Hot Springs National Park
Grand Avenue Trail
FamiliesDog WalkingAccessible Walks
0 miDistance
20 minEstimated Time
Out & BackTrail Type
What to Expect
The Grand Avenue Trail is less a hike and more a purposeful link — a short connector that stitches together the Oertel Trail system and the park's edge along Grand Avenue. The climb is gentle enough that you'd barely call it a climb, a modest rise through the warm, humid forest that characterizes Hot Springs' lowland terrain. Expect a shaded, well-maintained path with a civilized feel — you're at the boundary between neighborhood and national park, and both worlds are present. There's no dramatic payoff at the end, just the satisfying click of a longer loop snapping into place. This trail earns its keep as part of a bigger walk rather than a destination in itself. Perfect for hotel guests staying on the south end who want a quick taste of the forested hillside without committing to a full afternoon.
Trail Details
Estimated Time20 min
Trail TypeOut & Back
PetsDogs allowed (leash required)
SeasonYear-round
TrailheadGrand Avenue Trail
- 1
Pair it with the Oertel Trail for a proper loop — the Grand Avenue connector is the missing piece that turns an out-and-back into a circuit without backtracking.
- 2
If you're coming from the motel just south of the trailhead, you can step directly onto the trail from the property edge — no parking lot required, which means you can skip the main park lots entirely on busy weekends.
- 3
Walk it in the direction from Grand Avenue toward Oertel if you want the climb behind you early and a gentle descent on the return leg.
Photos
NPS Photo/Mitch Smith
