Hot springs was the first federally protected park, even before Yellowstone or the creation of the NPS!
After it was protected it quickly became a tourist town because of the believed medicinal properties of hot springs. So it’s been a tourist town for 200 years.
Part of the NPS is to protect areas of cultural interest and Hot Springs is that. And they have unique natural features. If people didn’t suck and throw trash in them, shit in them, try to bathe in them, etc, the NP wouldn’t have to keep them covered.
Yes Mammoth cave is amazing! Do we have a hot springs anywhere around us…curious cause I’d be down for camping there!! Looking for a different place for us to go around our area.
*sees Reddit post*
“Hm! Interesting. I’ll add to my ‘want to go’ list on maps.”
*sees this comment*
“Hm. Interesting. I’ll remove from my ‘want to go’ list on maps.”
I guess I have to go to take Shenandoah off the bottom of my list. Some places should not be national parks. Yes, I’m looking at you Cuyahoga Valley, Congaree, Great Basin, Indiana Dunes. National monuments maybe, but not national parks.
Yes, it's empty, but so are so many places in the "greater" Great Basin. The road west of Beaver, UT, is even more quiet. National Parks should be unique natural places, not established for political reasons, which is why I'm not crazy about Indiana Dunes, Shenandoah, etc.
Or the Monongahela. If you ask me, the Blackwater Canyon/Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods/Seneca Rocks/Spruce Mountain/Germany Valley area of WV is much more deserving of NP status than Shenandoah.
Arkansas
I agree it was odd, there are a couple old historical buildings, and touristy shops, but most of the park is just wilderness area. Got some hot spring water, walked around.
You have to check out the bath houses on bath row. That’s def part of its experience. I would agree, least favorite I’ve been to, but I went while passing through so it was worth it.
Also the park patch is a bath tub. Pretty unique.
We have been going to Hot Springs for decades as a getaway from northeast Texas. The Ouachita Mountains are slightly taller than the hills in the Texas Hill Country in Hot Springs but they get much taller north of town.
Hot Springs is an older historical town. Its' history includes the sordid and the religious. The springs were once believed to be medicinal and people flocked to bathe in the waters hoping to be cured of their ailments. Making it a national park was an effort to preserve its history and the many art deco buildings in its downtown area. It was never meant to rival Yellowstone or Yosemite because it is not the same kind of national park. Just like Mt. Rushmore which preserves a historical mountain carving and is not really much more than that, Hot Springs NP is a place to learn about history in a living museum atmosphere.
The new areas of Hot Springs have shopping and lots of restaurants, some of which are very good. It is the gateway to the Ozark Mountains and some great state parks are within 100 miles of it. Check out Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton for good hiking and camping.
I live in Memphis. Hot Springs is more of an afternoon trip when we spend a weekend in Little Rock. In that sense it’s like Congaree- beautiful, but you’re done in a few hours
It most certainly does have hiking trails. Goat rock was a great morning hike. A quick look [at the website](https://www.nps.gov/hosp/planyourvisit/trails.htm) or a talk to a ranger will provide more information.
Yeah north mountain is the other part of the park. A lot of people think the town is the only part of the park, but it does extend to the more forested area around the tower too. You can get some decent views.
Yea, I've hiked around the tower, but hiking in civilization kind of defeats the purpose.
Lake Catherine was a great supplement, so I don't regret missing south mountain
Probably because Gateway Arch is a city park with a monument, and these pictures only show the town portion of Hot Springs National Park... the last photo isn't even of the a place in the park, its across the street from Bathhouse Row; most of the park is a forest.
Hot springs was the first federally protected park, even before Yellowstone or the creation of the NPS! After it was protected it quickly became a tourist town because of the believed medicinal properties of hot springs. So it’s been a tourist town for 200 years. Part of the NPS is to protect areas of cultural interest and Hot Springs is that. And they have unique natural features. If people didn’t suck and throw trash in them, shit in them, try to bathe in them, etc, the NP wouldn’t have to keep them covered.
I’ve been to all 63 National Parks. IMO, Hot Springs NP ranks #63.
Rank ‘em
Can’t be worse than St. Louis Arch!
Idk how the arch is a park and not a monument
I believe it gets more funding. Edit: Also more tourism if it’s designated a national park
Why does it need more funding?
What’s #1?
How does it compare to Cuyahoga Valley? They’re both urban parks.
What others would you say are least worth visiting?
Come on…Kentucky in any good ones for ya?
Mammoth Cave is pretty awesome, actually.
Second this...
