateau one level down from the top.
Dinosaur Bone #4, Roanoke Ridge Overlook location
On a rocky plateau at the border between Roanoke Ridge and Ambarino, west of the Old Tomb and close to the railway bridge. The bone is partially buried on the ridge.
Dinosaur Bone #5, Grizzlies Northern Boundary location
On an open, grassy hilltop in northern Ambarino, just south of the road near Fairvale Shanty. It is partially buried, so use Eagle Eye to make it glow.
Dinosaur Bone #6, Grizzlies O'Creagh's Run Overlook location
On the ridgeline south of O’Creagh’s Run, sitting on a pyramid-shaped rock at the cliff edge. This is widely considered the hardest bone to reach: approach along the grassy path from the northeast rather than climbing the cliff directly.
Dinosaur Bone #7, Heartlands Abandoned Shack location
In the grass just southeast of an abandoned hut in the northern Heartlands. The bones are tiny and sit at ground level; Eagle Eye is almost essential here.
Dinosaur Bone #8, Grizzlies Calumet Ravine location
On a red, rocky outcrop on the hilltop near Calumet Ravine. The bone is exposed on top of the rise, a short climb from the trail.
Dinosaur Bone #9, Cumberland Forest Bacchus Station location
On the hilltop with the stone spike southwest of Bacchus Station. Look near the low cliffs on the southwest side of the summit.
Dinosaur Bone #10, Grizzlies Dakota River Ledge location
On a small ledge above the upper Dakota River, south of Cotorra Springs. The easiest way in is to drop down carefully from the top of the cliff.
Dinosaur Bone #11, Cumberland Forest Six Point Overlook location
On the exposed cliff edge southwest of Six Point Cabin. The elevated position makes this one easy to spot once you are up on the ridge.
Dinosaur Bone #12, Grizzlies Rock Wall location
Fossilized into a rock on a hilltop in western Ambarino. It blends into the wall, so stand on the grassy patch near the top and sweep the area with Eagle Eye.
Dinosaur Bone #13, Heartlands Northern Boundary location
On the clifftop above the Dakota River north of Valentine. The bone is buried in the ground near the edge, just before the drop to the river.
Dinosaur Bone #14, Heartlands Cliff Face location
Embedded in the base of the cliff wall along the Dakota River, east of Valentine near Downes Ranch. This one is fossilized into the rock itself rather than lying loose on the ground.
Dinosaur Bone #15, Heartlands Oil Fields location
At the Heartlands Oil Fields: climb down the ladder beneath the derrick platform. The bone sits at the bottom, in the dark hollow under the structure.
Dinosaur Bone #16, Heartlands Southern Gorge location
At the far end of a dried-up riverbed in the southern Heartlands gorge, south of the oil fields. The bone rests on a stone and blends in with it.
Dinosaur Bone #17, Heartlands Dewberry Creek location
On the west side of Dewberry Creek, in the dry dirt between three boulders just below the grassy bank.
Dinosaur Bone #18, Scarlett Meadows Dewberry Creek location
On the south side of Dewberry Creek in Scarlett Meadows. It lies in open ground between boulders; a quick Eagle Eye pulse picks it out of the grass.
Dinosaur Bone #19, Heartlands Grassy Hill location
In the grassy field east of Granger’s Hoggery. The bone sits on open, elevated ground and is surprisingly easy to walk straight past.
Dinosaur Bone #20, Big Valley Northern Cave location
Inside the cave in northern Big Valley, northwest of Wallace Station. The actual entrance is under a rock formation a few meters south of where the map dot sits.
Dinosaur Bone #21, Big Valley Rocky Slope location
On a rocky outcrop right beside the trail south of Vetter’s Echo. It is practically in the middle of the path, so just follow the dotted trail on the map.
Dinosaur Bone #22, Big Valley Beryl's Dream Overlook location
Halfway up Mount Shann on the S-curve path, on the cliff side just south of the Beryl’s Dream mine. Check the edge of the road.
Dinosaur Bone #23, Hennigan's Stead Pike's Basin location
In New Austin, on the canyon plateau northwest of Pike’s Basin. The bone lies at the base of the canyon wall along the upper path; collect it as John in the epilogue.
Dinosaur Bone #24, Hennigan's Stead San Luis River location
On the northern shore of the San Luis River west of Greenhollow, in a grassy patch above a small islet in the river. New Austin territory, so save it for the epilogue.
Dinosaur Bone #25, Rio Bravo Del Lobo Rock location
On top of Rio del Lobo Rock in eastern Rio Bravo. Climb the eastern slope; the bone is near the cliff edge at the summit.
Dinosaur Bone #26, Cholla Springs Jorge's Gap location
On the highest point of a small hill west of Jorge’s Gap. Bushes cover it completely, so it is effectively invisible without Eagle Eye.
Dinosaur Bone #27, Cholla Springs High Desert location
Fossilized into the side of a small rock wall north of Cholla Springs, just south of the train tracks. Look at the wall itself, not the ground.
Dinosaur Bone #28, Rio Bravo San Luis River location
On a hilltop plateau in eastern Rio Bravo, south of Fort Mercer, overlooking the San Luis River valley. The bone sits near the cliff edge at the top of the rise.
Dinosaur Bone #29, Gaptooth Ridge North Tumbleweed location
On the mesa north of Tumbleweed. Take the path up the northern side of the mountain; the bone lies near the clifftop above the canyon.
Dinosaur Bone #30, Gaptooth Ridge South location
On the clifftop plateau south of Tumbleweed. Head for the southeast edge of the plateau overlooking the desert below.