Hot Springs National Park · Arkansas

Oertel Trail

1.4 mi of trail, end to end · about 250 ft of climbing · 599 ft–783 ft

625 ft 650 ft · 1.4 mi high 783 ft

Grand Avenue Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-20 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Trail head

A young man stands in the middle of a packed gravel trail looking up to the lush green trees.
Looking up on the trail Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

Grand Avenue Trail connects Oertel Trail with Grand Avenue. A local motel lies just south of the trailhead.

Distance (one way): 0.2mi (0.3km)

Elevation: 581 - 631ft (177 - 192m)

Typical grade: 4.7%

Accessibility This is a packed gravel trail. It is not ADA compliant.

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

Reserve Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-25 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Trail head

A shaded, highly vegetated piece of the forest with knobby, thin trees.
A glimpse of the forests in Hot Springs. Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

Reserve Trail connects Oertel Trail with Spring Street and Reserve Street at a "Y" intersection.

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

Elevation: 622 - 713ft (190 - 217m)

Typical grade: 5.7%

Accessibility This trail is not ADA compliant.

This hike on nps.gov

Short Cut Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-25 Minutes · dogs allowed

A picnic area with many tables sit beneath the shade of the trees.
View from the Short Cut trailhead Photo: NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

Short Cut Trail connects Oertel Trail with Hot Springs Mountain Trail near the picnic area atop Hot Springs Mountain.

Distance (one way): 0.2 mi (0.3km)

Elevation: 813 - 1036ft. (247 - 316m)

Typical grade: 21.1%

Accessibility This trail is made of loose rocky, gravel. This trail is not ADA compliant.

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.