Good Morning Gulpha Gorge

We’ve moved to the Hot Springs National Park campground at Gulpha Gorge and this morning at eight o’clock Matey and I set out to walk over the Hot Springs Mountain. Our first leg was up Gorge Trail from the campground. The morning sun was beautiful on the old stone steps that have been here for a hundred years.

I love the rocky folds of this mountainside.

At the top of the steep bank along Gulpha Creek I paused to take a picture of the campground, but the trees hide the valley.

The majority of our walk was along the Oertel Trail, a lovely wooded path that goes around the south end of the mountain.

These trails are well maintained. Here a huge tree fell across the trail, but had been cut and cleared from the path.

I was glad to see that besides clearing the trail they left this giant lay where it had fallen. Downed trees make great habitat for many small creatures and eventually add needed organic matter to the forest floor. Glad to see this great tree continue as part of the woods.

After about a mile and a half we started to see the city through the trees.

There are a lot of great old buildings in Hot Springs.

The end of the trail took us down to the Promenade behind Bath House Row.

This is a view I love.

The old Army and Navy Hospital looks over the south end of the Promenade not far from where Bud met us at the end of our two mile walk.

After a busy day of appointments and chores Matey and I got to sit out for a bit in this lovely little campground.