You're standing in the middle of a flooded, decaying San Francisco, staring at a static-filled hologram and trying to line up a pixelated image of the past with a crumbling skyscraper. It’s frustrating. Honestly, the Vista Point Isle of Spires is widely considered one of the most annoying puzzles in Horizon Forbidden West.
Most players stumble upon the signal tower near the southern edge of the island, activate their Focus, and then spend the next twenty minutes running in circles. It’s not your fault. The perspective required to solve this specific environmental puzzle is incredibly narrow, and the game doesn't exactly hold your hand while Snapmaws are nipping at your heels.
Finding the Start: The Signal Tower
To even begin, you have to find the actual Vista Point tower. It's located on the southern coast of the Isle of Spires—the ruins of San Francisco—roughly southwest of the massive metal flower and near a local campfire.
Scan the tower.
Suddenly, your Focus overlays a grainy, holographic image of what the city looked like before the Faro Plague wiped everything out. This specific image shows a cluster of high-rise buildings and a distinct architectural spire. You’ve probably noticed that the island is basically a vertical maze of rusted steel and overgrown vines. That’s the first clue. You aren't looking for something on the ground.
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If you’re trying to line up the shot from the beach, stop. You’re wasting your time. The image perspective is elevated.
The Long Climb Up
Getting to the vantage point is the part where people usually give up. You need to head north from the tower toward the large ruins. Look for a massive, leaning skyscraper that looks like it’s about to tip over into the Pacific.
There's a specific perch you're looking for.
Look for a yellow-marked climbing path on the side of the building. It’s a bit of a trek. You’ll be using your Pullcaster a lot here. Aloy will likely comment on the height, which is a good sign you're heading the right way. You need to get to a small, rusted metal beam that juts out over the water, facing back toward the south/southeast.
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- Step one: Find the building with the elevator shaft.
- Step two: Take the elevator up if you've unlocked it, or climb the exterior beams.
- Step three: Navigate to the outer ledge where a beam extends toward the ocean.
Once you’re out on that beam, stand right at the tip. Open your Focus. You’ll see the hologram again. Now, you have to align the ruined towers in the distance with the holographic silhouettes. It requires a tiny bit of finesse. Adjust your camera slowly. If you’re off by even a few degrees, it won't trigger.
When it clicks? It’s satisfying. You see the Old World in its full, neon-lit glory for a split second before the reality of the post-apocalypse settles back in.
Why This Specific Vista Point Matters
It’s not just about the XP or the lore entry, though those are nice. The Vista Point Isle of Spires is part of a larger narrative thread left behind by Elisabet Sobeck’s era. These points were designed as "tourist" snapshots, but for Aloy—and the player—they serve as a gut-wrenching reminder of what was lost.
San Francisco in the Horizon universe isn't just a map. It’s a graveyard of ambition.
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This specific location overlooks what was once a hub of 21st-century tech. When you align the image, you're looking at the Transamerica Pyramid and the surrounding skyline. Guerilla Games did an incredible job mapping the actual geography of San Francisco to this drowned version of the city. If you know the real-life Bay Area, the "Spires" are instantly recognizable.
Common Glitches and Annoyances
Sometimes the prompt just won't appear. It happens.
I've seen players standing in the exact right spot, but because a stray Glinthawk is aggroed nearby, the Focus won't lock the image. Clear the area first. Seriously. There is a Slaughterspine not too far away, and while it usually stays in its arena, its presence can make the exploration part of this puzzle a nightmare.
Also, check your height. If the image looks too big for the buildings in the background, you're too close. If it looks too small, you're too far back. The beam is the "sweet spot," but you might need to crouch or stand at the very edge to get the game's detection logic to fire.
Completing the Set
If this is your last Vista Point, head over to the final location marked on your map after collecting all the others. There’s a "reward" waiting for you—a cache left by the person who created these points. It's a poignant ending to a scavenger hunt that spans the entire Forbidden West.
It's located in a small cove further along the coast. No spoilers, but the audio log found there adds a lot of context to why these holograms were placed in such hard-to-reach spots. It wasn't just for the view; it was a desperate attempt to be remembered.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your map: Ensure you have the "Vista Point" quest active in your log so the signal tower pulse is visible.
- Clear the sky: Take down any nearby flying machines before you start the climb; getting knocked off a beam 30 stories up is a quick way to lose progress.
- Use the Pullcaster: If you're stuck at the base of the ruins, look up. Many of the grapple points are hidden behind overgrown flora.
- Line up the Spire: Focus on the tallest ruined tower in the center of your view; once that aligns with the hologram, the rest of the image will snap into place.
- Finish the questline: Once this is done, travel to the final "Drowned" Vista Point location to unlock the "Vista Point Fragment" trophy and the final lore reward.