Helen is a region in the North Georgia Mountains, characterized by its position within the Blue Ridge Mountains and alongside the Chattahoochee National Forest. This area features a diverse landscape of rolling hills, dense forests, and significant waterways like the Chattahoochee River and numerous streams and waterfalls. The varied terrain provides a suitable environment for several outdoor sports like hiking, road cycling, and touring cycling.
For those seeking outdoor activities, Helen offers a wide array…
33
Routes
4.6
(36)
Average rating
545
People visited

4.8
(5)
19
hikers
14.8km
04:24
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(5)
19
hikers
14.8km
04:24
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
2.79km
00:45
30m
50m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
8.26km
02:16
140m
130m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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69
riders
65.4km
03:37
1,410m
1,410m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

23
riders
143km
07:38
2,530m
2,530m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

16
riders
80.8km
04:03
1,070m
1,070m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

2
riders
28.0km
01:23
310m
310m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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6
riders
71.1km
04:50
1,120m
1,120m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
49.1km
04:46
1,210m
1,210m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
35.0km
02:43
940m
940m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
94.5km
06:29
1,690m
1,690m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Helen, located in the North Georgia Mountains, offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, road cycling, and touring cycling. The region features more than 20 routes across these sports, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 2,000 visitors. It is recognized as Georgia's Official Outdoor Adventure Destination.
Helen provides access to diverse hiking trails within the Chattahoochee National Forest and Unicoi State Park. Notable trails lead to Anna Ruby Falls, Raven Cliff Falls, and Helton Creek Falls. For more options, explore the Hiking around Helen guide.
Yes, Helen offers several easy hiking options, including a paved 0.4-mile (0.6 km) trail to Anna Ruby Falls. Unicoi State Park also features easy lakeside walks. For a curated list of accessible routes, consult the Easy hikes around Helen guide.
The Ramble Trail is a popular 24.6-mile (39.6 km) loop for road cycling around Helen. Other routes include the Unicoi Lake loop and the challenging Helen to Steedly Mountain loop via Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. Find more routes in the Road Cycling Routes around Helen guide.
Helen is ideal for touring cycling, with routes like the Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Byway, a 40.64-mile (65.4 km) journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains. This byway offers scenic views and diverse terrain. The Cycling around Helen guide provides additional touring options.
Key natural attractions include Anna Ruby Falls, a twin waterfall accessible via a short paved trail. The region also features Unicoi Lake within Unicoi State Park, the Chattahoochee River, and other waterfalls like Raven Cliff Falls and Helton Creek Falls. Yonah Mountain is a prominent feature known for rock climbing.
Helen offers several family-friendly options, such as the accessible paved trail to Anna Ruby Falls. Unicoi State Park provides easy lakeside walks and opportunities for swimming, fishing, and paddling on Unicoi Lake. Tubing on the Chattahoochee River is also a popular activity during warmer months.
Unicoi State Park, located near Helen, encompasses 1,050 acres and features Unicoi Lake. The park offers various hiking trails, from easy lakeside paths to more challenging mountain climbs. It is a popular destination for swimming, fishing, paddling, and viewing fall foliage.
Yes, sections of the Appalachian Trail are accessible from the Helen area. Unicoi Gap provides direct access to the Appalachian Trail. The Andrews Cove Trail also serves as an access point to this long-distance hiking route.
Outdoor activities in Helen are popular on komoot, with more than 2,000 visitors having explored the region. The 22 available routes across various sports have received an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 145 ratings.
Official tourism information for Helen, Georgia, can be found on the Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau website. The official website is helenga.org. For general inquiries, the City of Helen can be reached at 706-878-2733.

