National Historic Site · Arkansas, Oklahoma

Trails in Fort Smith National Historic Site

1 named trail · 2 miles · 1 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

1 trails, A to Z.

River Trail

0.5 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 30 ft of descent · 401 ft–435 ft · hiking

435 ft 418 ft · 0.5 mi high 435 ft

Explore the Parade Ground the Park Service's write-up

30-45 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Parade Ground

A grassy field with pathway that loops around a flagpole with radiating paths and brick buildings.
Aerial view of the Fort Smith Parade Ground. Photo: NPS Photo

For more than thirty years during the mid-1800’s, soldiers drilled on the large parade ground. Flanked by the Officers’ Quarters to the right and the enlisted men’s barracks on the left, the parade ground was the center of life at the fort.

The loop around the parade ground is one quarter of a mile. Surrounding the parade ground to the north is the Commissary, to the east is the Visitor Center (former barracks, courthouse, and jail building), to the south is the Gallows, and to the west are the Officers' Quarters and Garden.

Accessibility The loop around the parade ground is a cement sidewalk four feet wide. The loop is flat with an extimated slope and cross slope is less than 1%. Benches can be found at the north end at the Guardhouse and the Commissary and Frisco Overlook.

This hike on nps.gov

Walk the River Loop Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Gazebo

Cement sidewalk winding through trees. Green grass lines both sides of the walkway.
River Loop Trail in early spring. Photo: NPS

The mile long River Loop Trail is a cement sidewalk. Look for clues from the past at the foundation of the First Fort Smith. Stroll along the Poteau and Arkansas Rivers. Interpretive waysides and benches at located in various locations along the trail.

Accessibility Length: 1 mile Slope: Undulating with segments of 5% - 7%; steepest is 11% for 35 feet on the levee embankment. Cross slope: max 1% Surface material: Concrete Width: 5 feet There are multiple benches along the trail and interpretive waysides that can be viewed without blocking the sidewalk. The trail also crosses three active railroad tracks. Be alert for trains and the crossing are can be slippery and a possible trip hazard. No access to the river. No water or restrooms are located along the trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

34 more mapped segments without a name are on the map, not in the list.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.