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Hot Springs National Park
Dead Chief Trail
Photo of Dead Chief trailhead sign made of dark brown metal with gold lettering and map of the trail

From the Dead Chief Trailhead at the Army-Navy gate above the Stevens Balustrade, this trail intersects with the Gulpha Gorge Trail for the easiest walk (1.6 miles) from Bathhouse Row to the park campground at Gulpha Gorge. At first, the route is quite steep, then the trail levels off and continues across the south slope of Hot Springs Mountain towards Gulpha Gorge.

The historic Oertel Fitness Trail, completed in 1915, once followed what is now the west end of Dead Chief Trail. The portion of Dead Chief Trail below the Shortcut Trail intersection was part of the Red Trail, the most strenuous of the Oertel system's exercise program.

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Read more about the Oertel System of Graduated Exercise in this .pdf page.

 

 
Red aerial map of the Dead Chief Trail in Hot Springs National Park
 
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black and white head and shoulders shot of James Cary with ranger hat on and building in background

Did You Know?
Hot Springs National Park Ranger James Cary was the first National Park Service ranger to be killed in the line of duty. He was shot by bootleggers while patrolling West Mountain on March 12, 1927.
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Last Updated: June 24, 2009 at 09:44 MST