Hot Springs National Park
Reserve Trail
FamiliesWheelchair UsersTrail Connectors
0 mi Distance
25 min Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type
What to Expect
Reserve Trail is one of those short connectors that most visitors walk right past without realizing it, but it earns its place as a quiet interlude between Hot Springs' more trafficked paths. Starting from its junction with Oertel Trail, you'll descend a gentle grade — think wheelchair-friendly slope, not staircase — through a canopy of hardwoods that filters the Arkansas sun into dappled patches on the pavement. The trail splits at a Y intersection where Spring Street and Reserve Street meet, giving you options to loop back through the historic district or continue exploring the network. At barely a quarter mile, this isn't a hike so much as a stroll with purpose. The surface is smooth and accessible, making it one of the few segments in the park where someone in a wheelchair or pushing a stroller can genuinely enjoy the forest setting. Perfect for anyone connecting trails or looking for a shaded shortcut through the park's hillside network.
Trail Details
Estimated Time 25 min
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Reserve Trail
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Use Reserve Trail as a connector between Oertel Trail and the Bathhouse Row area via Spring Street — it shaves time off the longer road walk and keeps you in the woods.
Trail Tip
The Y intersection at the bottom can be disorienting if you're unfamiliar with the trail network — take a photo of the junction map at the trailhead so you know which fork leads where.
Trail Tip
Pair this with Oertel and Sunset Trails for a roughly one-mile loop that gives you forest canopy, thermal spring features, and downtown access without retracing your steps.
Photos
NPS Photo/Mitch Smith
