If you have cabin fever this winter, Eureka Springs is the perfect place to escape the winter blues. When other small towns are in hibernation mode, this cozy mountain town is shining in a new light! Here are our top 10 things to do in the winter season in Eureka Springs.

Take a Hike

Most winters are mild in our little corner of Arkansas, making it the perfect destination to explore the great outdoors with no crowds.

The first destination on your list to go hiking has to be Lake Leatherwood. This 1,610-acre park includes an 85-acre spring fed lake with one of the largest hand-cut native limestone dams in the country. Lake Leatherwood is full of historic features such as a diving platform and pavilion, and several other park structures that were built in the early 1940’s by the WPA. Lake Leatherwood City Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an outdoor wonderland!

The second destination on your must hike list in Eureka Springs has to be Black Bass Lake. This park is just minutes from downtown and offers three unique trails; Standing Rock Trail, Bluff Trail, and Sycamore Spring Trail. These trails surround one of the oldest dams in the Ozarks built in 1894 and has a few unique rock formations on the trail.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking has become quite popular over the last few years and Eureka Springs offers trails for all levels of experience. Passion Play, Lake Leatherwood, and Black Bass Lake are incredible this time of the year.

Passion Play offers over 18 miles of mountain biking trails.
Lake Leatherwood offers 25 miles of trails.
Black Bass Lake offers shorter trails that loop, but they are just as thrilling with some steep spots at the beginning and end.

Relax

The Holiday season can be chaotic, take some time off to reset, reflect, and rejuvenate this new year. Eureka Springs offers an array of day spas, massage therapist, and even a Bath House!

• Spa 1905
• New Moon Spa
• Suchness Spa
• The Palace Hotel & Bath House
• Eureka Springs Massage Center
• Eureka! Massage & Wellness
• Traveling Hands Mobile Spa
• Focus Spa

Go Antiquing

Who doesn’t love a day full of antiquing! Eureka Springs has over 12 antique shops to explore. These shops are filled top to bottom with hidden treasures just waiting to be found!

• Eureka Springs Uniques, Antiques, and Collectables
• Highway 62 Antiques
• Wonderland Antiques
• The Barn Shoppes at the Old Sale Barn
• Eureka West Antiques Market
• Romi’s Vintage on Van Buren
• Secret Garden
• Blue Jar Antique Market
• Eureka’s Vintage & Outdoor
• Dust & Rust

Explore Downtown

There’s a common misconception that eureka springs is closed in the winter season, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Eureka Springs downtown is just as alive as it is in the Summer, but with less crowds giving you the opportunity to see explore more and see things you might have missed in the Summer busy season.

Party

You’re on vacation, might as well have a party!! Eureka springs is lined with bars and clubs that keep the party going all night long! Grab your friends and go bar hopping.

• Eureka Live
• Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge
• Legends Saloon
• Pied Piper Pub & Cathouse
• Voodoo Lounge
• Gravel Bar
• Rowdy Beaver Den
• Rowdy Beaver Tavern
• Chelsea’s
• Jack Rabbett’s Whisky Bar
•  Slane Tavern

Take a Ghost Tour

In eureka springs, spooky season is year around! Take a ghost tour and scare up a good time! Eureka offers several ghost hunting experiences.

Crescent Hotel Ghost Tour: If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the paranormal; stay the night in one of their haunted rooms, take a hair raising ghost tour, or brave the midnight paranormal investigation tour.

Walking Ghost Tour: In this tour, you’ll roam the streets of Eureka Springs at night, hear the haunting stories of Eureka’s past, and visit various spine-tingling locations on Spring Street and in the underground of Eureka Springs.

Catacomb Ghost Hunt: You will learn about the history of Eureka’s underground town as well as how to use Victorian and modern ghost hunting tools; including a FLIR camera, EMF detector, Spirit Box, pendulum, temperature gun, social ghost hunting app, etc.

Basin Park Hotel Paranormal Investigations: As you embark on this hair-raising investigation, you will learn the intricacies of ghost hunting, visit the most haunted rooms of the hotel, learn the history of Joe Parkhill and investigate the once illegal gambling parlor as well as the depths of the “cave” accessed privately by the newly discovered hidden doorway.

Events

We have a ton of events going on this winter season.

• Ozark Mountain Music Festival January 16-19th
• Eureka Springs Paranormal Weekend at the Crescent January 24-27th
• Marty Stuart LIVE at The Aud February 21st
• Eureka Springs Mardi Gras events throughout all February and March
• Robert Earl Keen LIVE at The Aud March 13th

Stay In

Eureka Springs is full of cozy cottages and cabins nestled in the woods. Get out of the hustle and bustle and unwind together. Click here to explore cozy places to stay.

Cozy Up

Cozy up in a coffee shop or diner with some good reads. There’s nothing more warming than staying in and diving into a new novel while indulging in a sweet treat!

• Mud Street Cafe & Annex
• Just Bee Coffee & Gotahold Brewing
• Eureka Daily Roast
• Brews
• Sugar & Crumb
• B Side Cafe
• Harold’s Diner
• So Good Kitchen
• Love Greens

We hope this guide helps you discover Year-Round Eureka! We look forward to seeing you soon!