You’re staring at the map. It looks like a long way. Honestly, the distance between Van Horn to Blackwater in Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just about the miles; it’s about the fact that the game actively hates you for trying to do it. If you are chasing that elusive "Horseman 9" challenge, you already know the pain. You have to ride from the grimy, lawless docks of Van Horn all the way to the sophisticated (and heavily guarded) streets of Blackwater in under 17 minutes.
Oh, and you can’t touch a single drop of water.
It sounds simple. Just ride, right? Wrong. The moment your horse's hoof splashes in a puddle or brushes against a creek bed, the invisible timer resets, and you’ve just wasted fifteen minutes of your life. It’s one of those gaming moments that makes you want to throw your controller across the room, yet thousands of players spend hours perfecting the line.
The Brutality of the Horseman 9 Challenge
Most people don't just wake up and decide to ride from Van Horn to Blackwater for the scenery. You’re doing it because you want that Legend of the East outfit. To get it, you need to clear the Horseman challenges, and number nine is the gatekeeper.
The game doesn't give you a timer on screen. You have to vibe it. You start in the muddy chaos of Van Horn—a town with no law where someone might shoot you just for looking at them—and you have to haul tail to the Great Plains. The "dry run" rule is the killer. If it rains? You fail. If you take the obvious bridge and it's got a puddle? Fail. If you accidentally nick a stream while shortcutting through the Heartlands? Back to the start.
The Secret "Dry" Route Through the Heartlands
Everyone thinks they can just follow the GPS. Don't do that. The GPS is your enemy here because it doesn't understand the "no water" constraint. If you follow the red line, it’ll eventually lead you through a shallow crossing or a wet patch of grass near Flatneck Station.
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The real pros head west out of Van Horn, cutting through the trees toward the tracks. Rail bridges are your best friends. They are the only way to cross the Dakota River without technically "touching water." Specifically, the massive bridge near Bard's Crossing is the make-or-break point. It’s high, it’s narrow, and if a train comes while you're halfway across, you’re basically dead meat. There is no room to pass. You either jump into the drink (failing the challenge) or get flattened.
Why Blackwater is a Death Trap for Arthur
Here is where the lore and the gameplay mechanics crash into each other like a freight train. If you are playing as Arthur Morgan in Chapter 2, 3, or 4, you are "Wanted Dead or Alive" in West Elizabeth. The journey from Van Horn to Blackwater becomes a suicide mission.
The moment you cross that invisible line into the Great Plains, the Pinkertons spawn. They don't just chase you; they have aimbot-level accuracy and they appear in groups of four or five. Most players think they have to wait until the epilogue to finish this. You don't. It’s just incredibly hard. You have to chug Potent Health Cures like they’re water and keep your horse juiced on stimulants.
There’s a specific psychological toll to this. You’ve spent 14 minutes riding perfectly, dodging puddles, and navigating narrow cliff sides, only to get headshotted by a lawman three hundred yards from the Blackwater city limits. It’s brutal. It’s unfair. It’s Red Dead.
Horse Choice: Speed vs. Stamina
Don't bring a Shire. I love the big guys, but they turn like a boat and they don't have the burst you need to escape the law.
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- The Missouri Fox Trotter: Probably the best balance. High top speed and enough health to take a stray bullet or two.
- The Arabian: Fast, sure, but they are skittish. One snake in the grass near Dewberry Creek and you’re bucked off into the mud. Challenge over.
- The Thoroughbred: Good speed, but they have the physical durability of a wet paper bag.
Ideally, you want a horse you’ve reached Level 4 bonding with. The extra stamina and the "drift" move (R1/RB + Square/X) help you navigate the tight turns in the timber areas before you hit the open plains.
Dealing with the RNG of 1899
Luck is a factor. You can’t control the weather. If a thunderstorm rolls in while you’re passing Emerald Ranch, you might as well stop and go hunt a deer instead. Rain counts as touching water.
There’s also the "NPC factor." The trails in the Heartlands are surprisingly busy. Rounding a corner at full gallop and slamming into a stagecoach is a quick way to kill your horse and your spirit. You have to ride aggressively but with a weird kind of hyper-awareness. You’re looking for pebbles, looking for clouds, and listening for the chug of a locomotive.
How to Actually Succeed
If you’re serious about making the run from Van Horn to Blackwater, prepare your inventory first. This isn't a "wing it" situation.
First, go to a stable and get the best stirrups you can afford. This isn't just for show; it boosts your speed and reduces stamina drain. Feed your horse. Clean it. A dirty horse has a 10% drain penalty on its cores, and that 10% is usually what kills you when you're sprinting past Beecher’s Hope.
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Start the clock by the post office in Van Horn. Ride out hard. Avoid the roads if they look muddy. Stick to the railway lines as much as possible. The tracks from Emerald Ranch toward Flatneck Station are the most reliable "dry" path. When you hit the bridge over the Dakota River, pray. Once you’re on the other side, you’re in lawman territory.
Don't head straight for the center of Blackwater. Aim for the outskirts. The challenge usually pops the moment you hit the town's border. If you’re playing as Arthur, turn around and run the second that notification flashes on the screen. There is no prize for staying to chat with the locals.
The Actionable Roadmap for Your Next Attempt
To pull this off without losing your mind, follow these specific steps on your next session:
- Wait for a clear morning: Do not start at night or during overcast weather. You need maximum visibility and zero chance of rain.
- Manual Save: Save your game in Van Horn right before you start. If you fail, just reload. Don't waste the tonics and horse stimulants on a botched run.
- Use the Railway: The path is Van Horn -> North of Emerald Ranch -> Follow the tracks to Bard’s Crossing -> Rigging Station -> Owanjila Dam (this is the trick to stay dry) -> Blackwater.
- The Owanjila Shortcut: Instead of trying to cross the river near the lawmen, many players go all the way around through Big Valley and cross the bridge at Owanjila. It’s longer, but it’s 100% dry and keeps you away from the worst Pinkerton spawn points for a few extra minutes.
- Bridge Etiquette: Always check the mini-map for the red train icon before committing to a long trestle bridge.
This trek is a rite of passage for RDR2 players. It’s the difference between someone who just plays the story and someone who actually lives in the world Rockstar built. It’s frustrating, it’s sweaty, and it’s arguably the most satisfying thing to check off your list once that "Challenge Complete" banner finally hits the screen.