GTA Online Treasure Hunt Guide: Locations & Rewards Revealed

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The Treasure Hunt in Grand Theft Auto Online started with The Doomsday Heist update and was originally a promotion for Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2. Even though it was added in 2017, players still enjoy the mission today. Those who finish it earn a special weapon from the Wild Western RPG series.

The hunt kicks off with finding a clue, which appears as one of 20 random locations shown by a photo. While the image gives some hints, it can be tricky to figure out exactly where you are if you’re new to the area.

As you go through the mission, you get paid $5,000 for each clue you find. After collecting all the clues, you can earn more by using the new weapon to complete a headshot challenge.

How to Start the Treasure Hunt

Open Your Email in GTA Online
When you join an online session, whether public or private, you’ll get an email from [email protected] on your in-game phone, usually at the bottom right of the screen.
This email begins the Treasure Hunt and shows a black-and-white photo of a location where you need to search for a clue that leads to secret treasure. The email may arrive a few minutes after you start your session.

Important: Don’t exit online mode or turn off the game before finishing the hunt. If you leave midway, the whole mission resets, and when you come back, a new clue location will be assigned, erasing any progress you made.

Treasure Hunt Locations

Look for the yellow question mark on your map, which marks potential clue spots. The initial search area can be broad, so it helps to know the possible locations listed below. Cross-referencing the clues with the locations will help you find the right spot.

When you’re close to the clue, listen for a metal wind chime sound — that’s your cue you’re near the note, which is usually attached to a rock, tree, or other object in the area shown in your photo.

List of Clue Locations

Location	Photo Details	Directions
Del Perro Pier	Beach next to Del Perro Pier	Under the pier, pinned to a wooden pillar at the start of the sand
Vinewood Hills	Mountain north of the observatory	Next to a yellow shack on Baytree Canyon map
Mount Josiah	Mountain range from afar	Large rock near the cliff’s edge overlooking a metal bridge
Cassidy Creek	Bridge scene	Tall tree beside the dirt path at the river’s edge
Great Chaparral	Fenced church	Behind the building pinned to a tombstone with a cross
Great Chaparral	Train tracks	Pole in front of a cliff with a door at the base
Grand Senora Desert	Cliffside with a door	Pinned on a door in GTA Online
Pacific Ocean	Shore view	Rock near the eastern tip of the island
Los Santos Golf Club	Golf course bridge	Pole at the west end of the bridge
Pacific Bluffs Graveyard	Rows of graves	Pinned on a large tombstone near the southwest
San Chianski Mountain Range	Pier scene	Pole across the water from the pier
San Chianski Mountain Range	Mountain with cross	On top of the mountain at the northwestern edge
Tataviam Mountains	Shore and cliffs	At the base of the cliff near the water before the landbridge
Sandy Shores	Cliff scene	Pinned on the Chiliad map on a wooden platform
Sandy Shores	Peninsula view	Bottom of the largest rock formation
Alamo Sea	Boat scene	On a large rock near the boat on the southern shore
Paleto Bay	Beach with broken bridge	Pole near the broken bridge in the north
Tongva Hills	Vineyard area	Owl statue on the southeastern edge
Tongva Hills	Man on rocks	Under a bridge near the vineyard on the eastern edge
Mount Chiliad	Summit view	Map pinned to a wooden platform at the top

Unlocking the Double-Action Revolver

Once you find the first clue at a location, you’ll need to locate three more to complete the mission and unlock a special weapon—the Double-Action Revolver. When all clues are found, your map will show a random spot with a treasure chest. Opening this chest will give you the revolver, which you can collect and use.

After unlocking the revolver, you can take on a challenge to land 50 headshots. Successfully completing this challenge rewards you with a gold-plated version of the weapon, plus a cash prize of $250,000 in GTA Online.

Completing the Headshot Challenge

You can earn headshots by targeting NPCs or other players. Certain busy areas are good spots for this, especially since hitting NPCs in open areas is easier but may attract police attention, which can be frustrating.

A riskier but more profitable option is robbing stores and then getting a headshot of the shopkeeper. Repeating this process several times can bring in a lot of money. Each store robbery can earn $10,000 to $15,000, so doing it 50 times for the headshot count can be very rewarding.

Keep an eye out for notifications after every 10 headshots—they tell you how close you are to finishing. Once you hit 50, the game grants your reward instantly.