I recently visited Hot Springs, Arkansas national Park and me and my family spent several hours…read morethere. We're walking in and out of the bath houses and looking around the area even took some time to ask the gentleman who works for the national parks inside of the main building. Where is some things that we could see around the area? He of course, handed me a map and he said well the best thing we got is right outside the door. There's a fountain outside. For me I was hoping there would be more to that national park than just a few bath houses and a few fountains with hot water now I understand that that is amazing but it definitely under performs as a national park. We did take time to walk around the trails. We did take time to see the other areas, but there's really not much here other than a few hot water springs and some trails to walk on. Now don't let this take away from Hot Springs the city. It is a great city a lot of vibrant shopping in restaurants along Hot Springs. If you're going just to go shopping then you won't be disappointed. There was a lot to do as far as that but from the national Park perspective it was a letdown.

I'm probably going to catch some flak for this because it's not 5 stars, but this was my…read moreexperience... Hot Springs National Park was truly unique. At first I admit I was underwhelmed actually. Then we explored several key features: + Hot Springs Mountain Tower (we drove & didn't go up to the top because we had our dog with us) + Bathhouse Row (viewed everything from outside) + Grand Promenade (dog-friendly path & park area) + Fordyce Bathhouse Visitors Center (dogs not allowed, we found a dog boarder and came back to explore it) The old cranky park ranger that we spoke to inside the Fordyce Center was not friendly at all on 7.21.2025. He was very dismissive and not willing to share any insight beyond the two questions I asked him. Not welcoming. Between my picking up trash scattered throughout the Grand Promenade and his attitude, that's primarily the reason for a star knocked off. It's not operated by the National Park Service, but the Buckstaff Bathhouse is regulated by the NPS. My daughters, ages 12 and 10, really enjoyed a mini spa day there. We bought passes at about 9:30 AM and had no wait. We were out by 11:00 AM. Yes, I recommend you experience this old-fashioned body treatment at least once. There are several wonderful shops and some restaurants within walking distance. On Sunday, metered street parking was free. On Monday, I paid for all-day parking (just a little over $8) in the Exchange Street Parking Plaza garage on Exchange Street. All three of us are highly active, so this was an easy walk for us even in the late July 2025 heat. TIPS + Residents really do fill up every plastic jug they can find at the water fountains. Lol. It's free! There were two cold water springs that I heard about: one at Whittington Park and the other at Happy Hollow. But plenty of folks stopped in front of the NPS Administrative building on Reserve Street. + Don't forget to get your national park passport cancellation stamp inside the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitors Center. It was to the right of the front office when we visited.

Great place to visit with family - caught fish, played at the park, enjoyed the beautiful grounds…read more Love it!

A very nice upkeep park. Great for family. There is a pond near the entrance that people were…read morefishing. Plenty of seatings throughout the park, shaded and not shaded. Being a solo traveling person, I totally feel safe at this park. Many different trails to take. The trails leading to the water was my favorite. I end up just watching people riding their boat and water skiing. Great place to have a picnic also. The fishing pier is my favorite spot to get some sun in and there is a bench there that you can just sit and look out. If you really look, you will find a spot you can actually go down to swim. Not sure if it's safe and permit. Take a look at my picture I posted to see if you can find the spot. BTW, getting to the park is easy breezy but when it's time to get out the park, use caution. Cars coming all different directions with the slopes!

A shady urban park with a mesmerizing waterfall / water fountain / benches / picnic tables /…read more Multi-colored lights are strung up in the old trees. The park's namesake, Mr. Kenneth Adair, worked tirelessly to pave the way for all Hot Springs Citizens to achieve equality. Stage Performances by youth bands / local singers / songwriters / poets / magicians / other artists are scheduled by the Fine Arts Center.

