Grand Promenade National Recreation Trail

The Grand Promenade is less a hike than a living threshold — the elegant brick-and-stone walkway that transitions Hot Springs from its Victorian bathhouse district into the forested hillside above. Starting from Bathhouse Row, you ascend gently through manicured terraces past thermal spring displays and interpretive panels, the city falling away as the canopy closes overhead. The path is wide, smooth, and shaded, with stone balustrades giving it the feel of a European spa town from another century. At the top, three trails branch off in different directions toward the mountain proper. The elevation gain is barely a warm-up — a few gentle flights of stairs at most entry points, with ramp alternatives throughout. This is the trail for first-timers, families with strollers, history buffs, and anyone who wants a dose of nature without committing to a full mountain day.