Hot Springs Trail & Visitor Guide
Hot Springs · United States · About 5,550 acres (roughly 8.7 square miles), making it the smallest national park in the U.S. by area. It sits within and around the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Why Visit Hot Springs
Hot Springs National Park protects 47 thermal springs on the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain, where water that fell as rain 4,400 years ago emerges at an average of 143°F after being heated deep within the Earth. Bathhouse Row — eight historic bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923 — is a National Historic Landmark district where two facilities still offer traditional thermal baths. The park is unique in being centered within a city.
Free Hot Springs Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Hot Springs audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Bathhouse Row, Grand Promenade, Hot Springs Mountain Tower, plus quieter spots like Dead Chief Trail and Display Springs. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Hot Springs Mountain Trail1.7 miles loop · Moderate
Loops the summit of Hot Springs Mountain; connects to the Mountain Tower observation deck (separate fee) for views over the Ouachitas.
- Sunset TrailAbout 10 miles one-way (full traverse) · Moderate to strenuous
The park's longest trail, crossing Music Mountain (1,405 ft, the park high point), West Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain; can be done in segments.
- Grand Promenade0.5 mile one-way · Easy (paved, partly accessible)
Brick walkway behind Bathhouse Row passing thermal spring features; the most-used short walk in the park.
- Goat Rock Trail1.1 miles round trip (via North Mountain) · Moderate
Reaches the Goat Rock novaculite outcrop overlook on the east side of North Mountain.
- West Mountain Trail / Summit LoopAbout 1.5 miles loop · Easy to moderate
Wooded loop with West Mountain overlooks above downtown Hot Springs.
Must-See in Hot Springs
- •Bathhouse Row — eight historic bathhouses in architectural styles from Spanish Renaissance to Neoclassical
- •Grand Promenade — a 0.5-mile brick walkway behind Bathhouse Row connecting to mountain trails
- •Hot Springs Mountain Tower — a 216-foot observation tower with views of the Ouachita Mountains
- •Fordyce Bathhouse — a lavishly restored 1915 bathhouse now serving as the park visitor center
Best Viewpoints
- •Hot Springs Mountain Tower observation deck (216 ft tower; separate paid admission)
- •Hot Springs Mountain Overlook on the auto road
- •Goat Rock overlook on North Mountain
- •West Mountain Summit Drive overlooks above downtown
- •Music Mountain summit (1,405 ft) on the Sunset Trail
Quieter Corners of Hot Springs
- •Dead Chief Trail — a 1.4-mile trail through hardwood forest to views from the top of North Mountain
- •Display Springs — open thermal springs along the Grand Promenade where you can see and touch the naturally hot water
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
No entrance fee; the park is free to enter year-round. The bathhouses on Bathhouse Row (Buckstaff, Quapaw) charge separately for thermal baths and spa services.
Getting There
The park is in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock via I-30 and US-70 (roughly a 1-hour drive). The nearest major airport is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock. Bathhouse Row is on Central Avenue; the visitor center is in the Fordyce Bathhouse at 369 Central Avenue.
Where to Stay
Gulpha Gorge Campground inside the park has about 40 sites with electric/water/sewer hookups, no showers, reservable via Recreation.gov. The Arlington Resort Hotel (operating since 1875; the current building dates to 1924) and many other hotels and B&Bs are within the city of Hot Springs. Backcountry camping is not permitted in the park.
Best Time
Spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) have mild temperatures and fall color; summer is hot and humid (often 90 F+). The bathhouses and downtown operate year-round.
Safety
The top hazard is the thermal water itself: the springs emerge at about 143 F (62 C) and can cause severe burns. Do not touch the hot water or let children or pets near it; drinking fountains dispense the water only after it has cooled. Copperheads are present on trails in warm months.
Scenic Drives
- •Hot Springs Mountain Drive (loop to the summit and tower)
- •West Mountain Summit Drive
- •North Mountain Drive
Start Your Hot Springs Park Tour
Get a trail route with narrated stories —
personalized to your interests, ready in seconds
Your personal guide in 5 seconds