Hiking the trails on Hot Springs Mountain in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

On Sunday September 15, 2019, Mom and I set out on a short adventure to Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Back in June our annual Park adventure was incomplete due to a family tragedy that prevented Mom from going along. I decided to take her and let her experience this unique little Park so we packed up and hit the road Sunday afternoon after church. It was a pleasant 12 hour drive down I40 to Little Rock then to Hot Springs where we stayed at a nice little historic Hotel The Happy Hollow!

When we were in Arkansas camping at Lake Ouichita in June, it was hot and muggy. I had chosen to return in September on my ‘long weekend’ hoping for more temperate weather. We were to be denied this as temperatures soared into the upper 90’s with the heat index going above 100. We appreciated the air conditioner in our little room.

Monday we checked out the historic bath houses and spent some time in the walk in pools at QuaPaw bath house. That was a relaxing interlude. On Monday I picked up a trail map from the visitor center and determined I would climb Hot Springs Mountain to the Tower.

As I studied the trail map of interconnecting trails and put the distances together in my head I stretched my initial intended hike out to include other trails and explore this little mountain. The trails are all well marked and well defined most having a good gravel base and many having benches to rest upon. The heat was a challenge so I went early and started my hike by crossing the road from The Happy Hollow and walking up the short Fountain Trail to Honeysuckle trail which connected to the Peak Trail which climbs Hot Springs Mountain to the Tower. Having done this I retraced my steps and took a right onto the Hot Springs Mountain Trail to meet the Upper Dogwood Loop, I turned left to the Lower Dogwood Loop and completed this nice little loop to the Floral trail back to Honeysuckle and back to the Fountain trail. All in all I did around 3.4 miles on my morning jaunt.

Mom and I played tourist for a few hours and when she tired we came back to the Happy Hollow. It was around 4:00 pm the temperature around 95 and promising to hold there until after dark. I decided to go back out on the trails and explore some more. I had seen the sign for Goat Rock Trail on the Upper Dogwood Loop and headed that way. I ventured back to Floral Trail hooked up on the Upper Dogwood Loop and made my way to the Goat Rock Trail. The trail was challenging on this hot day, but the views from Goat Rock were fabulous. I climbed up to the viewing platform on Goat Rock and looked out on the Ouichita Mountains. I could see the coasters at Magic Springs in the distance. I will never forget the trip to Magic Springs we made in June.

On my way from the viewing platform on Goat Rock to the intersection with the Gulpha Gorge Trail I encountered my first ever hiking naked enthusiast, the gentleman apologized and covered and I hid my eyes and hurried past. What do you say, really? It takes all kinds I guess. I met a couple of ladies with dogs further along and I petted the dogs and made small talk. I made my way on Gulpha Gorge back to Upper Dogwood then to the Floral Trail and back to the Happy Hollow. I logged 3.8 miles on this excursion.

I was glad I took the time to explore these National Park Trails. They are very nicely laid out and challenging without being too awfully difficult. I saw more of Hot Springs National Park on our return venture than when we checked it out in the summer.