Hot Springs, Beyond The National Park
Growing up in a National Park, one would think there's be an ample amount of activities to do. This is true... if you're 21+ with a fat wallet. In actuality, there's not much on the downtown strip if you're broke and a minor. This has been a complaint of the local youths, including me back in the day. However, country boys make do. Luckily for y'all, I've had to go through years of fun hunting so y'all don't end up there with nothing to do while the old people head to the watering holes. Here are ten destinations outside of the downtown strip that provide various activities, mostly centered around experiencing nature at it's most raw and aw inspiring beauty.
Gulpha Gorge Campground: Located east of downtown by a 4-5min drive, this campground is encased in trees and trails leading up to the Hot Springs Mountain tower. This park includes an amphitheater, picnic tables, electrical hook-ups, restrooms, and a crystal clear creek that runs throughout the campground and beyond. Many a family outings I've spent there. If you go beyond the Campground to the south, you can follow the creek along cascading rocks shaped by the passing of time and water. It's a great location for any daytrip, providing ample shade and shelter from the sound of the highway and downtown traffic.
Hollywood Park: South of downtown into the neighborhoods, this park offers something for everyone in the family including the little ones. Firstly, the park is connected to a paved walking/biking trail that connects to the soon finished NEW Jaycee Park. The path is towered by pines with a creek running along it's side. Local artists display have had multiple displays along the path as well. Now, the park itself... it's great! Swings, jungle gyms, pavilions for picnics, walking paths, and a mini castle with a view of the park. Got a fur baby? Directly east to the park, across the creek bridge, is Hot Springs Bark Park. This gated fog park offers plenty of running room with small obstacles for them to play on.
Baseball Trail Park: Baseball seems to be a common theme, because guess what this park has! That's right, a shuffle boarding court, basketball court, jungle gym, creek, and restrooms! Oh yeah, and a baseball park. For anyone looking to be active, this is the place to be. This park is located at the start of the Whittington valley, which leads down Whittington avenue to the downtown strip. I've personally seen a birthday party at this park every summer weekend over the past few summers, including COVID summer 2020. The park is backed up onto the National Park, connected to many of the Hiking trails that weave through the hundreds of miles of forest.
Whittington Park: This is the fitness enthusiast's best friend. This park park stretches along Whittington Ave from the Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo (which is $9 if you're interested in gators), to Dryden Pottery right outside of downtown. This park has become particularly since the pandemic, since it offers jogging trails, large trees for shade, a picturesque creek running along the spine of the park, and low traffic. The park offers access to hiking trails, public springs for drinking water, and summer concerts. I remember growing up around the park, sitting on my stoop listening to the Whittington Valley Neighborhood Association's summer concerts with a FULL orchestra, especially the patriotic pieces in July. The homes across from the park are mostly well-kept historic properties with friendly inhabitants. Into cycling, at the west end of the park is Parkside Cycle. They offer any bike product or service you need!
Cedar Glades Park: North of downtown by a 5min drive, this park is easily the most underrated spot in Hot Springs. Transformed from the Garland County Landfill into a healthy, thriving forest, this Park has anything your family could ask for. There's disk golf, jungle gyms, an amphitheater, a 3 STORY TREEHOUSE, a model plane paved airstrip, a remote control car racetrack with stands, bike trails, hiking trails, and at certain times of the year, rock climbing. There's a yearly biking event named the Tour De Trash that should resume once COVID has fully come to a close. Though a close drive from downtown, you'd think this place were deep within the Ouachita mountains. The only sound you hear is the wind, the creek (because of course there's a creek), and the occasional model plane. The hiking and biking trails go on and on through thick shaded forest. You could easily spend over half your day here.
Now with a little extra gas money, your opportunities open right up!
Entergy Park: South of downtown by about 10-15 minutes, this park is located at Carpenter Dam, right at the south end of Lake Hamilton. This park has more than a creek, it has a lake! More importantly, it accommodates for those who can't hike on more rugged terrain. There's paved hiking and walking paths that're wheelchair accessible with little change in elevation. Included is a jungle gym, picnic pavilions, a duck pond, fishing docks, restrooms, and more challenging hiking trails that line Lake Hamilton. With plenty of parking and located right of Carpenter Dam Rd, this park is an easy access for everyone.
Lake Catherine State Park: Further down the road you get a pleasant surprise. Lake Catherine State park is a campground, picnic area, and boating dock with access to the quiet and quaint Lake Catherine, the southern most of Hot Springs' three lakes. However, it's what's hidden within the park that makes it an adventure. To the south of the park is a hiking trail that runs along the lake shore into a lagoon. The lagoon becomes and stream, then the stream a creek, then the creek to one of the most picturesque swimming holes ever. Large shale and granite rock encircle half the spot with a waterfall cutting between them. At the top of the waterfall are hiking trails that lead deep into the mountains, each turn a beautiful and unique vista of the stream, lake, trees, and mountains.
Lake Ouachita State Park / Ouachita National Forest: The furthest drive, but definitely the site most worth of your time. Lake Ouachita is the biggest lake fully in Arkansas and one of the cleanest lakes in the country. Throughout this gorgeous landscape is hiking, biking, swimming, camping, boating, fishing, you name it! Lake Ouachita State Park offers cleans and readily available amenities, boat rentals, campgrounds, and access to Lake Ouachita's untouched landscape. Unlike Lake Catherine and Hamilton, Lake Ouachita is federally protected from realtors, so it's not dotted with condos. If you really feel like driving, 35min outside of Hot Springs is the greatest vista in central Arkansas, Hickory Nut Mountain. This highpoint shows a 180 degree panorama of Lake Ouachita, with hiking trails that lead to the Joplin recreation area. Joplin has, to my knowledge, the only floating Subway restaurant. Enough said.
West Mountain: The center of the web, this mountain holds hiking trails that connect Whittington Valley, to the downtown strip, to Lake Hamilton and the historic Quapaw-Prospect neighborhood together. The hiking trails are encased in towering trees with tree lines that open up to vistas of every angle of the National Park.
Hill Wheatley Park: Want a swimming spot for the kids and a dock for starting your booze cruise, this is the place to be. Tired of a muddy lake bottom?... An open sandy beach with plenty of sun and space leads into a tree wrapped lagoon. Swimmers are shielded from the overly active lake traffic, so no rogue waves. Got a buddy with a boat, they can pick you up and drive you anywhere you want, with Bubba Brew's just a short tug down the main strip of the lake.
Living in this town has opened me up to enjoying every bit of mother nature's gifts. You learn to appreciate how much silence, clean air, and sunshine through radiant green trees means to you. I've had to go without spending money quite often and honestly, it opens you up to how much you really don't need. A hike or swim builds a good mind and body better than a movie or laser tag.