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The most reliable repeatable source of hardwood in Stardew Valley is the Secret Woods. Six Large Stumps inside regrow each day and yield 12 hardwood per day in total, but you first need a Steel Axe or better to clear the Large Log that blocks the entrance in the northwest of Cindersap Forest. Inside the Secret Woods, the stumps themselves need a Copper Axe or better.
Hardwood sources at a glance
Hardwood comes from four kinds of objects, and each has a different axe requirement and a different answer to the question of whether it comes back. The table below uses the Stardew Valley Wiki’s Hardwood page as its main reference, with individual entries for the Secret Woods, Large Log and Mahogany Tree.
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| Source | Axe needed | Renewable? | Hardwood yield | Where it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Stumps inside the Secret Woods (six) | Copper Axe or better | Yes, regrow daily | 12 per day in total (2 per stump) | Secret Woods, behind a Large Log in northwest Cindersap Forest |
| Large Stumps on Forest Farm (eight, left side) | Copper Axe or better | Yes, daily | 16 per day in total | Forest Farm map only |
| Large Stump on Four Corners (one, top-left) | Copper Axe or better | Yes, daily | 2 per day | Four Corners map only |
| Mahogany Tree | Any axe (per the Hardwood page) | Not stated in the cited Mahogany Tree entry | 8–13 per tree | Not stated in the cited entry |
| Mystic Tree | Any axe (per the Hardwood page) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Large Log | Steel Axe or better | No, one-time only | 8 (10 with the Forester profession) | Secret Woods entrance, and other logs on the map |
The yields above are the game’s documented values as listed by the Stardew Valley Wiki for the versions it covers in early October 2026. They are mechanics, not real-world statistics, and a future game update could change them.
The Secret Woods: the dependable daily route
The Secret Woods is the only option in this list that gives a fixed, repeatable hardwood income without relying on trees or one-time logs. Getting there takes one tool upgrade and one removal.
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Step 1: Upgrade to a Steel Axe
The Large Log that seals the Secret Woods requires a Steel Axe or better. Upgrade your axe through the Blacksmith in Pelican Town if you have not already done so.
Step 2: Clear the Large Log at the northwest of Cindersap Forest
Walk to the northwest section of Cindersap Forest and chop the Large Log that blocks the entrance. Once it is removed, the log does not come back, but the way into the Secret Woods stays open.
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- Create the farm of your dreams: build your farm from the ground up on 1 of 5 map layouts suited to your play style!
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- settle down and start a family: share life on the farm with 1 of 12 characters you can date and marry, and even have children with!.explore vast, mysterious caves! Encounter dangerous monsters and valuable treasures!.spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the local fishing spots: the waters are teeming with seasonal varieties of delicious fish. Craft bait, bobbers, and crab pots to help you in your journey toward catching every fish and becoming a local Legend!.
Step 3: Harvest the six internal stumps
Inside the Secret Woods, six Large Stumps can be broken with a Copper Axe or better. Each stump yields 2 hardwood, so the full set gives 12 hardwood per day. The stumps regrow each day, which is why this route can be repeated indefinitely.
Farm-map stumps: useful extras, not a substitute
Some farm maps have additional renewable stumps. On Forest Farm, eight Large Stumps sit on the left side and yield 16 hardwood per day. On Four Corners, one stump in the top-left yields 2 hardwood per day. These stumps also need only a Copper Axe or better, so they are available before you have the Steel Axe. If your farm is not one of these maps, check the layout of your own farm rather than assuming these stumps exist.
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When the fixed stump supply is not enough, trees are the next step. Mahogany Trees yield 8–13 hardwood each, according to the Stardew Valley Wiki’s Mahogany Tree entry. The Hardwood page also lists Mystic Trees as a source that can be harvested with any axe. The cited pages do not state how quickly trees replenish after being chopped, so do not plan a daily income around them without testing on your own save.
Large Logs: a one-time bonus
Large Logs give 8 hardwood each, or 10 with the Forester profession, per the Stardew Valley Wiki’s Large Log entry. Unlike stumps, a removed log does not reappear. Treat each log as a single payout. The exception is the log blocking the Secret Woods, which is a necessary step to reach the renewable stumps rather than a source you can return to.
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A progression route you can follow
- Before you have a Steel Axe: Chop any Large Stumps your farm offers. They need a Copper Axe or better. On Forest Farm, that is eight stumps worth 16 hardwood per day; on Four Corners, one stump worth 2 per day.
- Once you have a Steel Axe: Remove the Large Log at the northwest of Cindersap Forest and enter the Secret Woods. The six internal stumps give 12 hardwood per day and regrow daily.
- When you need more than the stumps provide: Chop Mahogany Trees at 8–13 hardwood each, and use Mystic Trees as an additional tree source with any axe.
- For occasional extras: Remove any remaining Large Logs for 8 hardwood each (10 with Forester). Expect each one to be a single payout.
How the sources compare
The four sources differ on three points: the axe threshold, whether they replenish, and how much they yield. Stumps are the most predictable income, with the Secret Woods providing 12 per day and Forest Farm providing 16 per day. Trees offer the highest per-object yield for the Mahogany Tree at 8–13, but the cited entries do not establish how often they can be chopped again. Logs are the least repeatable because each one is used up.
For a steady daily supply, the Secret Woods is the best answer. For a quick start before the Steel Axe, use whatever Large Stumps your farm map provides.
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Sources: Stardew Valley Wiki, Hardwood; Stardew Valley Wiki, Secret Woods; Stardew Valley Wiki, Large Log; Stardew Valley Wiki, Mahogany Tree.
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