Arlington Lawn in a nice little area to enjoy nature and the town. It's right across the street from the shops and right next to the hot water cascade and hot spring mountain trials. It offers many benches and a pavilion to cool off in the shade.

Arlington Lawn gets its name from the fact that the first two versions of the luxury hotel now located north of the park across Fountain Street were located here on government property. The first, a 150-room wooden structure completed in 1875, was designed specifically to offer patrons the most modern, first-class accommodations possible, the same as they would expect in New York or Chicago. It was replaced in 1893 by a larger, more elaborate brick, stone, and iron version. The grand hotel was of Moorish and Spanish Renaissance style and featured a glass-topped rotunda, large ballroom, and bridges onto Hot Springs Mountain from several floors. It offered 300 guest rooms, 50 of which had private bathrooms. The 2nd Arlington burned in 1923 and was replaced in 1925 by the iconic 500-room Arlington Hotel still in use today.

A group of young boys practice catching baseballs on the green lawn.

Arlington Lawn

The Grand Promenade is a National Recreation Trail that runs parallel to bathhouse row, behind the bathhouses. It's about a half mile long and made entirely out of brick. The inspiration for its design came from the Prado, a pedestrian walkway in Havana, Cuba. Along with it being a great place to walk, it also offers many benches, tables, and even a table for playing chess.

Two people walking up the stairs ti the grand promenade

The Grand Promenade

The Grand Promenade is a National Recreation Trail that runs parrallell to bathhouse row, behind the bathhouses. It's about a half mile long and made entierly out of brick. The inspiration for its design came from the Prado, a pedestrain walkway in Havana, Cuba. Along with it being a great place to walk, it also ofers many benches, tables, and even a table for playing chess. 

Grand Promenade

The tower is 216 feet tall with an octagonal shaped observation room on its top. One side of the tower offers an elevator while the other side holds an open stairwell to the top. The very top is an exposed balcony where you can walk all around and see a full panoramic view of Hot Springs and the surrounding area. At the base of the tower is a gift shop with wide windows displaying all the merchandise.

<h2>History of the Tower</h2> In 1877 local mill owner Enoch Woolman built a wooden observation tower at the summit of Hot Springs Mountain to allow visitors to enjoy the view of the surrounding region. In 1906 a new steel tower opened on Hot Springs Mountain on land leased by Charles N. Rix, president of Arkansas National Bank, and the old Woolman Observatory was removed. Rix Tower included an elevator to carry visitors to the top, where they could view an area estimated by Superintendent Scott Smith to cover a radius of 30 to 40 miles. Rix Tower was taken down on July 13, 1971 and in March 1982 a contract was signed for the construction of a new observation tower. The 216-foot tall structure opened to the public in June 1983 as part of the 13th Annual Arkansas Fun Festival. <h2>Today</h2> The Hot Springs Mountain Tower is operated as a concession for the park. The tower's upper observation deck is open-air and at an elevation of 1,256 feet above sea level. From there, visitors may overlook 140 square miles of surrounding countryside, including the entire park and a portion of the Ouachita Mountains. The lower observation deck, enclosed and air conditioned, contains exhibits highlighting park and local history. A gift shop is located at the base of the tower. Visit the <a href="http://www.hotspringstower.com/">Mountain Tower's offical website</a> for operating hours, fees, and other information.

Hot Springs Mountain Tower is a 216 foot tall structure with an observation deck on top

Hot Springs Mountain Tower

The Hot Springs Mountain Tower is operated as a concession for the park. The tower's upper observation deck is open-air and at an elevation of 1,256 feet above sea level. From there, visitors may overlook 140 square miles of surrounding countryside, including the entire park and a portion of the Ouachita Mountains.

North Mountain sits next to Hot Springs Mountain. At the end of the mountain is a scenic view point overlooking the zig zag mountains. The view is vast and open with rolling hills expanding for miles.

Hot Springs Mountain Drive begins at the end of Fountain Street off Central Avenue downtown. Built as a carriage road in the 1880s, it has switchbacks that will take you to the top to a picnic area, the Pagoda overlook, and the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. You can continue on to North Mountain Loop and then back down to Fountain Street.There are 3 overlooks starting at the Mountain Tower and ending at the North Mountain Loop. The views from here are primarily North and East facing. To access North Mountain, turn onto Fountain Street from Central Avenue and follow the signs. Additionaly, there is access to Goat Rock Trail at the end of North Mountain Loop, offering many more great views.

Got Rock overlook on a cloudy day. Mist is flowing from the mountains.

