Hot Springs: Grand Promenade – 1 mi (o&b)

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade, Hot Springs National Park

The Grand Promenade is an awesome half-mile brick walking path in Hot Springs National Park. Running north-south, it is parallel to (and behind) the historic Bathhouse Row.

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Fountain on the Grand Promenade, near the north (Fountain Street) end

Construction of the Promenade began in the 1930’s as a Public Works Administration project. It was completed in 1957.

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
South (Reserve Street) entrance to Grand Promenade

Aside from a bit of uphill climbing at the ends, the walk is very easy and quite scenic.

You can start the walkway from either end. At the south end (Reserve Street), there are some nice views of the Arkansas Career Training Institute (formerly Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center). The building was originally constructed in the 1930’s as an army hospital.

The north end of the Promenade is adjacent to the Arlington Hotel, also built in the 1930’s.

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Steps on south end of Grand Promenade

There also is an entrance to the Promenade from Bathhouse Row on Central Avenue. It is between Maurice Bathhouse and the national park visitor center at Fordyce Bathhouse.

Also around the middle of the Promenade is an open hot spring that you can see up close.

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade, Hot Springs National Park

These photos are from my recent walk on the Promenade on November 21. There was some very nice fall foliage that morning.

Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Arkansas Career Training Institute (formerly Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center) and the Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Panoramic shot of Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Middle section of the Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
An open hot spring on the Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade, Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade. The Arlington Hotel, built in 1924 is to the left.
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
The tree-lined north end of the Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
The north (Fountain Street) end of the Grand Promenade. This end is next to the Arlington Hotel.
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
Grand Promenade, Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs: Grand Promenade - 1 mi (o&b) photo
National Park Service pdf map of Grand Promenade and nearby Hot Springs trails.

Photo Gallery

Click below for full-screen photo gallery.


Hot Springs: Grand Promenade

LocationHot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
Length/Type1 mile brick walk (half-mile each way)
DifficultyEasy (1 of 5)
Date HikedWalked on November 21, 2015 and earlier
Google Maps Directions LinkCLICK - Google Maps Directions to South entrance (Reserve Street) to Grand Promenade
Official Info (501) 620-6715 (Hot Springs National Park (U.S. National Park Service)) NPS Website Official NPS Trail Map (pdf)

[Last revised: 8-29-2021.]

By Mike Newman

Mike Newman, editor and creator of Arklahoma Hiker, likes to day hike and walk outdoors in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

4 replies on “Hot Springs: Grand Promenade – 1 mi (o&b)”

The small walkway that can be accessed to the Grand Promenade is between the Hot Springs Visitor Center at Fordyce bath house and the Maurice bath house. It is also wheelchair accessible via a ramp to the right, behind the Fordyce.

I am seriously interested in your source of information regarding the Public Works Administration project building the Promenade. I sort of grew up knowing this, but am having a hard time trying to find a quotable source for the info. Thanks!

What do you think? (Leave a comment.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.