Ep. 162: Hot Springs National Park | Arkansas RV travel camping

Hot Springs National Park is unique in our country's National Park system in that it focuses on the preservation of some urban structures, yet it includes some beautiful natural areas as well. It is centered around Bath House Row, currently consisting of eight bathhouse buildings that were constructed between 1892 and 1923, the grandest collection of bathhouses of its kind in North America.
The hot spring water that tumbles from a number of springs lining the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain has for centuries been believed to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes who referred to the area as the "Valley of the Vapors" at the time of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's arrival in the area in 1541 as the first known European to see the springs.
Over time the National Park has acquired natural land adjacent to Bath House Row to expand into more natural areas, and to preserve the quality of the water emanating from the springs. To the east the park encompasses Hot Springs Mountain, and to the west it includes West Mountain. Both are criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails and winding tree-lined roadways.
The Ouachita Mountains straddle western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. Hot Springs sits on the range's southern edge. Northwest of town and within the mountains, and completely surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, Lake Ouachita is the largest lake entirely within Arkansas, with over 690 miles of shoreline.
Lake Ouachita was formed when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Bagnell Dam on the Ouachita River. Further downstream the river flows into Lake Hamilton in suburban Hot Springs, contributing to the city's tourism industry. Much of the lake is surrounded with resorts, restaurants, and motels. Parasailing, boating, fishing, and waterskiing are popular on Lake Hamilton.
We stay at the Hot Springs National Park KOA while exploring some of the sights and sounds of the Hot Springs area.
Filmed: July 4-11, 2020
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:55 Bath House Row
4:24 Hot Springs Mountain Tower
6:08 Lake Ouachita
7:09 Lake Hamilton
9:06 Gulpha Gorge Campground
9:49 Hot Springs National Park KOA
10:48 Wrap-up
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* Hot Springs National Park www.nps.gov/hosp
* Hot Springs National Park KOA koa.com/campgrounds/hot-spring...
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Welcome to Grand Adventure, a KZbin channel that focuses on RV-centric outdoor activities including not only of course camping, but also mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, skiing and more, always filmed in stunning 4K.
We're based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and invite you to come along as we travel all around the western U.S. My wife Patricia and I, and dog Zoe are avid boondockers, so you'll seldom find us in RV parks or even dry campgrounds. Instead, we're usually camped in some of the most remote and beautiful spots that you could ever pull a travel trailer into. And unlike most other RV channels on KZbin, we're not RV dealers or full-timers -- we're "long-timers" who tend to hit the road for weeks or months at a time, while maintaining a sticks-and-bricks home in Utah.
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[@williamlevenson5607]

Thanks for the video. Grand Adventure is becoming habit-forming. More ideas for my bucket list.

[@GrandAdventure]

There are far worse habits to have, William! Thank you so much.

[@williamlevenson5607]

Amen.

[@jandjutube]

Thank you for showing the campgrounds! Good video.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Joyce, glad that you enjoyed!

[@e-square9976]

👍👍👍👍👍👍Best night of the week for RVers and wannabes!

[@GrandAdventure]

Love ya @E-Squared, thank you!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

had a great couple of days at the Hot Springs area.

[@GrandAdventure]

Us too!

[@williamscruggs1785]

I live in Little Rock and have stayed Gulpha Gorge. Thank you for portraying the area so WELL. Have been following you since your first videos. Again thanks. Bill&Gale

[@GrandAdventure]

Appreciate that so much Bill and Gale, thank you! Gulpha Gorge was a "gorgeous" campground. (Yes, we really did just say that. 😎)

[@rving51]

That's great,thanks👍

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you!

[@935frank]

Thank you for another great video

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks for watching another one Frank!

[@thaddavis8426]

Nice video ! Thanks very informational ! going to put Hot Spring on our to go list.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Thad! Glad that you enjoyed.

[@brianlutz2109]

Enjoy the video and first time watching.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Brian! We'd love to count you as a subscriber.

[@TheDionysius57]

Thank you....I had no idea about this area👍

[@GrandAdventure]

Happy to help!

[@daviscrt]

Great video like always. Thank you

[@GrandAdventure]

And Don, thank you like always!

[@LovingLifeHitchedUp]

Glad we met on FB. Hot springs is at the top of our list. Thanks for the video. Subbed and hit bell.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thrilled to have you along LLHU, thanks so much!

[@tinamck28]

Great! Thank you!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always Tina!

[@karlafonseca9750]

Good info. Great quality!!👍

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Karla!

[@sh-df1bb]

love your videos brother

[@GrandAdventure]

And we love our viewers, thank you very much!

[@joyces3550]

Nice!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Joyce!

[@cribbage1686]

Another good video.

[@GrandAdventure]

And another welcome comment, thank you Ron!

[@oddopops1327]

👍👍😊

[@phillipgraves4721]

Great video.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Phillip, and thanks for watching!

[@kristiejacobs4854]

Great video! Hope enjoyed your drive through the UP.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Kristie! What we saw yesterday we saw at 70 mph, but we'll be heading to another part of the UP beginning this weekend.

[@sharonb5965]

Lots of fracking in that beautiful state with lots of earthquakes. Hot springs sounds delicious. Another great video

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always Sharon!

[@SevenBears1]

Wednesday already ? That's a good thing !

[@GrandAdventure]

Imagine how quickly they sneak up on us. 😁

[@SevenBears1]

@@GrandAdventure yes.. having fun, traveling, working plus everyday chores. I can imagine.. Did you get my last message on live chat ?

[@GrandAdventure]

@@SevenBears1 I did, guess you didn't see the reply. It's there in the chat history, but was something on the order of, "We look forward to that day."

[@SevenBears1]

@@GrandAdventure The people I respect most are hard working ,honest, open and friendly. I find that with GA.

[@kennethlee3756]

Well, we are becoming one of your great fans. We set down today and watched everyone of your weekly shows. Pretty impressive. We haven’t been much of a dry camping couple but we might try it in the future. Keep on what you are doing.

[@WanderingCarl]

Welcome to Arkansas Mark. I hope you got a chance to dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Carl! We had only one stop in Arkansas this season, heading north from there. We look forward to visiting many of the other things that the state offers an RV traveler in future seasons.

[@garyjordan299]

Marc, you are close to my neck of the woods. Again, a FANTASTIC video! Keep safe!

[@GrandAdventure]

Again a FANTASTIC comment Gary, thank you!

[@garymann5998]

Great video, bath house row looks really unique, great views from the tower, the lakes look enjoyable, might go to hot springs someday now..nice koa too., travel safe you two.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always Gary!

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

As always, love the history. That steam looks awesome. How did they decide to split the area? Very strange. It’s so great that areas are being preserved. So much green on those mountains ❤️ Beautiful. I’m come to love lakes since visiting the Ontario area. But I don’t like motor boats. Oh man. You got to see fireworks? All canceled where we were. First come first serve makes me too anxious. We don’t use amenities except laundry so we try to avoid pricey private parks but sometimes that’s all you can get. Thanks for a great look at an area with hot springs. I’ve never been to a hot spring. Very cool. Alice

[@GrandAdventure]

It really is peculiar, Alice, but it makes for a unique experience. We enjoyed the fireworks immensely -- up until the past 4 states (IL/WI/MI/MN) we planned our summer around the states with the fewest COVID restrictions. We've been a bit frustrated with the rules imposed in these past 4 states, but tomorrow we cross into North Dakota and we should be free of many of those regulations. You've never been to a hot spring??? Let us know when you make it out west and we'll point you to some amazing ones -- not concrete-lined pools or indoor baths like in this video, but just little handmade rock enclosures to contain a pool of hot water in the middle of nowhere to soak at the end of a hike. One of our favorites was Pine Flats in Idaho, which we included in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6aroq2YYs5-qJI As for first-come, first-served -- we don't have any reservations for Labor Day weekend. So we're hitting the road tomorrow evening to a FCFS town park that's about as far from anything interesting that I can find on a map. I'm hoping that strategy works.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Grand Adventure You sound like you have a great strategy. I can’t wait to go out west. I would love to get a natural hot spring. It’s probably like the difference between the natural cool springs in Florida vs the concrete giant “pools”. After Canada, it’s back to Florida and Larry back to work. We aren’t sure about 2021 yet. I am sick of going to places like welcome centers and museums and their closed. Last just fast forward to non Covid days. 😫 Alice

[@GrandAdventure]

@@DownsizingMakesCents The Florida Springs comparison is an appropriate one. We hear you on the COVID-19 closures, and wishing you safe travels back to Florida!

[@stuwardw]

Wow! Definitely need to check this park and area out. Great video as always, thanks Marc!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always, Stu!

[@OurNationalAdventure]

We were here this last winter, even stayed at that koa! What an interesting spot! Great coverage on hot springs. We were talking about how this is kind of the first "national park" because of the designation...but what a very very different park. Interesting architecture on the row and interesting history. We loved that the locals filled up water bottles with the spring water.

[@GrandAdventure]

It was certainly unique among the National Parks that we've visited. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@OurNationalAdventure]

@@GrandAdventure I enjoy open nature parks most. But this does have its place in water preservation ♡

[@GrandAdventure]

@@OurNationalAdventure we feel the same way. It's also rather special the way that they've preserved the unique structures along Bath House Row.

[@scottadamson890]

Another great video, thank you.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Scott! We sincerely appreciate you.

[@csjmoore]

Yea for the one lady that had a mask on! I have always wanted to stay in HS in our RV - somehow we always pass it by in the rush to get to our sons house in TX. This may be the year but I think more realistically it will be next year.

[@kimsargeant8126]

Charles Moore let’s hope next year is safer for sure.

[@GrandAdventure]

Times are indeed strange. At least hopefully next year you'll be able to enter the bath houses.

[@spellmadam2947]

This was great. I recently discovered through ancestry DNA that I have a half sister I never knew about!!! She lives in AR only four hours from this park. It's now on the bucket list. Thank you for the great info on this park.

[@GrandAdventure]

That's really cool Spell Madam! You're most welcome.

[@rexcarlson3464]

Very educational. The fireworks looked like my street

[@GrandAdventure]

LOL! Just about any suburban Salt Lake street on 7/4 or 7/24 (or two weeks on either side of either one of those dates).

[@ronaldmitchell3124]

Very good video.Thank you. I just found your channel and it is great

[@GrandAdventure]

Welcome Ronald! Thank you, and we're very happy that you've found us.

[@marianfrances4959]

Always Amazing! Thank you so much!😉👍🇨🇦 p.s. watch out for those stripping bears!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always Marian! Your comment got me to thinking, and while I couldn't find a bear we did find a duck: tenor.com/view/sexy-stripping-daffy-duck-gif-13363870

[@jaywilliams415]

My Hometown! As always, a great production! One minor detail...you mentioned Bagnell Dam was what formed the Lake Oachita, it was Blakely Dam! ;)

[@GrandAdventure]

Oh no! Bagnell Dam was Lake of the Ozarks IIRC. Oh well, it wouldn't be an episode of GA if we didn't screw something up. 😂

[@gorrdd]

Marc, Another great adventure! I was surprised you didn't cover the Gangster Museum of America along Bathhouse Row. Given that Bathhouses are traditionally magnets for unsavory company, it's not surprising that the Gangster Museum is located there. I didn't look like any of the RV parks you reviewed were able to handle the big rigs. Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

Gord, surprisingly the Gulpha Gorge Campground in the National Park would be more big rig-friendly than the KOA, which nevertheless had a few deluxe 50A pull-through spots that had large 3-axle Class A rigs pulling toads. As usual, we were in the cheap seats. We saw Gangster Museum, but may have mistakenly judged it by the nearby wax museum, etc. that looked like nothing but tourist traps. We did read up on the history of Al Capone and others gathering at places like the Ohio Club in town. In retrospect, we probably should have included that in the filming and editing.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Cool... I glad you didn't miss it completely. Thanks for the heads-up with the Gulpha Gorge Campground.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Yeah... if they want an arm and a leg to enter, it's not much fun. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

[@MIKE-D158]

Grand Adventure glad you enjoyed your visit in Hot Springs and skipped the wax museum. It is a waste of time and money. I did it with a family member visiting here a year or two ago and with exceptions of a few new items “Slick Willie” it was still the unrealistic wax figures from when we visited as a kid in the 1970s. Nostalgia at best. Safe travels Sir.

[@williamscruggs1785]

I have stayed at Gulpha Gorge. My wife and I have 40ft DP and pull a Single axle trailer for H-D. We had to put the trailer beside us but was not a problem.

[@DavidSmith-bt5wq]

You now need reservations at the National Park Campground.

[@GrandAdventure]

A similar change has swept across many federal campgrounds. Thanks for letting us know!

[@benbarnes2819]

Another great video. I think it would have to be on a fall foliage trip list. We stayed at Bella Vista a few years ago, wonderful area. Be safe and thanks for the video.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks as always Ben! It would certainly be a beautiful place to visit in the autumn.

[@WILDEBILL308]

Glad you liked Hot Springs. Great video. Brought back lots of memories. Just a suggestion, if you get to LR look for the

[@GrandAdventure]

It will forever be a mystery! 😄 No Little Rock this trip, but passing through it looked appealing, we'll put it on a future itinerary.

[@davidgadbury1832]

You're a couple of hours from us. We recently bought our new TT in Hot Springs. Enjoy your stay.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you David! We're now actually up in northern Wisconsin, as our videos are a few weeks behind real time. But we certainly enjoyed our visit.

[@DirtyShoesAdventures]

Great views! I've only been to Hot Springs once and really wanted to go back and rent a pontoon boat. Just haven't had the chance to yet.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you DSA! We had the same idea. We tried to do so at our next stop at Table Rock Lake, outside of Branson, MO (next week's episode) but they were booked out 3 weeks. Maybe at an upcoming stop a few weeks out at a state park on an island in North Dakota.

[@TomSpurlock]

Nice one Marc. We'll be going to Hot Springs NP next year in May, at the end of our SouthEast tour. My brother lives near Fayetteville, AR, Northwest of Hot Springs. We'll be leaving our rig at his house a few months, fly home to Calif for the summer, then we return to pick up the RV to travel New England in the Fall. I appreciate the tips on the NP (no reservations). Maybe we'll do KOA.

[@GrandAdventure]

That sounds like such a wonderful plan, Tom! Happy that we could help.

[@amytilghman]

We love to fish lake Quachita and catch big catfish there. We live in Heber Springs and need to swing by at JFK Park where JFK made his last speech before heading to Dallas to add to your collection.

[@GrandAdventure]

That would've been a terrific stop Amy! Alas, we're now up in Wisconsin but we love it when viewers send us these wonderful little tidbits.

[@luannkelly5071]

Hello Marc, I am heading over to the Hot Springs, AR area and wondering if you did any boondocking nearby over there. I have three dogs, so most RV parks are not an option for me. occassionally one will sneak me in. Thank you so much. This is my go to channel for great areas to boondock.

[@GrandAdventure]

Luann, thank you for that! Honestly we didn't look for boondocking there but perhaps there's something in the nearby National Forest? I'd consult the USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map for that Forest. I do know that there are National Forest campgrounds that wouldn't have those dog restrictions. Have a wonderful trip!

[@arkansastraveler7698]

Usually get down there every spring, but didn't make it this year because of the virus.

[@GrandAdventure]

Understandable. A lot of folks stayed home this spring, but you wouldn't know it from the campgrounds we've been in.

[@josephpessotti3876]

What you missed the Buffalo National River ? I start my spring road trips paddling the river. Free free free. ST. Joe, AK

[@GrandAdventure]

We got a good look at it as we were traveling north from Hot Springs to our next episode at Table Rock Lake. The river was mobbed when we saw it, but it certainly looks beautiful.

[@joen7609]

Actually, St. Joe, AK, would be in Alaska. The Buffalo River runs by St. Joe, AR (Arkansas). It’s a common mistake to confuse the abbreviations of Alaska and Arkansas.

[@laughingram7287]

Did you and the Mrs. try out any of the mineral baths there? We have some near us in Calistoga. We are looking forward to your next week episode in Branson. We are aiming to be there during the last week of this month. This KOA looked a little “tight”. You forgot to slip the manager the $20. 😉 Thanks Marc

[@GrandAdventure]

Great to hear from you as always, Ram! Yeah, it was definitely tight, although the way our site was on an angle and our neighbor's was straight, we had a "wedge" shaped patio yard that gave us more space than many others had. The mineral baths were all closed for COVID, so we had no opportunity to sample them. We LOVED Table Rock Lake outside of Branson, and this Wednesday night you'll understand why.

[@laughingram7287]

You know something Marc, I miss those times when I was trying to catch up on your videos. I could watch a couple at a time, a few times a week. Now I have to wait a whole week to watch only a twelve minute video....sigh....😞 Okay....I will be thankful for what I have....Thank you Marc for consistently putting out great videos! 👍🏼👍🏽

[@GrandAdventure]

@@laughingram7287 LOL! Yeah, last week's was a short one, but I promise you a longer one this Wednesday.

[@MTravelVlog]

Great channel. Please Make More.⭐️ Greetings from Albania. 👋🏼 🇦🇱 Also, Let’s build each other Up. 🤝

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you!

[@scenicdriveways6708]

As usual another great video Marc. Enjoyed the fireworks. Hope you didn't lose to much $$ at that strip club. LOL ( joking of course ). JT & Jo-Ann

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks as always John!

[@SevenBears1]

Did you meet anyone that pronounced it ArKansas. We are from Kansas so we called it Ark or ArKansas

[@GrandAdventure]

Not yet, but I'm sure we'll bump into someone at some point.

[@sharonb5965]

OOPs so sorry its Oklahoma not Arkansas.

[@GrandAdventure]

No worries. Next state over. 😉