Summary
$0
Entrance fee
Live
Hot Springs Creek
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is June–July, when around 24% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–February.
Plan Your Visit
Thermal Spring Safety143°F water▾
Park Entry & FeesNo entrance fee▾
Hot Springs CreekLive USGS gauge▾
Bathhouse Row8 historic buildings▾
Open for Bathing2 bathhouses▾
Buckstaff Bathhouse
Continuously operating since 1912 — traditional thermal baths, private business
Quapaw Bathhouse
Modern spa with communal thermal pools, private business
Visitor Center & MuseumNPS-run▾
Fordyce Bathhouse
Restored 1915 bathhouse, now the park visitor center and museum — free to tour
Repurposed Bathhousesshops, gallery, brewery▾
Ozark, Maurice, Hale, Superior, Lamar
Historic buildings now house a brewery, art gallery, gift shops, and NPS offices — exteriors and grounds open to all
Hiking & Overlooks26 miles of trail▾
Things to Do5 categories▾
Hiking Trails6 trails▾
Grand Promenade0.5 mi
Paved historic walkway running behind Bathhouse Row, with four entry points into the mountain trail network
Hot Springs Mountain TrailEasy
Easy stroll around the top of Hot Springs Mountain with scenic overlooks
1.7 mi
Peak Trail0.6 mi
Paved then gravel climb leading up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Gulpha Gorge Trail0.6 mi
Steep western section climbing directly from Gulpha Gorge Campground
Sunset Trail~10 mi one-way · 15–17 mi loop
The park's longest trail, crossing the most remote terrain near the park's outer boundary; can be hiked as segments or a full loop
West Mountain Trail1.2 mi
Gradual grade on both sections; connects with Mountain Top Trail to form a loop
Scenic Drives & Overlooks3 spots▾
Hot Springs Mountain Tower216 ft tower · 1,256 ft elev.
Concession-operated observation tower with an open-air upper deck and enclosed lower deck overlooking 140 sq mi of the Ouachita Mountains
Hot Springs Mountain DriveScenic drive
Switchbacking 1880s carriage road climbing to the Pagoda overlook and the Mountain Tower
West Mountain DriveScenic drive
Two-way road to the Summit Loop, with three overlooks over Bathhouse Row and downtown Hot Springs
Free Spring Water2 kinds▾
Thermal Water Jug FountainsFree
Free hot spring water at Hill Wheatley Plaza, the NPS Administration Building & fountains along Bathhouse Row; water emerges from the ground at 143°F but cools before reaching the taps
Cold Spring FountainsFree
Filtered cold spring water at Happy Hollow and Whittington Spring
Biking2 ways▾
Park RoadsOpen roads
Bicycles & e-bikes welcome on paved North & West Mountain roads; not permitted on the Grand Promenade or the Bathhouse Row sidewalk
Pullman TrailBike trail
Authorized specifically for bicycle and e-bike use
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Belted Kingfisher
Dives along Hot Springs Creek
Wild Turkey
Roams the wooded mountain trails
Pileated Woodpecker
Drums through the forested slopes
Barred Owl
Calls at dusk near Gulpha Gorge
Summer Tanager
Vivid red songbird of the canopy
CampingGulpha Gorge▾
Gulpha Gorge CampgroundReservation▾
Sites40 sites, full RV hookups
Fee$34/night
BookingRecreation.gov, up to 6 months ahead
Park Contact Information