Cauldron Lake is the first area inAlan Wake 2, but you’re not finished there even after you find the Overlap and solve the first part of the mystery. Returning to Cauldron Lake with new tools as you progress through the game will make new areas available.

Chief among the rewards for coming back are the hidden Cult Stashes, most of which are inaccessible until you’ve completed at least some of Saga’s storyline. Some of these boxes are easy to open, while others are very tricky. This guide will help you get the goods.

the lock to the first cult stash at Cauldron Lake in Alan Wake 2, open.

Updated May 16, 2025:We’ve added a video version of this guide to help you find all of these stashes.

Chores (Cooler Combination)

East of the crime scene is a clearing with anabandoned shack. A locked box in the front yard has a note detailing chores;wash your hands, get a snack from the fridge, then take a nap.

Go inside the shack; note the symbols next to thebathroom sinkoff the hallway to the right, therefrigeratorin the main room, and themattressagainst a window in the right-hand room.

the southwestern corner of the Cualdron Lake map in Alan Wake 2, with the player shown at the location of a Cult Stash

Turn the dials on the lock to match the symbols in the order of the objects; sink, fridge, mattress. This will open the Stash and let you collect the supplies inside.

Lakeshore

When the flooding recedes at the end of Chapter Two,walk south along the shore. Just before getting back on the forest trail, you’ll see afallen tree that you can duck under.Past it is a locked Cult Stash.

This lock is fairly easy to open; just inspect the lock thenwatch the sequence in which the buttons light up.Press the buttons in the same sequence to get the items inside.

a cult stash in the woods near cauldron lake in alan wake 2, with a light bulb drawn on the lid

Light Bulb

Another Cult Stash that becomes available once the flooding recedes isat the campsite northwest of the Witch’s Ladle.The only clue is adrawing of a light bulbon the top of the box.

Turn on your flashlightand look to the right; several of the trees will have arrows painted on them that areonly visible under the flashlight.Follow them to the key’s location, then pick it up and use it to open the stash.

the map of cauldron lake in alan wake 2, with the player located at the rock rock tree cult stash near the private cabin

Rock Rock Tree

In the Streamside area, look for a hill on thenorth side of the brook. The easiest way to find it is toleave the Private Cabinand follow the trail around to the right before you cross the water.

The note on this stash says“Rock Rock Tree - Are you bright enough?”Luckily, you don’t need to go very far to find the combination to the lock.

Turn on your flashlight andshine it on the rocks above the stash.You’ll see the numbers3+3illuminated in fluorescent paint. The tree to the left has thenumbers 6+2 painted on it.

A third rock in the middle of the stream below has the numbers7-2.

Add up the equations individually, then put the results together to get the combination658, which will open the box. The rock nearest the box is the first one you see, so its number, six, should be entered before the one from the river.

Rental Cabins

When you get the Bolt Cutters, return to Cauldron Lake and use them to enter theRental Cabinsnear the parking lot. The rightmost cabin contains a Break Room where you can save and switch characters, and there’s alarge Cult Stashin the bathroom to the left of the entrance.

This stash has a crude treasure map taped to the top. Examining it up close causes the light to wash out much of the detail, so it’s actually easier tomove the camera angle from the normal view.

The map can be pretty tricky to decipher; the important factors to note are thecastle with the number three on it, thebridge, and thetree with the number 2.

Leave the cabin andenter Cabin Threeon your right - this represents the castle. Go out the back and gounder the fallen tree to the left, which represents going under the bridge.

Pass through the cabin on the far side of the tree, thenlook for a junked truck on your right.The truck seems to represent the bones on the map.

Past the truck are several trees withnumbers in fluorescent paint on them.Use your flashlight to find the one with the number 2 painted on it; this is easiest if youwalk on the left side of the truck.The key is on the ground on the far side of tree number two.

The yard in front of the cabin where the stash is locatedspawns a trio of Takenalmost every time you pass through it. Be careful on the trip back!