On our visit to Hot Springs, we were told to check out Garvan Woodland Gardens. It was definitely a…read moregreat decision to come by and have a nice long stroll through the various gardens, forests, streams, and just nature. Its not too hard to find and there's plenty of parking out front. Leaving the parking lot is a little confusing though (signs would be helpful...). But its well worth the trip out! There were a variety of slices of nature and we spent a few hours here and still did not get to see it all. There's a whole nature preserve that's part of it and apparently great in the dawn/dusk to spot and hear various birds. We did see quite a bit of wildlife and fun plants around so even if we missed the preserve it was fun to see everything else. I think this is a great spot to reconnect with nature for a bit. There were well marked paths so it wasn't too strenuous and there were some more kid friendly areas as well for them to explore and run around.

I recently visited for the first time while visiting family in Arkansas, and it was absolutely…read moreworth the trip. My cousin drove us from Little Rock, and although it took about an hour and 10 minutes, the experience made the drive completely worthwhile. The gardens are beautifully maintained and peaceful. Perfect for taking your time, enjoying nature, and capturing great photos. One tip: buy your tickets online if you can. At the gate, adult tickets are around $30, and while there are different price ranges for kids (with children under 4 getting in free), purchasing ahead of time can save you money and time. Be prepared to walk! The paths vary from smooth sidewalks to gravel and slightly uneven stone paths. There are also bridegs and stairs that lead to highlights like the koi pond, the tree house, and waterfall, which are absolutely worth exploring. Because of this, I highly recommend wearing very comfortable shoes, or even bringing a backup pair if you plan to take a lot of pictures. If you're visiting with kids, they'll have a great time exploring, but be mindful on the uneven stones and hold their hands in certain areas. For those using strollers or wheelchairs, just know that some parts of the garden can be a bit challenging due to the terrain. There is also a nature preserve area that we didn't get to fully explore because we were tired. Overall, this is a lovely, relaxing place to visit, and I would definitely come back again when I'm in Arkansas.

It was a beautiful morning, perfect for exploring trails along the state park. We drove :30, 2…read moremiles out of Hot Springs. We started in the visitor center with Wi-Fi, maps, and a small gift shop. We followed the trails down to the marina. We passed campsite's & pullouts. Kayaks, paddle boats, pontoon boats are all available. There was a small beach with two people sitting on chairs.

We drove through part of Lake Ouachita State Park in late July 2025…read more Entrance was free. The lake looked clean everywhere we went. I was impressed. Many boaters, some swimmers (with designated areas and beaches even), some fishermen, and hikers scattered this area of Arkansas just outside of Hot Springs. It was fairly hot when we went, but still good fun and beautiful scenery. If time had permitted, I would have liked to take my daughters to Three Sisters Springs and other places. We instead stayed at Echo Canyon which is not technically part of the state park, but exists on Lake Ouachita.

Great place for a swim. Nice and clean. Not crowded. Clear buoys for safety. Clearing water. Quiet.read more

Quiet resort town with plenty to see and do for the day. Several restaurants are within walking…read moredistance. Water sports include a float toy island for the kids, kayak rentals, jet ski rentals, and several different kinds of boat tours. Hot springs are in the area and are quite busy. Would recommend going off peak hours to make the most of it.

My kids, our dog, and I walked the entire Grand Promenade in downtown Hot Springs, AR, back on July…read more20, 2025. Since that was a Sunday, metered street parking was free. We made sure to head there as early as possible which was about 8:30 AM. Hardly anyone was out there. The sidewalks and streets weren't yet hot on our dog's feet. We dipped our hands in the terribly hot waterfall and small ponds near Central Ave and Fountain Street. We walked up the stairs somewhere nearby. It might be hard on elderly dogs. But my elderly dog acts like a 9-year-old puppy. Lol. At the top of the Promenade, there was a nice red-bricked pathway inspired by Cuba, I later read. There were several trees, benches, tables, and a few chess boards. Not a trash can in sight, though! I guess that's why I picked up so much damn trash! There is a free water refill station on Reserve Street. It's just down the stairs from the Promenade. We finally saw a trash can there. It was so peaceful up there during the half hour we spent reading signage and exploring the seeping springs while the crowd below built up quickly. Free activity. Recommend.

