Hot Springs National Park

The Youtube channel, Less Junk, More Journey.... visited Hot Springs Nat Park a couple of months ago, and this is the video...........

https://youtu.be/ebku0IRNLYE

Its not like any other national park you have visited.

Charles

I enjoyed Hot Springs, the Gulpha Gorge campground is very nice, driving to the top of the mountain to the tower is worth doing. The Promenade walkway is nice and few have the ambition to walk it. The visitors center has much to offer.

X2 on what BB TX said. Yawn

Hot Springs national park is unique, and the city of Hot Springs is making a bit of a come back. This was a popular gambling town (though technically illegal) up until about 1970, when governor Rockefeller brought in the state police and shut down gambling in the Hot Springs. It was also popular neutral ground for many of Americas mob families, where many of the notorious mob bosses brought their families for summer vacation. (there is a mob museum in downtown that is worth going to if you are nearby) Since the end of gambling Hot Springs had fallen on hard times, though still popular due to nearby lake Hamilton, many of the hotels and lake side resorts fell into disrepair. In recent years though there has been a bit of a renascence in Hot Springs, with considerable population growth over the last couple of decades, as well as more tourist attractions and events bringing people into town, though it still retains a bit of a has been tourist town feel, even the wax museum feels like you are stepping back in time as it features few celebrities from the last 4 decades.

Hot Springs National Park has one of the nicest Park campgrounds. About 50 sites ALL are 50A full hookup. Restrooms have NO showers or bathing facilities.Beautiful spacious sites, especially those that are creekside. A MUST see is Garvan Gardens, especially how when everything is blooming. The downtown part of the park features a restored bath house, that has been set up as a museum, and has guided tours several time daily. One day will suffice very well for that. The Park itself has a number of good hiking trails, and beautiful vistas. And NO, there is no open water that you can put your feet in! Reason is that the water is up to 140 degrees, and will seriously burn you or your kids. There are two public bath houses that offer a variety of heathful baths and massages, as well as several of the hotels off the same. The water is over 4000 years old, and is perfectly save to drink. It is the only National Park that gives away (for free) the resource it is charged with protecting!! However, at the campground, the creek is refreshig, and does have a small pool that is great for the kids to play in. It is very cold water there, not from the springs.

The National "park" is worth visiting once. Lake Ouachita State Park (20 min. drive) is worth visiting many times. Gorgeous campgrounds, clear water lake with lots of fish.

Hot Springs (the town) is long passed its glory days when thousands visited for the hot mineral baths. One or two of the bathhouses are still in service or open for tours, and that is somewhat interesting. Many fond memories of going there as a kid in the 50’s/60’s and a number visits since. It is a beautiful area around it. But no more so than the southern appalachians that you are apparently near. So you may not be impressed by it. Basically I would say if you are already going to be in the area, then a short visit would be ok. But I would not drive an extended distance for no other reason than just to see it.

I would say yes, especially if late enough for fall foliage. Be aware that most of the Park is actually in town where there are old hotels, etc. with hot springs(you can't actually use too many of the springs now). But worth just walking around and looking. The National Park campground is just outside town beside a nice stream and wooded. I don't think hook-ups but not sure.