Scenic pullout · Hot Springs National Park
A quick ridge view at the top of the mountain loop.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Hot Springs Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Hot Springs National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
North Mountain Overlook and Goat Rock“You're nearing North Mountain Overlook, where you can stop for ridge views or start the Goat Rock hike.”
Plays as you drive up to North Mountain Overlook in the Parkwolf Hot Springs Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
North Mountain Overlook is a drive-up viewpoint at the top of the North Mountain Loop, looking north and east over wooded Ouachita ridges. It adds a broad mountain view to Hot Springs Mountain Drive without setting out on a hike. Parking is limited, so make this a brief stop when you find a space.
From downtown, follow Hot Springs Mountain Drive toward North Mountain Loop. Stay straight after the picnic area, pass the shelter, and look for parking at the top on the right. Goat Rock Trail starts just south of the lot; that hike is a separate outing from the roadside viewpoint.
The view faces mainly north and east across layers of wooded hills. For a photo, use a wide frame and leave the stone wall at one edge; it anchors the panorama without blocking the ridgelines.
Hot Springs Mountain Drive began as a carriage road in the 1880s. Its switchbacks carry visitors to the mountain top, where the drive passes a sequence of overlooks and ends this stretch at the North Mountain Loop.
Wildlife
71 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
11 sightingsGroundhogMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsMexican Long-nosed ArmadilloMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
16 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting map
40 sightingsCardinalMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
27 sightingsSummer TanagerMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Hot Springs. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyUpper Dogwood Trail1 mi · 35 min · 0.1 mi awayOne mile of wooded trail, with short climbs and long flat stretches.
ModerateGoat Rock Trail2.2 mi · 1.8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA rocky overlook and broad Ouachita views above Gulpha Gorge.
ModerateGulpha Gorge Trail0.7 mi · 45 min · 0.3 mi awayThe creek crossing sets up a steep climb to North Mountain.
ModerateFloral Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 0.7 mi awayA quick valley dip linking two North Mountain trails.
EasyHot Springs Mountain Trail1.7 mi · 1 hr · 0.9 mi awayAn easy loop above Hot Springs, with a view between the trees.
ModerateLower Dogwood Trail0.7 mi · 30 min · 0.9 mi awayBoulders mark a brief mountain climb before the loop drops downhill.
EasyGrand Promenade0.5 mi · 45 min · 0.9 mi awayBenches, spring views, and bathhouses on an easy half-mile walk.
ModeratePullman Trail1.6 mi · 1.2 hr · 1 mi awayA steep wooded link into the Northwoods trail network.
Sight · 0.1 mi awayGoat Rock ViewpointA short climb to a rock perch above the Zigzag Mountains.
Campground · 0.3 mi awayGulpha Gorge CampgroundFull-hookup camping beside a creek, close to Bathhouse Row.
Picnic area · 0.5 mi awayGulpha Gorge Picnic AreaShady creekside tables make an easy lunch stop.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayHappy Hollow Jug Fountain (Cold)A free cold-spring refill stop, praised for its water.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayHot Springs Mountain TowerA 216-foot elevator ride to wide views and park history.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayRick's Pond and Stonebridge AreaA pond-side stop for stone bridges and an old waterwheel's story.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayHot Springs Mountain Pagoda and Picnic AreaA 1911 pagoda frames Hot Springs and the Ouachitas.
Lodging · 1 mi awayThe Arlington Resort Hotel & SpaA 1924 landmark with twin towers and its own thermal bathhouse.Parkwolf’s Hot Springs ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
