Sunset Trail
- 9.3 mi
- one way
- 1,827 ft
- climb
- 1,381 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Feb–May, Oct–Nov
- best months
Is Sunset Trail open right now?
No closures listed
The National Park Service lists no closures for Hot Springs National Park.
As of · Source: NPS · Hot Springs National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Sunset Trail is a 9.3-mile point-to-point hike in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, managed by the National Park Service. The trail rises from about 607 feet to a high point of 1,381 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,827 feet and a steady climb profile. The steepest stretch comes at about 6.7 miles, where the grade reaches 28%, and the route also drops about 1,665 feet over the course of the hike. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 75°F with lows near 52°F, and April runs similar at about 74°F by day and 51°F at night. The station sits roughly 755 feet below the trail, so expect temperatures on the higher ground to run cooler. The hike takes about four hours to complete. It begins close to several other trails, including Gulpha Gorge Trail about 0.1 mile away, Oertel Trail and Goat Rock Trail each about 0.2 mile away, and Hot Springs Mountain Trail about 0.9 mile away. Hot Springs National Park Gulpha Gorge Campground is about 1.8 miles off for an overnight stay.
Local outfitters
- River View Cabins & Canoes42 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Feb–May, Oct–Nov
Best time to visit Sunset Trail
Best months: February–May and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
52° / 32°
10 wet
Feb
56° / 35°
10 wet
Mar
65° / 42°
11 wet
Apr
74° / 51°
10 wet
May
80° / 60°
11 wet
Jun
88° / 68°
9 wet
Jul
93° / 72°
9 wet
Aug
93° / 71°
8 wet
Sep
86° / 64°
7 wet
Oct
75° / 52°
8 wet
Nov
63° / 42°
9 wet
Dec
53° / 35°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hot Springs 1 Nne, AR, 1.2 mi away at 626 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Oertel Trail
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1.40-mile point-to-point trail in Arkansas with 560 ft gain
Photo: Eric Friedebach, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Peak Trail
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1.12-mile out-and-back hike in Arkansas with 379 ft gain.
Photo: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Hunts Loop
~29 min drive
8.75-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 701 ft gain.
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Little Blakely - R R Loop
~21 min drive
5.40-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 737 ft gain.
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LAKE OUACHITA VISTA TRAIL
~31 min drive
1.92-mile out-and-back hike at Lake Ouachita with 5,565 ft elevation gain/loss
Photo: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Upper Dogwood Trail
Next door
1.98-mile out-and-back trail in Arkansas with 151 ft of elevation gain.
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Little Blakely - M H Loop
~22 min drive
7-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 919 ft of elevation gain.
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LITTLE BLAKELY - NORTH LOOP
~21 min drive
3.97-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 1,009 ft gain and 1,018 ft loss.
Photo: SlapTheWorld, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)Lower Dogwood Trail
~1 min drive
0.67-mile loop trail in Arkansas with 127 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
BEAR CREEK EQUESTRIAN TRAIL
~30 min drive
11.24-mile out-and-back equestrian trail in Arkansas with 1,874 ft elevation gain
Route details
- Distance
- 9.3 mi
- Climbing
- About 1,827 ft
- Summit
- 1,420 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 4 hours
Questions about this route
How long is the Sunset Trail on West Mountain?
About 9.3 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Sunset Trail?
About 1,827 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Sunset Trail?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Sunset Trail take?
About 4 hours round trip.
Conditions and forecast on West Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
