Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs Mountain Trail
easy FamiliesWheelchair UsersCasual Walkers
0 mi Distance
75 min Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type
What to Expect
Hot Springs Mountain Trail is the rare hike where you can skip the workout and keep the views. A wide, gently graded path loops around the crown of Hot Springs Mountain through a canopy of oak and hickory, with several clearing overlooks that open up across the Ouachita hill country. The trail is so level it barely registers as climbing — you gain roughly as much elevation as a two-story building over the full loop. Paved and smooth underfoot, it feels less like backcountry and more like a park promenade, which is exactly the point. The payoff comes at the overlooks: you can pick out the grand facade of Bathhouse Row below, the thermal steam drifting off the hillside springs, and on clear days a long roll of ridgeline in every direction. This one is made for families with toddlers, anyone pushing a stroller or wheelchair, and visitors who want a genuine taste of the park without committing to a sweaty afternoon.
Trail Details
Difficulty easy
Estimated Time 75 min
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hot Springs Mountain Trail
- 1
Start from the Hot Springs Mountain Tower parking area — it puts you closest to the best overlooks and means you can duck inside the tower for a panoramic top-floor view before or after the loop.
- 2
Visit midweek in late October or early November when the oak canopy turns amber and the tourist crowds from Bathhouse Row thin out; the overlooks are noticeably less congested than summer weekends.
- 3
The northeast-facing overlook near the midpoint of the loop frames the best shot of Bathhouse Row against the hillside — arrive within the first two hours after sunrise to catch the morning light hitting the historic buildings from the right angle.
Photos
NPS Photo/Mitch Smith
