You’ll discover a lot of goodies in Alan Wake 2. One particular type of collectible has you unlocking crates that contain ammo, utility items, and healing kits. Our guide discusses the Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash locations, including the solutions to all the puzzles you’ll encounter.

All Cult Stash locations and puzzle solutions in Alan Wake 2

If you’re playing Saga’s chapters, then you’ll have a chance to discover all 22 Cult Stashes in the game. These tend to have a particular mini-puzzle or task, such as:

• Pressing the buttons in the correct order based on how they light up.
• Finding a missing key based on a clue or glowing arrows that only appear if you shine your flashlight on surfaces.
• Math problems.
• Deciphering the correct symbols to use.

To be clear, our Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash locations guide is organized based on the zones/areas that you get to visit during the campaign. We’ve also noted the chapters where you’ll first come across them. If you miss out on a container early on, you could always return to the area to solve the puzzle (at least before the point of no return, which the game will warn you about).

How to reveal all Cult Stash locations

At the start of the campaign, you won’t really know where all the Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash locations are unless you stumble upon them. However, during Return 3: Local Girl, you’ll enter the Kalevala Knights Workshop as part of the main mission. Inside, there’s a board that has several maps. You can interact with these to mark the locations of all the remaining Cult Stashes that you haven’t found yet.

Cult Stash locations in Cauldron Lake

There are only a few Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash crates in Cauldron Lake. Several can be obtained early in the campaign, though the last one requires you to progress further to acquire the Bolt Cutters.

Cult Stash #1

• Chapter: Return 1 – Invitation
• Location: In front of the cabin near the Murder Site.
• Puzzle/objective type: Cult symbols
• Solution:
  • 1: Triangle up and down; interlinked
  • 2: Triangle down and up; hourglass
  • 3: Triangle left and right; side-by-side

Cult Stash #2: Inventory upgrade reward

• Chapter: Return 2 – The Heart
• Location: At the beach where Saga and Casey first meet Alan.
• Puzzle/objective type: Button presses
• Solution: Press the buttons in the correct order.

This Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash has a satchel that increases Saga’s inventory space by one row. You can learn more about these items in our inventory upgrades guide.

Cult Stash #3

• Chapter: Return 2 – The Heart
• Location: In the lakeside area after you’ve completed the first Overlap encounter to clear the flooding.
• Puzzle/objective type: Glowing arrows and missing key
• Solution: Shine your flashlight to reveal glowing arrows. Follow them to acquire a key.

Cult Stash #4

• Chapter: Return 2 – The Heart
• Location: After clearing the flooded area, you’ll be able to head to the northwestern portion of the zone. You’ll find this on a rocky ledge just below the Private Cabin save point.
• Puzzle/objective type: Math equation and glowing numbers
• Solution: Rock-rock-tree – The numbers will glow if you shine your flashlight on certain objects:
  • There’s a rock that’s further away (7-2).
  • There’s also another that’s closer to the crate (3+3).
  • And then there’s the tree itself (6+2).
  • The code is: 6-5-8.

Cult Stash #5

• Chapter: After Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: This Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash is in the Rental Cabins. You can only unlock the gate once you have the Bolt Cutters obtained at the end of the Old Gods chapter.
• Puzzle/objective type: Missing key
• Solution: Go through one of the cabins to reach the opposite side. Then, shine your flashlight on the tree in the corner of the yard. You should see a glowing symbol. Check the ground behind the tree to spot the key needed to open this container.

Cult Stash locations in Watery

Almost all the Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash containers in Watery can be unlocked during Return 3 – Local Girl. The only exception is the last one (#8), which requires the Bolt Cutters.

Cult Stash #1

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: At the end of the narrow ravine in the eastern portion of the woods.
• Puzzle/objective type: Button presses
• Solution: Press the buttons in the correct order.

Cult Stash #2: Crossbow reward

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: Just outside the hut/save point in the wooded area.
• Puzzle/objective type: Keycode combination
• Solution: There’s a note that implies that someone used the crossbow recently, and you’ll notice several bolts lodged into wooden beams with numbers.
  • The written numbers represent the code, whereas the bolts represent their sequence.
  • The solution is: 5-2-7.

You can learn more about the other armaments that Saga and Alan can acquire in our weapon locations guide.

Cult Stash #3

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: Right next to the Slow Coaster Ferris Wheel in Coffee World.
• Puzzle/objective type: Keycode combination
• Solution: The clue simply says « only striped cups, » implying that you should check the numbers of the carriages with stripes running along the middle. The solution is: 1-4-7.

Cult Stash #4

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: In a bush near the Huotari Well in Coffee World.
• Puzzle/objective type: Missing key
• Solution: The clue asks you « what hides behind the smile? » You’ll notice a smiling statue of a cup mascot near this area. Check the ground behind the statue to obtain a key.

Cult Stash #5

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: On a rocky crag near the Lighthouse in the southern portion of the zone.
• Puzzle/objective type: Cult symbols
• Solution: Shine your flashlight on surfaces near and below the crag with this crate. You should see Roman numeral markings (i.e. I, II, and III) next to cult symbols. Each numeral pertains to the sequence of the symbols.
  • 1: Both triangles down; top and bottom.
  • 2: Both triangles up; top and bottom.
  • 3: Both triangles down; side-by-side.

Cult Stash #6

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: Next to Saga’s trailer in the Lighthouse Trailer Park. You can only access this area after clearing the Overlap encounter in Watery to make the floods recede.
• Puzzle/objective type: Missing key
• Solution: The clue mentions that the key is somewhere the flood waters won’t reach. Check the post near the wooden ramp and blue dumpster to find a key.

