If you’re trying to unlock the “Hidden by the Trees” trophy in Alan Wake 2, you will need to find and open all 22 Cult Stashes hidden across Cauldron Lake, Bright Falls, and Watery. These stashes are boxes, each protected by different types of puzzles, some need keys, some have symbol or number locks, and others test your memory with Simon Says-style button sequences. This guide breaks down the exact locations of every stash and gives you the solution for each one, so you won’t miss a single upgrade or reward.
All 22 Cult Stash Locations and Solutions
There are 22 Cult Stashes in Alan Wake 2. Some stashes are locked away until you make progress in the story, so don’t worry if you can’t access all of them right away. Be sure to revisit certain areas as you progress through the story, since some stashes can only be accessed later on.
Cauldron Lake Cult Stashes
In Alan Wake 2, Cauldron Lake is the first area where you will find Cult Stashes. There are five of these stashes in this area. You will come across different types of puzzles to open them.
Cult Stash 1
Look near the Murder Site, just below the General Store. There’s a yellow trailer, check just outside it, you will find the cult box there.
Puzzle Solution: Set the lock symbols from top to bottom like this: up/down connected triangles, hourglass, then left/right joined triangles.
Cult Stash 2
Go to the southwest edge of Cauldron Lake Shore. This area becomes accessible only after you lower the water level. After defeating the boss in Chapter 3, you need to head towards the previously flooded areas to find the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Press the buttons in the same order they light up, just like a game of Simon Says.
Cult Stash 3
Head to Crow’s Foot Hills, to the left of the path near the Witch’s Hut. After defeating the boss in Chapter 3, you need to head towards the previously flooded areas to find the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Use your flashlight to follow glowing yellow arrows on trees. They will lead you to a hidden key. Take the key to open the cult stash.
Cult Stash 4
From Streamside, go down the path near the river, right below the Private Cabin. After defeating the boss in Chapter 3, you need to head towards the previously flooded areas to find the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Shine your flashlight on nearby trees to reveal glowing math problems. Solving them gives you the code: 6-5-8.
Cult Stash 5
In the Rental Cabins area, go into the bathroom of Cabin number 1. You will need the Bolt Cutters to get inside. After defeating the boss in Chapter 9, you will get the bolt cutters.
Puzzle Solution: Use your flashlight to spot a glowing number on a tree. Nearby, you will find a key on the ground that opens the stash. You will need a Screwdriver (found elsewhere in the game) to access certain locked cabins for this stash.
Bright Falls Cult Stashes
Bright Falls has nine Cult Stashes in total. These stashes have different puzzle types. Some areas only unlock as you progress through the story, so make sure to revisit places later on.
Cult Stash 6
After crossing the Bunker Woods bridge, climb the hill near the river. You will find the cult stash kept near the rocks.
Puzzle Solution: Play Simon Says, press the buttons in the order they glow green.
Cult Stash 7
Look in the back of an abandoned red truck along the main trail from Billie’s Boat Yard. You will find the cult stash kept inside the truck.
Puzzle Solution: Solve a simple math puzzle to get the code 1-7-7.
Cult Stash 8
To this cult stash, head towards the south of Valhalla Nursing Home. Follow a small off-path trail to find the cult stash. After defeating the boss in Chapter 9, you will get the bolt cutters.
Puzzle Solution: Find a key hidden under a tree with a sign and a downward arrow.
Cult Stash 9
Walk along the coastline near the Wellness Centre. Use your flashlight to follow glowing yellow arrows on the trees. After defeating the boss in Chapter 9, you will get the bolt cutters.
Puzzle Solution: Set the lock from top to bottom as: left/right joined triangles, twin downward triangles, and an hourglass.
Cult Stash 10
To find this cult stash, you need to climb the hill just next to the Ranger Station. After defeating the boss in Chapter 9, you will get the bolt cutters.
Puzzle Solution: Look near the chimney of the Ranger Station cabin to find the key.
Cult Stash 11
You will find the cult stash right outside the Elderwood Palace Lodge, next to a big white storage truck.
Puzzle Solution: Another Simon Says puzzle, press buttons in the order they flash green.
Cult Stash 12
You will find this cult stash on the dock at the end of Harbor Street. You will need Bolt Cutters to reach the shack.
Puzzle Solution: Check the numbers on nearby water level poles, the code is 6-9-7.
Cult Stash 13
Go down the alley behind the Oh Deer Diner, near Biltmore Avenue. You will have to use Bolt Cutters to open a gate.
Puzzle Solution: Set the lock symbols to: two upward triangles, left/right joined triangles, overlapping upward triangles.
Cult Stash 14
Inside the Sheriff’s Station, during the last chapter of Saga’s story. Go downstairs and take the first right through a Bolt Cutter gate.
Puzzle Solution: Count the number of lines forming each shape to get the code 1-4-6.
Watery Cult Stashes
Watery has eight more Cult Stashes. Remember, after a certain point in the story, you won’t be able to return to Watery, so make sure to explore before you go too far.
Cult Stash 15
To get this cult stash, head to the bottom southeast dock of Downtown Watery. Behind some blue crates, you will find the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Solve the math puzzle to get the code 4-9-6.
Cult Stash 16
You will find this cult stash just north of Downtown Watery, at the southwest edge of the woods near Kari’s Garage on the map.
Puzzle Solution: Another Simon Says puzzle, press the buttons in the correct green-light order.
Cult Stash 17
You will find this cult box on the same path as the previous cult box at the southwest edge of the woods near Kari’s Garage on the map. You will find this one right next to a Break Area cabin.
Puzzle Solution: Look at the targets next to the stash. The crossbow bolts in them give you the code 5-2-7.
Cult Stash 18
You will find this cult stash right under the Slow Roaster ride in the Coffee World. Head towards the location marked on the map above. Once you reach there, take the stairs to reach the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Check the striped ride cups for numbers. The code is 1-4-7.
Cult Stash 19
You will find the cult stash a bit northeast of the Huotari Well in Coffee World.
Puzzle Solution: Go back to Coffee World park and look under the Mr Drippy statue to find a key.
Cult Stash 20
Behind the Kalevala Knights Workshop. Use Bolt Cutters to get through the gate. After defeating the boss in Chapter 9, you will get the bolt cutters.
Puzzle Solution: Look at the old rides here, numbers on them form the code 5-4-2.
Cult Stash 21
You will find the cult stash just inside a small workshop near a yellow trailer at Lighthouse Trailer Park. You will also find the key to this cult stash nearby.
Puzzle Solution: Go past the workshop to find a key just on a ledge near some trash.
Cult Stash 22
Climb the cliffs beyond Watery Lighthouse. Look for glowing symbols with your flashlight. After defeating the boss in Chapter 7, you need to head towards the previously flooded areas to find the cult stash.
Puzzle Solution: Set the lock symbols like this: overlapping downward triangles, overlapping upward triangles, two connected downward triangles.
Once you have opened every Cult Stash and solved all the puzzles in Alan Wake 2, you will be able to use the Lighthouse Key to enter Watery Lighthouse. Inside, you will find Manuscript Pages, which are used to upgrade Saga’s weapons.
