Why choose this Hot Springs tour ?
Experience the natural beauty of Hot Springs with this self-guided driving tour. Visit Hot Springs Mountain Tower for stunning views, explore Gulpha Gorge Trail, discover West Mountain Lower Overlook, hike Goat Rock Trail, and enjoy Sunset Trail’s scenic beauty. Learn about the history and charm of this unique national park while exploring its top highlights at your own pace.
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.
New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.
Make the most of your Hot Springs adventure
What makes Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour a unique experience ?
We’re now approaching Hot Springs Mountain Tower, one of the absolute must-see attractions in this park.
The observation tower reaches an elevation of 1,256 feet above sea level. From the open-air deck, you can see about 140 square miles of the Ouachita Mountains.
As we continue along North Mountain Drive, take a second to observe the flora around us. What plants do you notice?
Hot Springs National Park is home to a huge variety of unique plants… including some that can thrive near very hot water! If you visit one of the springs, you’ll likely notice a spongy gray material near the spring opening.
The Gulpha Gorge Trail. From here, you can take a moderate 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to Gulpha Gorge, where a creek tumbles beautifully down a series of low falls. Although you’ll hike downhill to the gorge, you’ll gain several hundred feet of elevation on your way back. Expect to spend at least an hour on this trail.
In just a moment we’ll reach the trailhead for the Goat Rock Trail. This hike is a moderate two miles and will take about one and a half hours to complete, and leads to the phenomenal Goat Rock Viewpoint, which offers absolutely stunning views of nearby Indian Mountain. In the spring, you’ll also be treated to a spectacular display of wildflowers!
Coming up on our right is Happy Hollow Fountain. In the 1920s, this was the location of Happy Hollow Springs, one of the craziest, most festive spots in town.
If you’d like, you can take a drink from Happy Hollow Fountain! Unlike Noble Fountain, this water comes out at a nice, cool temperature.
We’re approaching the West Mountain Lower Overlook, where we can catch beautiful views of downtown Hot Springs.
I definitely recommend stopping here to take in the views. It’s the second to last overlook of our journey. To visit the overlook, park in the turnout coming up on our right.
Today this is a gift shop. But back in the day, it was the Lamar Bathhouse. And unlike all the other bathhouses up and down this avenue, THIS one had special, extra-long tubs — perfect for anyone over six feet!
This is one of the best-maintained bathhouses in the park. In fact, it’s one of only two bathhouses where you can still bathe! To hear more, tap Learn More.
But before you settle on a soak, you might still be wondering: Do these waters really cure diseases? Is there something magical about them?
The Fordyce Bathhouse gets its name from Ohio-born businessman Samuel Wesley Fordyce. Fordyce fought for the Union in the Civil War. He contracted malaria during his service and it continued to ruin his health for years afterward. Finally, in 1873, he’d had enough. He came here to benefit from the healing powers of these hot springs.
This green-accented bathhouse is the Maurice, which opened for business in 1912. With a roof garden, therapeutic pool, and modern elevators, this was the most state-of-the-art facility around.
Today, it’s home to the only brewery located inside a national park and the only brewery in the entire world to use thermal spring water in their beer! For details on the brewery, click on Learn More.
Before Hot Springs’ golden age, this was a pretty nondescript service road. Turning it into a fancy Promenade was an attempt to connect the extravagant bathhouses with the wooded slopes of this mountain.
Another prominent feature of the park in the early 20th century was celebrities. That’s right: This little city in Arkansas was a great place to spot some stars. Especially baseball stars!
This is the first hospital in the entire country to treat both Army and Navy patients. The idea for the hospital started with Senator John Logan, who visited Hot Springs in 1882. He imagined a medical facility where veterans from multiple military branches could all receive effective, affordable treatment. And he believed that Hot Springs would be the ideal location.
When you reach the end of the Grand Promenade at Reserve Street, look for the small courtyard with the fountain. Walk over to the fountain and pause.
This is Noble Fountain, which is fed by a thermal spring. If you’d like, you can actually take a drink from this fountain!
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
- How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
- Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
- Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
- Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
- Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
- Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
- Please be advised that the remaining hours of this tour will be dedicated to travel time.
- Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
- CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour
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Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Not Included
- Foods & Drinks
Trending Hot Springs Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out
Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by Guide With Action.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at America/Chicago.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 4 Travelers is accepted for booking.
You’re not done yet! It’s time to set up the tour you purchased.
Follow these steps now, while in wifi/signal. Do NOT wait until your travel date or while onsite.
1. Find the tour setup instructions:
>> Email: search for the phrase “Your tour operator sent you a message” OR “Set up your Action Tour Guide self-guided tour now.” If it’s not in Inbox, check All Mail.
>> Viator App Messages: open the app, check Bookings, select View Voucher, and click on Contact Tour Operator
>> TripAdvisor App Messages:
open the app, check Account, select Messages
>> Text: check for a text from 415-980-4997
>> Can’t find it? Ask us to resend: https://actiontourguide.com/redeem/
2. Follow the set up instructions NOW, not later:
>> MUST do this before traveling to site. Requires WiFi/signal.
>> Do NOT wait until your travel date to access the tour for the first time. The tour is not tied to your travel date.
3. Not familiar with our self-guided audio tours? Watch this quick tutorial: https://actiontourguide.com/tutorial
⚠️ Important Note:
Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.
⚠️ CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.
Have a question – We’re here to help! For quick answers, visit the app’s FAQ section or our website at actiontourguide.com/faq. If you need further assistance, please call us at +1 508-484-8480, chat with us online, or email us at support@actiontourguide.com. We’re committed to providing you with the support you need every step of the way!