Upon a recent visit to hot springs this was a free thing to do. Its located right off main street…read moreand it curves around the national park. You can views of the back of the bath houses below and you get views of the park up above. This is a popular touristy area and there are lots of people here but it never got crowded. There are plenty of benches here to sit and relax. On a recent walk here I spotted a deer and it was awesome! Keep in mind there are no bathrooms here, there are several staircases that you can use to get up here. As you are walking and notice these green "bear type" boxes, those are actually natural springs coming from the ground that are covered. On one end of the promenade is fountain street where the is a free public cold spring you can refill your water bottle. Very beautiful and the whole thing does not take more than 30 minutes.

Clean and comfortable - natural beauty sitting just around the bend and over the next hill and…read moreunder the placid water of Lake Catherine! It's fun and easy to reach/enjoy with family friendly opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, grilling, camping (cabins available too) - very close to Hot Springs which has a lot of beauty from the National Park in downtown to the lookout tower atop the highest point in downtown - including the natural hot springs which makes this place famous for America's first off season professional baseball camps and the likes of gangsters and movie stars all mingled alongside the everyday persons enjoying the same or hanging out at the horse races. It's a cool place to visit and you'll have a super time at the park - with other states parks and lakes and rivers/hiking and nature all around!

Lake Catherine-- We absolutely love this lake!…read more Although, I felt like things were not labeled as they should have been during the hike of "Falls Creek Falls". There were marks on trees during the hike that were red, white and yellow, but I had no idea what those meant. Maybe this part of town is less touristy and more locals, because people had set up hammocks, and all of their things that they needed for the night/day around the waterfall after the hike. I spoke to a sweet man and woman on a golf cart who seemed to work there, as they were going around and changing papers for the reservations for there were trailers in the parking lot, and they advised us on where to go and park. They did advise us that if you go on the trails, if you go towards the left, the hike is shorter and it's about a 1/2 a mile, and if you go towards the right, it's about a mile and a 1/2 Which is a great tip because, of course, we wanted to take the shorter route. We had a toddler and an elderly person with us, and so we did not want to do a strenuous hike. This hike was just enough for us to feel better adventurous, and like we accomplished something when we got to the falls. The falls were beautiful, and the water looked gorgeous. Although, I did see later on another app, that a lot of times sewer water gets into the falls. Unfortunately, we had decided to take a dip even though we didn't have swim suits just because it looks so refreshing but it's just something to keep in mind. Overall, we would definitely come here again! It looks like a great place to bring lunch and hang out and eat after a great hike!

This place was a find! I have wanted to go to the north wood trails in hot springs but then we…read morefound this! It's a pretty cool place with a small pump track and small jump course then there's places to hit some jumps on a little downhill trail! It's an all around pretty nice place

Once you find this hidden gem (once you find it you will understand) you won't forget it ever…read moreagain. Bike trails, rc airplain fields, and one of my favorite disk golf courses I could go on but just check it out yourself. It won't disappoint. Come to the park to find that summer spark.

We spent a day here and got through all the visitor center and the displays it has on all the…read morelevels. We drove to the mountain lookout and paid to go up there and spent more time there. We also drove the weather mountain loop and stopped at the pull off areas. The history and the geology is really neat. You need a full day if you plan to drive the park roads. If you want to hike then you need 2+ days.

On top of Hot Sprigs Mountain this 216ft tower hs spectacular views of the surrounding mountains…read morecovered with dogwood, hickory, oak & pine. We winded up a single lane road passing Picnic areas and rest stops before we got to the top. There was a small parking lot with magnificent views. We walked to the gift shop & found the register. We have a parks pass & paid $12 pp to take the elevator to the top of the tower. We took in the view on the top and then went down a floor to see the history of Hot Springs starting in 1875. Photos and artifacts from the old hotels and bath houses were presented with a timeline.