Hot Springs National Park
Reserve Trail
FamiliesWheelchair UsersCasual Walkers
0 mi Distance
25 min Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type
What to Expect
The Reserve Trail is less a destination hike and more a useful thread stitching together the lower slopes of Hot Springs' urban trail network. In a third of a mile, it climbs a noticeable but manageable pitch — steady enough to wake up your calves — through a wooded hillside that feels surprisingly removed from the bathhouse district just below. The path is paved and well-maintained, making it one of the few genuinely accessible routes into the park's forested terrain. At the top, a Y-intersection with Oertel Trail opens options: continue deeper into the park or loop back through the historic district. The trail is shaded for most of its length, which is a genuine mercy in an Arkansas summer. This one is ideal for families with strollers, wheelchair users, or anyone who wants a quick taste of green after touring the springs.
Trail Details
Estimated Time 25 min
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Reserve Trail
- 1
Start from the Spring Street end if you want the uphill work early and a gentle descent back toward Bathhouse Row — a much more satisfying finish after a warm soak.
- 2
Pair this trail with Oertel Trail as a connector for a longer loop; on its own, Reserve Trail is over before you've properly settled into your walking pace.
- 3
The canopy closes in quickly after the trailhead, so visit on hot afternoons without guilt — this stretch stays noticeably cooler than the open promenade below.
Photos
NPS Photo/Mitch Smith