Goat Rock Overlook

Hot Springs Mountain Drive begins at the end of Fountain Street off Central Avenue downtown. Built as a carriage road in the 1880s, it has switchbacks that will take you to the top to a picnic area, the Pagoda overlook, and the Hot Springs Mountain Tower.

North Mountain

A large pond with a walking trail leading to a stone bridge. There are many plants and animals like lily pads and turtles. There is a dam at one end of the pond that is open and the water spills out like a waterfall into Gulpha creek. The walking trails connects Gulpha gorge trail to sunset trail.

Rick's Pond, also know as the Stonebridge Area, contains several features of the old Fordyce-Ricks estate. In 1878 Samuel W. Fordyce purchased about 1,200 acres on Park Avenue northeast of the city. Later, in 1903 he hired the St. Louis architectural firm of Mauran, Russell, and Garden to design a log house on the property reminiscent of a late 19th or early 20th century railroad hostelry. Construction on the imposing 4,338-square-foot home began in 1904 and was completed by 1909. "The Cabin," as Fordyce called it, was designed in the rustic Adirondack style with an exterior of logs and stone designed to integrate with the surrounding environment. Fordyce decorated the interior of "the Cabin" with his weapons collection and trophies of the hunt. John Fordyce, the eldest of Samuel’s three sons, served as construction engineer on the project. John Fordyce inherited the property upon his father's death and added a dam on the creek below the house to form a pond for his wife to enjoy. Named Lake Lillian in her honor, Fordyce also constructed large and small stone bridges over the creek and pond, a boathouse, and a water wheel to generate electricity for the house. After donating and selling some of land to the National Park Service, John Fordyce sold the remaining acreage of the original estate in 1937 to Major General Earl T. Ricks. The house and 17 acres on the hilltop above the pond are still privately owned. Today, Lake Lillian is known locally as Ricks Pond.

A body of pond water spilling over a dam, forming a wide waterfall

Rick's Pond Waterfall

Rick's Pond is both historical and very peaceful. Located near Gulpha Gorge Campground, off Stonebridge Road, it is one of the less visited locations in the park. From Rick's Pond, you can catch the Sunset Trail to the campground or up towards Fordyce Peak.

Rick's Pond

West Mountain has a long windy road to its summit. Along the way are three overlooks offering different perspectives of the park. One overlooks bathhouse row and the army-navy hospital, another overlooks the city of Hot Springs, and the summit overlooks much of the Trap Mountains.

West Mountain Drive has entrances on Prospect Avenue and Whittington Avenue. It is a two way road that leads to the Summit Loop where you will find three overlooks. The first overlook affords a good view of Bathhouse Row and the former Army-Navy Hospital. The second overlook has a historic trail shelter and picnic tables and the summit has a view south to the Trap Mountains and Lake Hamilton. You'll find an outcrop of Arkansas Novaculite at the top as well; this rock was used by the Caddo Indians for making tools and weapons and later by European settlers for whetstones. Addtionaly, there is access to sunset trail at the summit.

West Mountain with a view of hot springs mountain tower in the distance.

West Mountain Dusk

West Mountain Drive has entrances on Prospect Avenue and Whittington Avenue. It is a two way road that leads to the Summit Loop where you will find three overlooks. The first overlook affords a good view of Bathhouse Row and the former Army-Navy Hospital. The second overlook has a historic trail shelter and picnic tables and the summit has a view south to the Trap Mountains and Lake Hamilton. The Sunset Trail can be accessed from the top of West Mountain.

West Mountain

A large chunk of novaculite rock budging out of the ground. It's bout 30 feet wide and is located along a mountain road.

Novaculite was mined by early native people because of its ability to be easily formed into a variety of shaped for tools while retaining their sharp edge. This outcrop is located on the summit of West Mountain.

A large chunk of novaculite, about 30 feet wide along a mountain road

West Mountain Novaculite Outcrop

Novaculite was mined by early native people because of its ability to be easily formed into a variety of shaped for tools while retaining their sharp edge. This outcrop is located on the summit of West Mountain. 

A stone structure with windows and seating. It's on a mountain overlooking the city of Hot Springs.

Located in the middle of West Mountain, this shelter is a great place to rest in the shade after a long hike. This shelter was built in 1924 making it the oldest one still standing in the park today.

A stone house with exposed walls for viewing the vast overlook

West Mountain Shelter House

Located in the middle of West Mountain, this shelter is a great place to rest in the shade after a long hike. This shelter was built in 1924 making it the oldest one still standing in the park today.

Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of years. Ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks – all in the middle of town – make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination.