The Hidden Gem

09/01/2026

🥾 Looking for a hike with a view? Balanced Rock along Sunset Trail is just one of the beautiful places waiting to be explored around Hot Springs.

Come spend a few days exploring the trails, mountains and lakes, and make Hidden Gem your home base while you’re here. 🍂

The best reward for a hike? A view like this. 😍 Find Balanced Rock along the Sunset Trail in Hot Springs National Park and see why it's one of Arkansas' most iconic overlooks! 📸: on IG https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arkansas/balanced-rock-and-music-mountain-via-sunset-trail

09/01/2026

🍂 Southern Living named Hot Springs one of its 20 Must-Take Fall Trips Across the South, with Scenic Byway 7, the Ouachita Mountains and Ouachita National Forest all part of the appeal.

Read the article: https://www.southernliving.com/fall-trips-6527197

Planning a fall getaway? Make Hidden Gem your home base for exploring the Ouachitas. Check our availability and book your stay! 🍁

From outdoor adventure to quirky mountain towns, the South offers some of the best vacation destinations for an autumn trip. Read on for bucket-list fall destinations in the South.

08/27/2026

08/23/2026

Take your long weekend to the lake. Turtle Cove Spa is your peaceful hideaway for massages, facials, and stillness surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains. Book early — Labor Day fills fast.

08/23/2026

Download FREE Forest Service digital maps to find trails, campgrounds, and recreation areas near you.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/maps

08/13/2026

🔥 Notice of Burn Ban in Montgomery County

08/06/2026

Thousands of birds fly through Lake Ouachita State Park on their migration south every year, and now's your chance to see them up close!

Join park interpreters on a Bird Island Lake Tour to see the purple martins, egrets, herons, ibises and more that flock to Lake Ouachita this time of year. Stop by the Lake Ouachita State Park visitor center or call (501) 767-9366 to reserve your spot on the tour and lodging for the weekend! arkansas.com/state-parks/experiences/park-events/bird-island-tour

08/04/2026

Some adventures are better on two wheels. 🚵 Explore Arkansas' Diamond Lakes Region and discover why riders keep coming back for the trails, views and challenges waiting around every corner.

Ready to ride? Find even more mountain biking inspiration in the Hot Springs Vacation Guide.
https://diamondlakes.mydigitalpublication.com/2026-hot-springs-diamond-lakes-vacation-guide/page-62

05/14/2026

⛏️ Thinking about crystal digging during your Mount Ida stay? This article offers a fun look at rockhounding at Avatar Crystal Mine, one of several area quartz mines open to the public, and the kind of hands-on adventure that makes quartz hunting such a memorable part of the Mount Ida experience.

This Arkansas crystal mine lets visitors dig, sift, and search for glimmering quartz while soaking in red clay trails and Ouachita forest views.