{"id":729,"date":"2022-04-26T11:41:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T11:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/usa\/?p=729"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:11:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T15:11:46","slug":"hot-springs-national-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/usa\/national-parks\/hot-springs-national-park.html","title":{"rendered":"Hot Springs National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Congress created Hot Springs Reservation in 1832 to protect thermal springs that had become renowned for their supposed therapeutic properties. By the time it became the 19th national park in 1921, Hot Springs had grown into a popular spa, attracting vacationers as well as patients seeking a cure for all sorts of illnesses. Hot Springs also became the spring-training home for several major league baseball teams, whose players used the thermal baths to relax after workout and training sessions.<\/p>\n

Water that fell as rain more than 4,000 years ago flows from the Earth here at an average temperature of 143\u00b0F, having been heated at a depth of more than a mile below ground before rising back to the surface. Most of the natural hot springs have been diverted into pipes flowing to hotels and to a line of spa buildings known as Bathhouse Row. The eight remaining bathhouses on the row were built between 1892 and 1923 and display a rich diversity of architectural styles.<\/p>\n

The park\u2019s 5,550 acres encompass wooded uplands of the Ouachita Mountains, crisscrossed by 26 miles of hiking trails. Unusual for North American mountains, the Ouachitas run east\u2013west instead of north\u2013south, pushed up in parallel folds by an ancient collision of tectonic plates.<\/p>\n

Note: The official name of the city adjacent to the park is Hot Springs National Park. This means that many local businesses can legally say they are \u201cin Hot Springs National Park,\u201d or imply that they are affiliated with the national park (in the federal National Park Service sense) when they are not.<\/p>\n

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How to Visit<\/h2>\n

The park can be experienced in a day, though hikers might want to spend more time here. Tour the park museum in the 1915 Fordyce Bathhouse<\/strong> to learn what \u201ctaking the waters\u201d was all about. Then stroll along Bathhouse Row<\/strong> and the Grand Promenade<\/strong> to imagine the scene at the height of the bathing era.<\/p>\n

Hike or drive up Hot Springs Mountain<\/strong> or West Mountain<\/strong> for views of the city of Hot Springs in the valley below and national park land on surrounding mountains. Then hike one or more of the many trails. Afterward, ease tired muscles by taking a traditional bath, either on Bathhouse Row or in one of the hotels that use natural spring water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Useful Information<\/h2>\n

How to get there<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From Little Rock (55 miles east), take I-30 southwest 27 miles and then continue 28 miles on U.S. 70 and U.S. Bus. 70.<\/p>\n

When to go<\/h3>\n

Year-round, although late spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons. Summers can be hot and crowded with vacationers visiting nearby lakes. The city is also quite busy during the early spring horse-racing season.<\/p>\n

Visitor Center<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center,<\/strong> 369 Central Avenue, is open daily.<\/p>\n

Headquarters<\/h3>\n

101 Reserve Street Hot Springs, AR 71901 nps.gov\/hosp<\/a> 501-620-6715<\/p>\n

Camping<\/h3>\n

The Gulpha Gorge<\/strong> campground (44 sites), on Gorge Road on the east side of the park, available daily on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no backcountry camping in the park, but the nearby Ouachita National Forest<\/strong> offers many campgrounds and primitive camping options.<\/p>\n

Lodging<\/h3>\n

Lodging is plentiful in Hot Springs. Hot Springs<\/strong> Convention and Visitors Bureau (hotsprings.org<\/a>; 501-321-2835, 800-SPA-CITY).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

US National Parks Map<\/a><\/h2>\n

About the Guide<\/h2>\n
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Bask in the spectacular beauty, thrilling terrain, and quiet peacefulness of the country’s finest state parks, hand- picked by park directors and National Geographic editors. This fully updated fifth edition includes 750 additional off- the-beaten track destinations. Beautifully written descriptions tell the stories of the parks, from their wildlife, natural features, and history to their most popular current activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, water sports, and rock climbing. Vivid images inspire your next getaway, while detailed information–including 32 detailed maps highlighting sites, trails, campgrounds, and more– helps you plan your next excursion. From free to low-cost, from Florida to Alaska, from the six-acre lao Valley to the 204,000-acre Baxter, use this essential guide to plan a day visit or a weekend escape.<\/div>\n
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