WEST MOUNTAIN / HSNP

Hot Springs National Park

    West Mountain is in Hot Springs National Park, on the west side of Central Avenue.  Four trails (West Mountain Trail, Canyon Trail, Oak Trail. and Mountain Top Trail) can be combined in various ways to provide a variety of 4 to 5 mile hikes.  Most of these include at least one good climb, but not of long duration.  The top of West Mountain provides a wonderful overlook with views of Hot Springs.  The mountain is also one terminus of the Sunset Trail, which encircles the national park (see separate listing).

 

    Planning notes:  

Climb from Whittington to top of West Mt is pretty steep, but only about ½ mile.  There are lots of "drop out points" in these hikes, making it good for various ability levels.  This hike is good all year:  Winter (leaf-off views); spring (flowers); fall (colors).

    Access Notes: 

West Mountain Trail runs across the mountain with trailheads at the bottom on Whittington Ave (near West Mt Summit Drive) and Prospect (near West Mountain Drive).  Oak Trail trailhead is on Exchange St, a block off Central on Mountain Road.  Canyon Trail trailhead is off Central Ave. behind Mt Valley Water Company.

    For additional info:

HSNP trails brochures are available at the Visitor's Center.  A more detailed trail map of West Mountain is available if you ask.

Tim Ernst "Arkansas Hiking Trails" includes these trails on his map of the Sunset Trail (p. 150).

 Club members Barry Richardson and John Cramm know these trails well.

 

Recent Hikes:

    Nov 8, 2003    Leader:  Barry Richardson                     15 Hikers           OMH schedule

Route:   Whittington TH; loop counter-clockwise Mountain Top Trail to West Mountain Trail to Oak Trail to Canyon Trail to W Mtn Trail.

            4.x miles                      Difficulty Rating 3             Scenic Rating 2

            sss: View of Hot Springs from overlook

             First cool hiking weather of season; gray cloudy day (about 50)

 

    Sept 11, 2004  Leader:  John Cramm                           21 Hikers        OMH Saturday

Route:   Whittington TH to Sunset trail; around radio towers; back to West Mountain Trail; Oak Trail; back up Canyon Trail to West Mt Trail and back to TH

            5.0 miles                      Difficulty Rating 3             Scenic Rating 3

            sss: views from Sunset Trail near towers; lots of yellow trumpet flowers.

            Lot of new folks; nice morning; new route for West Mt.

 

Oct 2, 2004    Leader:  Don Baggett Jim Gifford                Hikers         OMH Special Event

Route:   Volksmarch 2004 / did this hike twice this date

            3.4 miles                      Difficulty Rating 3             Scenic Rating 3

            sss: overlook

Don led morning hike with 22 hikers (about half OMH). Jim led afternoon hike with 10 hikers (5 OMH)

 

    Mar 12, 2005   Leader:  John Cramm                           11 Hikers        OMH Saturday

Route:   Black Snake Road TH to West Mountain via Sunset Trail (2.9 miles).  Took a right onto  Mountain Top Trail (1 mile); Left turn onto West Mountain Trail and loop back to right turn on Mountain Top Trail to Whittington Springs.

            5.0 miles                      Difficulty Rating 3             Scenic Rating 3

Great day into the 80s with wind to keep us cool.  Being only 11 hikers, we stayed  together except at the Towers side trail.  Jim led a side trip for a group of eight who wanted to go by the radio towers. Unfortunately not many flowers were out.

             Everyone said they had a good time.