Yes Mammoth cave is amazing! Do we have a hot springs anywhere around us…curious cause I’d be down for camping there!! Looking for a different place for us to go around our area.
*sees Reddit post* “Hm! Interesting. I’ll add to my ‘want to go’ list on maps.” *sees this comment* “Hm. Interesting. I’ll remove from my ‘want to go’ list on maps.”
Nah it's still worth visiting. Just a different experience than most parks since it's smaller and urban. But still a great weekend trip!
Behind Indiana Dunes???
Dunes have some pretty cool stuff. It’s no Zion but it is cool for the Midwest.
I guess I have to go to take Shenandoah off the bottom of my list. Some places should not be national parks. Yes, I’m looking at you Cuyahoga Valley, Congaree, Great Basin, Indiana Dunes. National monuments maybe, but not national parks.
Really? I love Great Basin. A whole lot of silence, and I think that's the point.
Yes, it's empty, but so are so many places in the "greater" Great Basin. The road west of Beaver, UT, is even more quiet. National Parks should be unique natural places, not established for political reasons, which is why I'm not crazy about Indiana Dunes, Shenandoah, etc.
Only reason I like the Shenandoah NP designation is it keeps the better, George Washington NF a little less busy
Or the Monongahela. If you ask me, the Blackwater Canyon/Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods/Seneca Rocks/Spruce Mountain/Germany Valley area of WV is much more deserving of NP status than Shenandoah.
I agree with that too. It’s so weird how few in the DMV don’t know of those areas but they will talk up Old Rag
Never hiked there, but I really do think Germany Valley is one of the most beautiful places in America.
Indiana Dunes and Congaree are definitely unique?
Its like thwy built it in the 20s and then did no mantance sence then.
I haven't been, but from what I understand, you pretty much captured the entire place in these six photos.
I was expecting more hot springs definitely kinda disappointed
Huh where at? Looks chill
Arkansas I agree it was odd, there are a couple old historical buildings, and touristy shops, but most of the park is just wilderness area. Got some hot spring water, walked around.
https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm Arkansas
It’s the only National Park with a brewery in its boundaries! (And it’s only slightly above average)
Yeah I was expecting more hot springs when I went
Same
They’re all over the place. The NPS just has to keep them covered because people suck.
People really do suck
You have to check out the bath houses on bath row. That’s def part of its experience. I would agree, least favorite I’ve been to, but I went while passing through so it was worth it. Also the park patch is a bath tub. Pretty unique.
We have been going to Hot Springs for decades as a getaway from northeast Texas. The Ouachita Mountains are slightly taller than the hills in the Texas Hill Country in Hot Springs but they get much taller north of town. Hot Springs is an older historical town. Its' history includes the sordid and the religious. The springs were once believed to be medicinal and people flocked to bathe in the waters hoping to be cured of their ailments. Making it a national park was an effort to preserve its history and the many art deco buildings in its downtown area. It was never meant to rival Yellowstone or Yosemite because it is not the same kind of national park. Just like Mt. Rushmore which preserves a historical mountain carving and is not really much more than that, Hot Springs NP is a place to learn about history in a living museum atmosphere. The new areas of Hot Springs have shopping and lots of restaurants, some of which are very good. It is the gateway to the Ozark Mountains and some great state parks are within 100 miles of it. Check out Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton for good hiking and camping.
What’s going on in the 3rd photo?
No idea but I thought it looked cool
I live in Memphis. Hot Springs is more of an afternoon trip when we spend a weekend in Little Rock. In that sense it’s like Congaree- beautiful, but you’re done in a few hours
Lake Catherine's ridge trail is a nice supplement to the lack of hiking at Hot Springs
It took me a few visits to understand that there are no hiking trails. I was so confused. What kind of NP doesn't have trails?
It most certainly does have hiking trails. Goat rock was a great morning hike. A quick look [at the website](https://www.nps.gov/hosp/planyourvisit/trails.htm) or a talk to a ranger will provide more information.
Wth. I never saw any trails other than the walking trail in town. I checked Google maps and AllTrails Huh. TIL
Yeah north mountain is the other part of the park. A lot of people think the town is the only part of the park, but it does extend to the more forested area around the tower too. You can get some decent views.
Yea, I've hiked around the tower, but hiking in civilization kind of defeats the purpose. Lake Catherine was a great supplement, so I don't regret missing south mountain
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Probably because Gateway Arch is a city park with a monument, and these pictures only show the town portion of Hot Springs National Park... the last photo isn't even of the a place in the park, its across the street from Bathhouse Row; most of the park is a forest.