Don't miss the photo gallery of the National Park and of the Visitor Center at the bottom of this page.

Hot Springs National Park lies at the heart of the Hot Springs Experience, and shouldn't be missed on your visit to America's Spa.

Steeped in the amazing healing thermal waters, history, scientific/geological experiences, beautiful architecture, hiking, camping and just plain enjoyment - Hot Springs National Park is just plain fun.

Hot Springs is the smallest and oldest of the parks in the National Park System, dating back to 1832, when Congress established - 32 years ahead of Yellowstone - the first federally protected reservation in the nation's history. Hot Springs Reservation - which was renamed Hot Springs National Park in 1921 - originally was created by Congress to protect the 47 naturally flowing thermal springs on the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain.

Although it's compact, you'll discover plenty to keep you busy during your sojourn through the National Park, which is located right in the heart of Hot Springs' Historic Downtown District.

Begin your visit with a stop at the opulently restored Fordyce Bathhouse right in the middle of World Famous Bathhouse Row. You'll be transported back to a different time when Hot Springs literally "Bathed the World." Guided and self-guided tours through this marvelous edifice will give you a quick understanding of where the thermal waters come from, how they are used and how the federal government supervises the use of the 800,000 gallons of hot water that gushes uninterrupted from the earth every day. Touring the Visitor Center and the Bathhouse Row area are highly recommended. We also recommend strolling Bathhouse and the Grand Promenade, hiking and picnicking at Gulpha Gorge, and taking a thermal bath.

There are display springs that let you feel just how hot the water really is (143 degrees Fahrenheit), and the beautiful cascade of thermal water at the northern end of Bathhouse Row lets you dip your feet in the thermal waters as you relax and enjoy the beauty of Arlington Lawn Park.

The Grand Promenade is a landscaped walkway behind Bathhouse Row which offers a glimpse of the protected springs and historic landscape features. Accessible entrances are from behind the Visitor Center and from Fountain Street.

A twisting scenic drive up Hot Springs Mountain behind the bathhouses takes you to breathtaking Hot Springs Mountain Tower, where you'll be whisked by elevators to the top and a spectacularly beautiful view of the city, mountains, forests and lakes that surround Hot Springs 40 miles in all directions.

On the northern side of the mountain is lovely Gulpha Gorge Campground, which offers camping amenities in a cool and tranquil natural setting on the banks of Gulpha Creek.

The approximately 26 miles of day-use hiking trails in the park (mountain bikes are prohibited) beckon the walker to see the forested Ouachita Mountains. Scenic mountain drives on West Mountain, Hot Springs, and North Mountains afford overlooks to the surrounding area. An observation tower on top of Hot Springs Mountain and offers a birds-eye-view of the Zig Zag range of the Ouachitas.

At the southern end of Bathhouse Row you may relax and let the world go by at the Buckstaff Bathhouse, which is operated under the supervision of the Park Service in much the same manner as the other bathhouses in their heyday.

Picnic tables on the Grand Promenade, Hot Springs Mountain, West Mountain, and at Gulpha Gorge offer a place to enjoy a meal outdoors.  

Hot Springs National Park - it has something for everyone.