Hot Springs National Park · Arkansas

Grand Promenade

0.4 mi of trail, end to end · about 30 ft of climbing · 50 ft of descent · 618 ft–671 ft

645 ft 618 ft · 0.4 mi high 671 ft

Grand Promenade National Recreation Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start South Entrance

A man walks with his dog down a red brick path surrounded by bright green trees.
The Grand Promenade Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

This National Recreation Trail is the entry point for many of the Hot Springs and North Mountain trails from downtown. Oertel, Peak, and Tufa Terrace trails all branch off from the Grand Promenade and lead to other trails. The Grand Promenade has four entry points: Reserve Street (stairs), Fountain Street (ramp), Stephen’s Balustrade (grand staircase), and an access ramp behind the Fordyce Bathhouse.

Distance (one way): 0.5 mi (0.8km)

Elevation: 619 - 717 ft. (188 - 218m)

Typical grade: 3.7%

Accessibility The Grand Promenade is an 8 foot wide paved, brick pathway with a grade of 3.7%.

This hike on nps.gov

Oertel Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Trailhead

Gravel paths converge on the grass.
The path to the Oertel Trail Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

The Oertel Trail is formerly known as the Dead Chief Trail.

From downtown, ascend the Stephen's Balustrade (grand staircase) behind the Fordyce Visitor Center to the Grand Promenade and climb the next two sets of steps until you reach the gravel road. Take the road right until you reach an iron gate; the trailhead begins here. Oertel Trail ranges from moderate to very steep grade.

Distance (one way): 1.4mi (2.3km)

Elevation: 670 - 863ft. (204 - 263m)

Typical grade: 2.6%

Accessibility The Oertel Trail is a steep, bumpy gravel trail and is not ADA accessible.

This hike on nps.gov

Tufa Terrace Trail the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Lower Tufa Terrace Trailhead

A railed, thin pathway leads through bright green trees and brush.
Lower Tufa Terrace Trail Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

This paved trail can be reached from the Grand Promenade or Arlington Lawn. The lower portion of the Tufa Terrace Trail is near the Hot Water Cascade.

Distance (one way): 0.3 mi (0.5km)

Elevation: 650ft - 745ft (198 - 227m)

Typical Grade: 6%

Accessibility The Tufa Terrace is not consdiered to be ADA compliant, as there are stairs at various places throughout the trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 28 trails in Hot Springs National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.