Gulpha Gorge Campground at Hot Springs National Park has grown too popular for "first come, first serve."
Reservations will be required beginning Feb. 1, the National Park Service announced in a Jan. 25 press release.
Hot Springs National Park will begin accepting reservations Feb. 1 for all 40 sites at Gulpha Gorge, the release stated. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov on the park’s camping page, or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
"The Gulpha Gorge Campground has been a first come, first served campground since 1924, but with the continued increase of RV camping in the past several years, the campground often fills up by 10 a.m.," the park service said.
This flood of visitors often leaves several campers feeling anxious and scrambling to find another campsite nearby, the NPS added. Updating the campground to a reservation system will allow visitors to make reservations in advance and provide peace of mind for travelers knowing they will have a campsite when they arrive, the release stated.
All 40 campsites at Gulpha Gorge have full hookups, as well as 30- and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections, according to the park service.
Each campsite also has a picnic table, pedestal grill, and water, according to the NPS. Maximum occupancy is limited to eight people and two vehicles (one RV and one tent or two tents) per site.
Camping in Gulpha Gorge Campground is also limited to a maximum of 14 consecutive days and no more than 30 days in any calendar year. Each 14-day consecutive stay must be followed by a minimum of a seven-day break, the release stated.
Hot Springs was established as a federal reservation in 1832 to "protect the unique geothermal spring water and associated lands for public health, wellness, and enjoyment," the park service said.
It became a national park in 1921.
