Secret Notes Guide: How to Find and Solve All Notes
How to find every Secret Note in Stardew Valley. Decode hidden messages, find buried treasure, and unlock permanent buffs with this complete guide.
Secret Notes are mid-to-late game collectibles. You can't even see them until you get the Magnifying Glass, so don't bother looking for them in your first Spring.
Quick Summary
- Requirement: You MUST own the Magnifying Glass to drop or read notes.
- Sources: Digging, mining, chopping trees, killing monsters, or fishing.
- The Collection: 25 Secret Notes in total (plus Journal Scraps on Ginger Island).
How to Unlock Secret Notes
To start finding notes, you need to trigger the "A Winter Mystery" event. During Winter, Year 1, walk from your farm to the Bus Stop between 6 AM and 4 PM. You'll see a "Shadow Guy" (looking like Krobus) run away. Chase him to the bush next to the Community Center to get your Magnifying Glass.
Most Important Secret Notes
While there are 25 notes, these are the ones that actually give you "meta" upgrades:
Note #10: Mr. Qi's Challenge
This note tells you to reach Level 100 in the Skull Cavern. If you make it, you'll meet Mr. Qi and receive Iridium Snake Milk, which permanently increases your HP by 25.
Note #19 & #20: Treasure Maps
These are directional puzzles starting from a specific tile.
- Note #19: Start at 1 Willow Lane (Kent's house) and follow the arrows to find a solid gold statue of Mayor Lewis.
- Note #20: Start in the center of the Town Square and follow the arrows to find the Special Charm, which permanently boosts your Luck.
Note #23: The Bear's Request
Bring Maple Syrup to the Secret Woods to meet a Bear. He'll give you "Bear's Knowledge," which triples the sell price of Blackberries and Salmonberries.
How to Farm Secret Notes Fast
If you're missing a few, go to the Mines or Skull Cavern. It's much faster than digging.
| Action | Drop Chance (%) |
|---|---|
| Breaking Large Rocks | 100% (If note is available) |
| Digging Artifact Spots | 11% |
| Killing Monsters | 3.3% |
| Chopping Trees | 0.5% |
Pro tip: Any big rock in the mines or on your farm is a guaranteed note if you're eligible for one.
Pro Tips
- Read them immediately: Once you pick up a note, right-click to read it. It gets added to your Collections menu and stops taking up inventory space.
- Journal Scraps: Once you reach Ginger Island, you'll find Journal Scraps. They work exactly like Secret Notes but are specific to the island.
Check Note #14. There's a hidden Treasure Chest behind the Community Center that most people walk past for years.
Related on StardewHub
- Skull Cavern Guide — The best place to farm notes and Iridium.
- Ginger Island Guide — Find Journal Scraps and unlock island secrets.
- Don't Sell These — Make sure you don't trash your special note rewards.
I love the directional puzzles. It’s one of the few times Stardew feels like a proper detective game.
Updated for Stardew Valley 1.6.