If you're hunting for Stardew Valley Secret Notes locations and rewards, you're in the right place. Secret Notes are hidden collectibles that start showing up after you get the Magnifying Glass. There are 25 of them, and they hide some of the best rewards in the game — including a free Stardrop.

In this guide, I'll walk you through how to unlock Secret Notes, where they drop, and what rewards you can get from each type of note.

What Are Secret Notes in Stardew Valley?

Secret Notes are small numbered notes that appear as random drops after you get the Magnifying Glass. Each note — Secret Note #1 through Secret Note #25 — has different content. Some are treasure maps, some are cooking recipes, some are hints about Pelican Town, and some are just jokes.

To read a note, open your inventory and right-click it. After you read it, the note stays in your inventory, so you can check it again anytime. That's super helpful for map notes.

How to Unlock Secret Notes: Get the Magnifying Glass

You can't find any Secret Notes until you have the Magnifying Glass. That item is what makes Secret Notes start dropping. Here's exactly how to get it:

  1. Wait until Winter. The event only happens in Winter, any year.
  2. Go to the Bus Stop between 6 PM and 2 AM. That's the area north of your farm where the bus to the Desert leaves from.
  3. Walk into the Bus Stop. A cutscene will play, and a shadowy figure will run into the tunnel on the left side of the map.
  4. Follow the figure into the tunnel. You'll find the Magnifying Glass on the ground.
  5. Pick it up. That's it. Secret Notes can now drop from all kinds of activities.

If you miss the event, don't panic. You can try again next Winter. Just remember to visit the Bus Stop at night during the coldest season.

Secret Notes Locations: Where to Find Secret Note Drops

Secret Notes don't have fixed spawn points. They drop randomly, but there are lots of ways to farm them. In my experience, these are the best methods:

  • Dig up every Artifact Spot you see. Those wiggling worms in the dirt are a top source. Check the town, the forest, the beach, the mountains, and the desert.
  • Chop trees and stumps. Wood chopping can drop Secret Notes, so clear some forest on a regular basis.
  • Break rocks in the Mines and the Quarry. Every rock you smash has a small chance to drop a note.
  • Kill monsters in the Mines. Slimes, bugs, dust sprites — they all drop Secret Notes sometimes.
  • Go fishing. Secret Notes show up inside fishing treasure chests, so always chase those chests.
  • Till soil with your Hoe. Digging up dirt on your farm and other diggable spots can also give you notes.

The trick is to mix up your daily routine. If you only forage, you'll be waiting forever. If you farm, mine, fish, and chop, you'll see Secret Notes pretty fast.

Secret Notes Rewards: What You Get from Reading Notes

Here are the real Stardew Valley Secret Notes rewards that matter in normal gameplay.

The Stardrop: The Best Secret Note Reward

The single best reward from a Secret Note is the Stardrop. Somewhere in your note collection, you'll find a map note that shows the Mountain area with an X marking a dig spot.

To get it, head to the Mountain map — where Robin's shop and the Mines are. Go to the east side of the lake and find the big tree right by the water. Use your Hoe on the dirt nearby. You'll dig up a Stardrop, which gives you a permanent boost to your maximum energy.

This is one of the easiest Stardrops to miss, so don't skip it. A permanent energy boost is huge for long farming days.

Recipe Notes

Some Secret Notes are actually cooking recipes. When you read one, you learn the recipe right away, so the note does its job even if you throw it away afterward.

Two recipes you can get from Secret Notes are Blackberry Cobbler and Cranberry Candy. These are great for restoring energy, and they're easy to cook once your farm is producing berries.

Map Notes and Hidden Treasures

Other Secret Notes are treasure maps. They show a drawn map of a specific area with an X that marks a hidden spot. When you get one of these, grab your Hoe and go to that location. Digging there gives you items like artifacts, gems, or other useful loot.

Some of these treasures are one-of-a-kind, so it's worth chasing down every map note you find.

Hint Notes and Joke Notes

Not every Secret Note gives you a physical reward. Some are just hints about stuff going on in Pelican Town. You might learn something funny about a villager, or read a weird message that has no real purpose.

These notes are still worth reading because they're part of the full 25-note collection. Read them once, enjoy the flavor, and move on.

Common Mistakes Players Make with Secret Notes

Even experienced players mess up with Secret Notes. Here are the biggest mistakes to avoid — new players, pay attention:

  1. Missing the Magnifying Glass event. This is the big one. If you don't go to the Bus Stop in Winter at night, you have to wait a whole season. Set a reminder for yourself.
  2. Digging with the wrong tool. Map notes point to dig spots, but you have to use the Hoe. The Pickaxe doesn't work. I've seen too many players whack the dirt with a pickaxe and get nothing.
  3. Not carrying a Hoe. Always keep a Hoe in your inventory when you explore. If a Secret Note points to a treasure spot and you don't have a Hoe, you'll have to run all the way back home.
  4. Trashing notes you haven't read yet. Once you read a recipe note, you keep the recipe. But if you throw away an unread note, you lose the clue. Check every note before you delete anything.
  5. Thinking notes disappear after reading. Secret Notes don't vanish. They stay in your inventory, so you can recheck the Stardrop map as many times as you need.
  6. Skipping fishing. Fishing treasure chests are one of the easiest ways to score Secret Notes. If you hate fishing, you're making the grind way harder on yourself.

Stardew Valley Secret Notes FAQ

When can I get the Magnifying Glass in Stardew Valley?

In Winter, go to the Bus Stop between 6 PM and 2 AM. A shadowy figure will run into the tunnel, and you'll find the Magnifying Glass inside.

How do Secret Notes drop after I get the Magnifying Glass?

Secret Notes drop randomly from digging Artifact Spots, chopping wood, breaking rocks, killing monsters, fishing treasure chests, and tilling soil. Just keep playing and you'll collect them over time.

Do Secret Notes disappear after I read them?

No. Secret Notes stay in your inventory after you read them. You can open them again anytime, which is super helpful for map notes.

Is the Secret Note Stardrop worth it?

Absolutely. The Secret Note Stardrop gives you a permanent max energy boost, and it's easy to reach. Once you find the map note, grab your Hoe, dig by the big tree on the east side of the Mountain Lake, and enjoy the extra energy.

Final Tips for Collecting All 25 Secret Notes

The best way to collect all 25 Secret Notes is to never go anywhere without your Hoe — and always clean up the map. Dig worm tiles, chop stray trees, kill extra monsters, and check every fishing chest you can.

Personally, I do a quick "Secret Notes sweep" every in-game day: hit the Mines for a few floors, fish a little, and check every worm tile I spot on the way home. You'll have the full set and all the rewards before you know it.