What are some pet-friendly things to do in Hot Springs? We have your answers.

Hike to a waterfall, a mountain vista, or a brewery! The Ouachita Mountains surrounding Hot Springs are home to hundreds of miles of trails that lead to some pretty spectacular places. In addition to the National Park, Hot Springs borders the Ouachita National Forest and has multiple state parks in its vicinity. Dogs are allowed on all 26 miles of trails in Hot Springs National Park, and there are trails leading in and out of downtown. I like to start at the Fountain Trailhead and hike over North Mountain to the Gulpha Gorge Campground. There you and your pooch can rest and cool off with a dip in the creek. After hiking back, enjoy a bite to eat or a frosty beer at one of downtown’s dog-friendly restaurants. It’s a little over three miles roundtrip, depending on your route. Trails are well marked, and a map is available here.

Downtown boasts a variety of restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor patios and beer gardens. Take your pick from Grateful Head Pizza Oven and Beer Garden, Rolando's Restaurante, or Steinhaus Keller. And be sure to visit Superior Bathhouse Brewery. It is the first brewery headquartered in a U.S. national park and the world’s first brewery to use thermal spring water as its main ingredient. Besides the delicious beers on tap, Superior serves homemade root beer and delicious farm-to-table-fare using locally sourced ingredients. Best of all, dogs are permitted inside! There is also dining outside on the grassy lawn.

Let your dog enjoy some off-leash playtime at the Hot Springs Bark Park. Open year-round from dawn to dusk; the park has separate sections for large and small dogs, plus agility equipment, bag dispensers, benches, and even an antique fire hydrant. The dog park is adjacent to Hollywood Park, a nicely shaded city park. Both are located along the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, a scenic paved path that stretches 2.7 miles from the Hot Springs Transportation Depot downtown to its current termination, just past Golf Links Road. In addition to the Bark Park, the trail passes by a sculpture garden, the farmers market pavilion, a skate park and the Majestic Park baseball complex.