The range of available activities in Hot Springs National Park are unlike those in any other park. This is a place to soak in therapeutic springs and receive spa treatments such as those of centuries past. There are some short hikes available, but most of those will simply serve as a way to get outside after a day at the spa…
Here are some of Park Junkie’s favorite activities in Hot Springs National Park.
Guide to Hot Springs
Thermal Bathing & Spa Treatments
Of course, if you’re visiting a park named “Hot Springs” you’ll probably want to take advantage of the opportunity to soak your bones in some thermal springs, or perhaps enjoy a nice therapeutic massage.
This is easily accomplished in Hot Springs National Park thanks to a couple of commercial bathhouses that maintain facilities that are open to the public, for a reasonable fee. There are no open outdoor springs that are suitable for bathing in the park.
Today there are two bathhouses in the park that offer guests an opportunity to soak in the geothermally heated waters of the Ouachita Mountains. Each bathhouse offers an array of spa services. Click the links below to access a complete menu of the services provided by each bathhouse.
Hiking in Hot Springs
Visitors should not neglect a refreshing walk in the woods during a visit to Hot Springs. Some 26 miles of hiking trails lead through the town’s wooded surroundings, providing quiet pathways past groves of shortleaf pines and various species of deciduous trees. Trails also lead to views of the area from atop rock cliffs jutting out from the forested hills.
The park’s hiking areas can be divided into two regions: the Hot Springs and North Mountain section, and the West Mountain Section.
Hot Springs & North Mountain Trails
There are a number of great trails that wind through the wooded hills above the town of Hot Springs. These trails can be easily accessed from town by climbing the Grand Staircase, also known as Stephen’s Balustrade, which is located directly behind the Fordyce Bathhouse. Trails can also be linked from a number of pullouts on the Hot Springs Mountain Scenic Drive, and also from the Gulpha Gorge Campground.
NPS – Hot Springs – North & Hot Springs Mountain Hiking Trails
West Mountain Trails
This area of the park receives less visitation and provides a more solitary system of trails that offer a greater opportunity for wildlife viewing. This section of the park can be accessed via Whittington Park, or from the Canyon Trail, which leads upward onto West Mountain from Central Avenue. The trailhead is found on the west side of the Ave, across the street from the Springs Hotel & Spa.
NPS – Hot Springs – West Mountain Hiking Trails
Sunset Trail
If you’re looking for the longest trail in the park, this is it. The Sunset Trail can be hiked as a 10 mile one-way, or a 15-17 mile long loop. It runs along the inner edge of the park boundary through the most remote areas of the park and provides an opportunity to explore a multitude of terrain features.
It can be split into sections to make the trail more attainable for short-distance hikers. Common sections include the West Mountain area (2.8 miles), Sugarloaf Mountain (2.6 miles) and the Stonebridge Road (3.8 miles). When combined with the trails on the North and Hot Springs Mountain trails, a complete loop can be formed for the more rugged hikers.
NPS – Hot Springs – Sunset Trail
Biking in Hot Springs
Cyclists are welcome to tackle the public roadways in the park, and a ride up either North or West Mountain will provide a healthy workout for the average road rider. Bikes can also be used to navigate the streets of Hot Springs and eliminate the need to search for parking spaces in this busy little town. Bikes are prohibited on sidewalks, as well as the Grand Promenade.
For the mountain bikers in the crowd, there are plenty of options just north of the park. The Pullman Trail, which connects downtown Hot Springs to the Northwoods Trail system is the only mountain-bike-friendly trail in the park, but the reward for riding this short trail is an introduction to a fabulous system of trails outside the park, in the previously mentioned Northwoods system.
This area provides more than 24 miles of trail that hold varying degrees of difficulty. With any luck, the future of this trail system may just make Hot Springs National Park a respectable mountain bike destination.
Northwoods Mountain Bike Trails
For a complete overview of the biking scene in the Hot Springs area, check out the Visit Hot Springs website.
Visit Hot Springs – Mountain Bike Scene
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Some folks just love to get above everything else around. If such folk are visiting Hot Springs National Park, they’ll certainly want to head up to the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and enjoy a complete view of this fine Arkansas landscape.
Situated at the summit of Hot Springs Mountain, this 216 foot structure literally towers above the surrounding area, providing the best view money can buy. Tickets are required, but the cost is certainly reasonable. Check the concessionaire’s website for current rates and schedules.
Trolly Tours
One of the better ways to learn a bit about the historic town of Hot Springs is to jump aboard ye ol’ trolly and leave the driving to someone else. The Hot Springs Trolly gives guided tours of the city and the park in air conditioned trollys. A typical tour is about an hour and a half.
Touch the Thermal Springs
Although there are no opportunities for outdoor thermal bathing in the park, there are a couple of places visitors can observe the thermal waters exit the ground in Hot Springs. The water is about 143° degrees F when it flows out of the earth, but by the time it reaches the lower pools, it is cool enough to touch.
The Display Spring is found just behind the Maurice Bathhouse. This is a small pool which sits shaded by trees and decorated by colorful blue-green algae. It is often quiet and absent of visitors, so this may be a nice place to just chill for a few.
The Hot Water Cascade is the most popular spring and the largest remaining outdoor spring that is visible in the park. It is centrally located at the east wall of Arlington Lawn, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Fountain Street, at the northern end of Bathhouse Row.
Ranger-Led Activities
There are a number of ranger-led activities available in Hot Springs. Check the park calendar to see what is going to be happening during your visit.
NPS – Hot Springs – Ranger-Led Activities
Guide to Hot Springs
Relevant Links
National Park Guides
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