Dead Chief Trail
The 1.4-mile one-way Dead Chief Trail has its trailhead at the Army-Navy Hospital gate above the Stevens Balustrade.
Plan Around Dead Chief Trail
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Dead Chief Trail Details
The 1.4-mile one-way Dead Chief Trail has its trailhead at the Army-Navy Hospital gate above the Stevens Balustrade. From there, it eventually intersects with Gulpha Gorge Trail for the easiest walk (1.6 miles total) from Bathhouse Row to the park campground. The trail, which is quite steep at first, soon levels off and follows the contour of Hot Springs Mountain toward Gulpha Gorge. Running concurrently with the west end of the Dead Chief Trail is the historic Oertel Fitness Trail. The graduated exercise trail system was created in 1915 by Dr. Max Oertel, based on similar German exercise trails.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
1.4 miles
Estimated time
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Dead Chief Trail
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Dead Chief Trail
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Tufa Terrace Trail
The short .2-mile Tufa Terrace Trail begins above the Grand Promenade at Stevens Balustrade.
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Stevens Balustrade
The original main entrance to Hot Springs Reservation, as it was called from 1832 until 1922, was between the Maurice and Fordyce bathhouses directly below the Stevens Balustrade.
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Carriage Road
This former carriage road, now a gravel path, once delivered excursion parties entering through the Army-Navy grounds to the summit of Hot Springs Mountain.
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Hot Springs National Park
The hot springs in Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains were used for their healing powers for centuries by Native Americans before Congress protected them in 1832, making this one of the oldest, albeit smallest, parks in the federal system.
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Maurice Bathhouse
The Maurice Bathhouse opened for business on Jan. 1, 1912, the first facility offering a more luxurious bathhouse experience.