Cult Stash #7

• Chapter: Return 3 – Local Girl
• Location: At the edge of the pier in the southern portion of Downtown Watery after the flood waters have receded.
• Puzzle/objective type: Math!
• Solution: This Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash has a math puzzle (and we all know how everyone hates math). Here’s the math problem: « There are three batteries (B1, B2, and B3) which have a combined charge of 1,600 amps. B2 has 128 amps more than B3. Meanwhile, B1 has two times as much charge as B3. How many amps does B2 have? »
  • We’ve got the following: X + 2X + X + 128 = 1,600.
  • 4X = 1,600 – 128.
  • X = 368.
  • Since we’re looking for B2, we just need to add 128.
  • The solution is: 4-9-6.

Cult Stash #8

• Chapter: After Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: At the backyard of the Kalevala Knights Workshop. You can gain access to this area once you have the Bolt Cutters obtained at the end of Return 5 – Old Gods.
• Puzzle/objective type: Keycode combination
• Solution: The clue simply says « only spare parts. » To unlock this Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash, you need to look at the theme park contraptions left behind in this backyard area.
  • Ferris Wheel cups – 5
  • Rocket ships – 4
  • Saucers – 2
  • The solution is: 5-4-2.

Cult Stash locations in Bright Falls

There are nine Cult Stash locations in Bright Falls, the most out of any zone. We only stumbled upon these a bit later in the campaign, specifically during Return 4 – No Chance, Return 5 – Old Gods, and Return 6 – Scratch.

Cult Stash #1

• Chapter: Return 4 – No Chance
• Location: Behind a large rock near the hut/save point.
• Puzzle/objective type: Button presses
• Solution: Press the buttons in the correct order.

Cult Stash #2

• Chapter: Return 4 – No Chance
• Location: At the back of an abandoned truck.
• Puzzle/objective type: Math!
• Solution: If you want this Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash, you need to solve this math problem: « There are 200 total vehicles in a factory (cars and bicycles). Each car has four wheels and each bicycle has two wheels. If there are a total of 754 wheels, how many cars are there in the factory? »
  • We’re going to do a bit of substitution for this: 4X + 2 (200-X) = 754.
  • 4X + 400 – 2X = 754.
  • 4X – 2X = 754 – 400.
  • 2X = 354.
  • Solution: 1-7-7.

Cult Stash #3

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: In the wooded area after exiting Valhalla Nursing Home. You’ll go here once you’ve cleared the Overlap encounter in this zone.
• Puzzle/objective type: Glowing arrows and missing key
• Solution: Don’t bother following the glowing arrows since they’ll only confuse you. Instead, check the sloping rock just below the chest. You’ll find a key next to an arrow sign pointing downward.

Cult Stash #4

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: Along the dirt path near the hut/save point, but before the Ranger Station.
• Puzzle/objective type: Glowing arrows and cult symbols.
• Solution: Turn on your flashlight and follow the glowing arrows. The correct sequence depends on the order that you see each symbol while following the arrows.
  • 1: Triangles left and right; side-by-side.
  • 2: Triangles both down; side-by-side.
  • 3: Triangles up and down; elevator button.

Cult Stash #5

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: On a hill just between Cult Stash #4 and the Ranger Station.
• Puzzle/objective type: Missing key
• Solution: There’s a hastily scribbled drawing hinting at the location of the key. It’s on the ground at the fireplace structure outside the Ranger Station.

Cult Stash #6

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: Next to a white van parked in front of the Elderwood Palace Lounge. We genuinely did not notice this container at all in earlier chapters. As such, we can’t confirm if you can actually unlock it earlier, or if it only appears once you’re done with the Old Gods chapter.
• Puzzle/objective type: Button presses
• Solution: Press the buttons in the correct order.

Cult Stash #7: Inventory upgrade reward

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: Inside the shed next to the fresh seafood building. You need the Bolt Cutters to pry open the locked gate.
• Puzzle/objective type: Keycode combination
• Solution: The clue pertains to the water level, and you’ll notice numbers placed on the poles. We based the order on the closest ships to those numbers (largest to smallest). The solution is: 6-9-7.

This Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash has a satchel that increases Saga’s inventory space by one row. You can learn more about these items in our inventory upgrades guide.

Cult Stash #8

• Chapter: Return 5 – Old Gods
• Location: Found in the yard across the street from the Oh Deer Diner.
• Puzzle/objective type: Cult symbols
• Solution: The clue pertains to a painter’s work log. If you had to the park, you’ll find the cult symbols that they’ve painted:
  • 1: Satellite dish – Two triangles up; side-by-side and interlinked.
  • 2: Near the park benches – Left and right triangles; side-by-side.
  • 3: In the gazebo – Two triangles up; top and bottom interlinked.

Cult Stash #9: Lighthouse Key reward

• Chapter: Return 6 – Scratch
• Location: You’ll return to the basement of the Sheriff’s Office during this chapter. This time, though, you’ll be able to unlock the gate to the evidence room with the Bolt Cutters.
• Puzzle/objective type: Keycode combination
• Solution: The clue has lines and polygons, and the combination is based on the number of lines that form each shape. The solution is: 1-4-6.

Note that this container rewards you with the Lighthouse Key. You can use it to open the Lighthouse’s door in Watery to find a couple of Manuscript Pages.

In any case, these are the Alan Wake 2 Cult Stash locations that we’ve discovered in the campaign. Don’t forget to grab the other collectibles while playing as Saga, such as the Alex Casey Lunchboxes and Nursery Rhymes/Dolls. Lastly, obtaining all lunchbox and stash collectibles also nets you the « Hidden By the Trees » achievement.