We stayed at Lake Catherine for 6 days and 5 nights. We had site #70…read more This site was plenty big, had a fishing dock (although the water was low) we still fished and enjoyed it. Only caught 1 small fish. Lake Catherine is about 15- 20 minutes to Hot Springs. We drove around section C looking for good spots and found several. We never went into section A or B. But this was a great, clean and quiet area. We will be back.

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!

Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a nice place to to spend your day doing hiking and it's only about…read more20 minutes from downtown Little Rock. I spent a few hours hiking on one of the more difficult hiking trails and it was a great experience! The trail was clean and well labeled, but the only difficult part was locating the same trail markers going down the mountain, especially since there are so many rocks and boulders throughout the entire terrain so it was very easy to miss several trail markers on the way down. I love that the state park offers a variety of trails and difficulty levels, so whether you are a beginner hiker or a more experienced hiker, you are bound to have a good time. I enjoyed the trail and the experience of doing some rock climbing, and if I'm ever in the area again I will definitely come back!

1. The new visitors center is STUNNING and has beautifully clean bathrooms, as well as concessions…read morethat might be open occasionally? Love the free AR state park "passports" you can get as well - so many high-quality details!! 2. This was a challenging but well-marked hiking path. For context, we were told there is a "hard" side or an "extra hard" side to hike LOL. We chose the "hard" side. You do need some moderate physical fitness - a good portion of the "trail" was just spray-painted yellow marks on large rocks and boulders you have to climb. But we did it all in under 2 hours? Great views from the top, and there is a wonderful playground in the middle of the parking lot too! What a unique and fun experience. Honorable mention: we saw a raccoon in a Christmas sweater.

A few friends ( 8 trailers with 16 people and 5 dogs) came to camp for a few days and although the…read moreweather wasn't as good as we had hoped for, rain for 1 1/2 days, temps dropped to the mid 40's during the day and 18+ mph winds, it was a great trip. We all, at different times, explored the surroundings, walked trails, and some enjoyed dinner and/or breakfast at nearby restaurants. Us Texans sure did enjoy Arkansas and its fall beauty.

We heard that this place was a "must see" so I had really high expectations; especially when…read morecompared to mount Nebo. My first impression was "where do you park?!" Lots of people come here, and the main parking lot is always packed near the visitor center and restaurant. Sure there's lots of parking near the hiking trails, but up front not so much. This place reminds me of Top of the Rock in Branson. There isn't much in the way of activates here. I wish I was told more about this place. It seems Petit Jean is more centered around hiking and mountain biking. Lots of trails for both, and then a restaurant on a bluff that hikers, motorcyclists, and tourists seem to flock to. If you don't really hike, or bicycle, and don't really care about eating at a restaurant that looks over a bluff then save yourself a trip. I mean if I was an avid hiker I might really like this place, but since I'm not there's other places around just as beautiful without the drive.

The wilder, more spacious segment of HSNP. These are some long, windy, and wooded trails that you…read morecan explore here. If you're not into the mountain top observatory, this is probably the best overlook in town. Be sure to use pano mode on your phone.

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.

Nice views, great store, friendly service. This tower offers excellent views of the surrounding…read morearea. A great spot to watch the sunset and sunrise. They need to offer longer hours.

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.

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.

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.

This was awesome! Very friendly people along the walk, ride. We even saw deers at the time we went…read morealong the walking past in the forest area. Hefty hill going up but you can do it! The views are epic! I wish I got more pictures!

Little Rock did a great job with this public space, it's a beautiful outdoor area that's super…read morewalkable and very accessible, for pedestrians and cyclists alike. The fact that it's a dam and a bridge is cool, I guess? But what's great about this space is its value as a park, really worth a visit on a nice day!

Fun urban walk with historical businesses and there is enough nature to walk and see from above I…read more The tower as well

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and experience it beyond simply driving by. Hot Springs National Park was one of the most unique parks on our journey because it is unlike any other national park we have visited. Rather than protecting vast wilderness, this park preserves the history and natural thermal springs that gave birth to the city of Hot Springs. For centuries, people believed the mineral-rich waters had healing properties, and during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area became one of America's premier spa destinations. The beautifully preserved Bathhouse Row is a reminder of that era, with historic buildings that still define the character of the park today. The park itself blends seamlessly into the city, making it feel less like a traditional national park and more like a living historic district. Personally, I see it as being closer to a national monument than the expansive wilderness parks most people picture when they think of the National Park System. But that doesn't diminish its value, it is simply a very different experience. I spent quite a bit of time hiking the surrounding trails, which were peaceful, scenic, and offered beautiful views over the town and the Ouachita Mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how much nature surrounds the historic district once you begin climbing into the hills. The town itself is charming, full of history, unique architecture, good restaurants, and an easy pace that invites you to slow down. Between exploring the bathhouses, learning about the fascinating history of hydrotherapy in America, and enjoying the trails, we found there was plenty to fill a full day. Overall, Hot Springs National Park is beautiful in its own way. It may not offer towering mountains or dramatic wilderness, but it preserves an important chapter of American history while still providing opportunities to enjoy nature. It is certainly worth visiting with an open mind and an appreciation for both history and the outdoors.

What a cool find, nestled is a Little Rock neighborhood, only a 10 minute drive from downtown. The…read moreopening credits of Gone With the Wind was filmed here ! The replica of a 1800s mill, built in the early 1900s surrounded by calming water , flowers, trees, and wildlife. I was fascinated by the bridge and stairs which appeared to be made of wood but was constructed of concrete, amazing! Surrounding neighborhood is beautiful, the park area was very clean and easy to access and walk around. Tip- get here early for photos and a relaxing stroll, this place gets very busy!

The Old Mill is a beautiful spot in North Little Rock, AR amongst a charming neighborhood…read more It's listed as a National Register of Historic Places. Rightly so... the mill is supposedly the "last standing structure" from the movie "Gone With The Wind." The gates opened at 8 AM. Entry was free. By the time we got there, a small group was already taking professional-like photos of their model. The landscaping was nicely manicured. Some of the plants and flowers or trees were labeled with little signs. My girls liked climbing up into the replica "water-powered grist mill." We didn't stay long as dogs were not allowed on the grounds. Our dog stayed in my Jeep while the air-conditioning was on since it was in the upper 80s already. For more info plus an interactive map, go to: https://nlr.ar.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/old-mill/