Hot Springs Mountain Trail

Overview

This is the park’s classic mountaintop loop: an easy 1.7-mile total circuit that skirts the summit of Hot Springs Mountain with multiple overlooks. It’s more of a scenic stroll than a workout, and a great way to soak up the town-meets-mountain vibe without committing to a big climb.

Route options and what to expect

The 1.7-mile loop itself is gentle, with minimal up-and-down and well-marked junctions. If you want more challenge and variety, you can link it to steeper connectors for longer loops. A common extension clocks around 3.1 miles total with roughly 636 feet of gain when you access the summit loop via Gulpha Gorge; an even longer sampler runs about 4.6 miles including Goat Rock and other connectors. Expect some steeper pitches and a few occasionally slick or gravelly sections on the connectors; the mountaintop loop remains an easy, natural-surface path.

In spring, look for pops of wildflowers along the forested slopes. Views open at overlooks and near the Hot Springs Mountain Tower area (if you link via Peak Trail).

Trailheads and access

You’ve got options:

• From downtown: Climb Stephen’s Balustrade (the grand staircase) behind the Fordyce Bathhouse to reach the trail network that leads to the summit loop.
• Drive-up access: Hot Springs Mountain Drive takes you near the top for a short walk to the loop and overlooks.
• From Gulpha Gorge Campground: Use Gulpha Gorge Trail to connect uphill to the summit area (note: it’s a steep approach).

Downtown parking can be competitive and typically fee-based; the paid parking deck is convenient if you’re starting near Bathhouse Row.

Geology highlights

You’re walking atop the Zig-Zag Mountains, a section of the Ouachitas where rock layers were folded into sharp angles about 300 million years ago. The bedrock includes sandstone, shale, chert, and notably novaculite—a very hard, fine-grained stone historically used as a whetstone. The park’s namesake hot springs rise along fractures on the mountain’s southwest flank after rainwater percolates 6,000–8,000 feet underground, heats up over thousands of years, then surges back to the surface around 143°F. Near the base behind Bathhouse Row you can see display springs and light gray, “spongy” tufa deposited as hot water cools.

Best time to hike

Year-round. Spring brings flowers and comfortable temps. Summer can be toasty—start early and bring more water than you think you need. Weekdays generally mean easier parking downtown. Shade helps on the summit loop, but the heat still builds fast on the steeper connectors.

Tips and tricks

• If you want the views without the grind, drive up Hot Springs Mountain Drive and just do the 1.7-mile loop.
• If you’re linking from Gulpha Gorge or Peak Trail, wear sturdy footwear—those connectors are steeper and can be slick in spots.
• Stay on signed trails and bring water; pets must stay leashed (6 ft). Pack out all trash, including pet waste.
• Grab a paper map at the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center or use the park’s app map with GPS for confidence at the many junctions.