Best Views & Must-See Destinations in Red Dead Redemption 2

Originally published May 20, 2026. This article covers the best scenery and destinations in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 has stood up to the test of time in visuals, especially when it comes to landscapes. I’ve been doing a replay recently and it feels like every corner has me mashing that screencap button. Even though the storyline is by no means short, I still find myself putting hours and hours into exploration before I feel the need to progress Arthur’s story.

Each state and its smaller parts are inspired by real-world locations, from the U.S.A. to the Canadian and Mexican borders, evoking a sense of wonder and awe as you navigate. The game majorly encourages exploration, both mechanically and thematically as a Man vs. Man and Man vs. Nature narrative. So don’t be afraid to put a significant amount of time into letting your curiosity run wild. Activate your internal armchair naturalist by filling your journal with the flora and fauna, run into strangers and solve random scenarios that either raise or lower your honor, discover sketchable POIs, go fishing, and camp just about anywhere.

But try not to get mauled by wandering predators as you go. “Is that a mountain lion?” are famous last words around these parts.

Speaking from experience.

But if it’s the views you’re after, traveler, then here are the spots you don’t want to miss by state, accessible in the early game. So grab a horse or a canoe, go by foot or steal a wagon, and let’s get exploring. Yeehaw.

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Ambarino

Ambarino is separated by two distinct regions: Grizzlies West and Grizzlies East. Grizzlies East contains heavily wooded forests, deep ravines, and some other unique geological features we’ll explore later. West Grizzlies is where we start off in Arthur’s story with the gang in the snowy mountains, north of which are glaciers and frozen lakes … and wolf packs.

Lake Isabella is our first destination. Close to both a legendary fish and a legendary animal, it’s one you don’t want to miss as you’re filling out your compendium of fauna. Take a walk around, enjoy the packed snow physics, and don’t forget to take a walk to Mount Hagen a little to the south. Pack a heavy coat, though — Arthur gets cold.

Over in Grizzlies East you’ll see less snow, but no shortage of mountainous, heavily wooded vistas. Bacchus Bridge is reminiscent of dramatic train shots from old western films like The General (1926) and A Ticket to Tomahawk (1950). Head north up Donner Falls and you may find some canoe spawns, which you can take all the way down the Dakota River. I highly recommend experiencing that at least once. Just watch those drops.

One of the defining features of Yellowstone National Park is its hot springs and geysers (including Old Faithful), and if you’re ever riding past in-game Cotorra Springs, you can see why. Gallop over a short way west from Bacchus Bridge and Arthur can warm up in the water. But don’t get too close to those geysers. And keep your eyes peeled for a legendary animal.

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West Elizabeth

West Elizabeth takes its inspiration from a smattering of American states, like northern California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. The southern section — which includes its capital Blackwater — is inaccessible for Arthur’s story due to a heist gone wrong that set up the events of the game. You can certainly try to get there, but those bounty hunters are aggressive.

Though you can’t get to Blackwater, you can easily pay a visit to a resort town called Strawberry, with its dark log cabins, a waterfall in the center of the settlement, and its general isolation in the middle of tall pines.

The showstoppers in the Big Valley region of West Elizabeth are the fields of purple lupines, gently threaded by a small creek. The wide open space makes this a great place to observe wildlife, do some hunting, or camp under the stars. Though, it’s easy to accidentally wander too close to Hanging Dog Ranch, which is inhabited by a hostile gang. Steer clear of that (or pick them off one-by-one from a distance) and the area is otherwise quite peaceful.

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New Hanover

New Hanover covers a lot of surface area. It’s both where you spend a lot of your time early game in the west, and where you spend the very late game in the east. In the west, there are rolling hills and classic towering rock formations you see in old Westerns, inspired by the Great Plains. In the east, you’ll find densely forested mountains and incredible waterfalls inspired by the Ozarks.

You may be most familiar with this area because of its proximity to Valentine, one of the first places you spend significant story time in. This is the classic old Western film setting, from the plains to the single road town consisting of not a whole lot more than stables, a saloon, a small sheriff’s office, and a train station.

It’s a different atmosphere in the western region called Roanoke Ridge. And not not when it comes to flora and fauna. It’s a hostile area, thanks to the Murfree Brood. But if you manage to get by, pay a visit to Brandywine Drop, a dramatic waterfall with incredible views from below and above.

North of Brandywine Drop is another dramatic waterfall that empties into a lake. This is one of those spots that are worth sticking around to watch the change of the day/night cycle. And don’t forget to grab the legendary animal in the area.

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Lemoyne

Lemoyne is directly inspired by the American southeast. Featuring marshes, bayous, cypress trees draped with Spanish moss, and a muggy, misty haze that diffuses the sunlight, it’s a gorgeous, unique region compared to the others we’ve covered here.

Arriving into Lemoyne over the most southern portion of the Kamassa River, you can’t go wrong with having a look around. We’ve seen a lot of mountains, plains, and forests so far, but around these parts, we do things a little differently. Like instead of keeping an eye out for mountain lions, bears, and wolves, we look at every bush and body of water with suspicion. Those gators can really sneak up on you.

But something else can sneak up on you. Or someone else. If you ever take your horse around Bayou Nwa or Bluewater Marsh in the dark, beware the Night Folk. Even if you ride fast, you can quickly feel surrounded. But if you have a moment where you’re not running for your life, then make sure to see the moonlight over the still waters — it’s a must-see destination.

Finally, our last stop is the city of Saint Denis, inspired by New Orleans in the early 20th century. Unlike any other town in the game, you’ll see evidence of technological progress, like street cars. It’s brilliant to explore during the day, but at night, it’s particularly enchanting with the orange glow from the gas lamps that line the streets.

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Which view and/or destination is your favorite in Red Dead Redemption 2?

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