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Hot Springs National ParkGulpha Gorge Campground in the spring with redbud and dogwood trees blooming.
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Hot Springs National Park
Dead Chief Trail
Photo of Dead Chief trailhead sign made of dark brown metal with gold lettering and map of the trail

From the Dead Chief Trailhead at the Army-Bavy gate above the Stevens Balustrade, this trail intersects with the Gulpha Gorge Trail for the easiest walk (1.6 miles) from Bathhouse Row to the park campground at Gulpha Gorge. At first, the route is quite steep, then the trail levels off and continues across the south slope of Hot Springs Mountain towards Gulpha Gorge.

The historic Oertel Fitness Trail, completed in 1915, once followed what is now the west end of Dead Chief Trail. The portion of Dead Chief Trail below the Shortcut Trail intersection was part of the Red Trail, the most strenuous of the Oertel system's exercise program.

Choose another trail.

 

Read more about the Oertel System of Graduated Exercise in this .pdf page.

 

 
Red aerial map of the Dead Chief Trail in Hot Springs National Park
 
black and white photo of Rector's bathhouse, a small one story frame building near the edge of Hot Springs Creek  

Did You Know?
In May 1862, Arkansas Governor Henry Massie Rector moved the state government to his hotel and bathhouse located on Hot Springs Reservation, now Hot Springs National Park. That July, the government seat was moved further south to Old Washington for the remainder of the Civil War.

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Last Updated: February 27, 2008 at 15:09 EST