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Hot Springs National Park color photo of Fordyce Bathhouse gym with parallel bars in left foreground and vaulting horse in right background
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Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs Mountain Trail
Shady wooded trail in spring, dead leaves covering trail, small brown trail sign on lower right.

NPS Photo

Considered one of the most rewarding trails in the park, this pleasant walk begins at the Pagoda shelter just below the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Going away from the picnic area, the trail descends through a beautiful mixed hardwood and pine forest. The lower slope is steep, but offers breath-taking vistas. About halfway down, a trail shelter marks the Gulpha Gorge Trail intersection.

Continue along the trail and descend the western side of the slope, turning left at the first junction (continuing straight would would put you on the Dogwood Trail). Take the serpentine path to Hot Springs Mountain Drive, cross it, and hike up the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain. At the junction with Honeysuckle Trail, stay left to complete the loop. Cross Hot Springs Mountain Drive two more times and you will arrive back at the picnic area.

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Red aerial map of Hot Springs National Park, with the Hot Springs Mountain Trail highlighted in orange
 
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Gulpha Creek in fall, below campground amphitheater, with bridge over Gorge Road in right background

Did You Know?
The name Gulpha Creek is a corruption of the French name for the stream. Explorer William Dunbar reports the name "Fourche á Calfat" in the journal of his visit in 1804. Calfat eventually became Gulpha.
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Last Updated: March 06, 2008 at 14:51 MST