Helen, Georgia is a small town hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia that is modeled after Bavarian villages in Germany.
Did you know that you can get a glimpse of Germany in north Georgia? Helen, is a small mountain town that mirrors the Bavarian style of Germany’s alpine villages. Here you’ll find German food, architecture, and activities. These are mixed in with American favorites as well so there’s something for everyone. Keep reading to learn more about the town of Helen, things to do during your visit, and my own experience here.
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How Did Helen, the Georgia Alpine Village, Begin?
Helen, Georgia wasn’t always an alpine village. It used to just be like any other Blue Ridge Mountain Town. Sharing in the history of native Americans, gold minders, and lumber seekers. And like most of these small towns, things began to change in the 1960’s. Most towns had to find new ways to reinvent themselves in order to survive. For Helen, that reinvention was like nothing you’d expect.
In the late 1960s, prominent business owners of Helen gathered together to discuss what the future of Helen would be. They knew they needed to do something nobody else had in order to encourage tourism and help their dying economy. This is when they asked an artist friend, John Kollock, for help. John saw the landscape of this mountain town and was reminded of his time in Germany when he was in the military. Using Germany as an inspiration, John sketched Bavarian style buildings to reinvent the town. Everyone loved the idea and so that’s when the town began its alpine village transformation.
Since then, many renovations and additions have been made through the years. Today, Helen, GA is a well-known destination in the south. From summertime river tubing to Christmas lights throughout the town, Helen welcomes almost 2 million people every year.
Things to Do in Helen, GA
Helen, Georgia has a plethora of things to do. It’s perfect for the outdoor explorer with many nearby hikes that feature waterfalls or mountain top views. It’s perfect for families looking for some fun in the alpine village. It’s perfect for the thrill adventurer with river tubing and zip line courses. It’s perfect for those looking to experience a German-like town without having to fly overseas. There’s so much to do here, so I’ve narrowed down some outdoor and adventurous options to get you started on planning your own trip to Helen, GA.
Outdoor Exploring in Helen, GA
Anna Ruby Falls
- Location: Anna Ruby Falls Trailhead
- Distance from Helen: 15 minute drive from downtown
- Fee: entry fee required
- Length: 1 mile round trip
Anna Ruby Falls is probably the most popular waterfall in this area. Located very close to downtown and showcasing two waterfalls that divulge into one creek at the bottom, make this a trip highlight. Tickets are required to visit so plan accordingly. They are open from 9am-5pm every day, but they don’t sell tickets after 4pm. The hike to the waterfall is 1 mile round trip along a paved trail, but going to the waterfall is uphill and might be challenging for some. At the beginning of the trail is a visitor’s center with restrooms inside.
Dukes Creek Falls
- Location: Dukes Creek Falls Trailhead
- Distance from Helen: 11 minute drive from downtown
- Fee: entry fee required
- Length: 2 miles round trip
Dukes Creek Falls features various small cascades along the hike to the Dukes Creek Falls which is 300-feet tall. The hike is overall 2 miles roundtrip and requires hiking down to the falls, but back uphill to return to the parking lot. There is a fee to hike here and there are pit toilets by the parking lot.
Raven Cliffs Falls
- Location: Raven Cliffs Falls Trailhead
- Distance from Helen: 12 minute drive from downtown
- Fee: Entry fee required
- Length: 6 miles round trip
The hike to Raven Cliff Falls is 3 miles long, making it more of a full-day hike. Depending on the weather, there may also be necessary wet creek crossings. Raven Cliff Falls is unique in that the 60-foot waterfall comes out from behind boulders, making the long hike worthwhile to see this waterfall. If you’re an avid hiker, you might be able to add this hike on to Duke Creek Falls as the trailhead is just up the road from it. Again, there is a fee required to hike here and there are pit toilets by the parking lot.
DeSoto Falls
- Location: DeSoto Falls Trailhead
- Distance from Helen: 30 minute drive from downtown (good for on the way from Chatt)
- Fee: Entry fee required
- Length: 2 miles round trip
DeSoto Falls is actually two hikes to an upper and lower falls. In order to see both waterfalls, it’ll be around a 2 mile hike, with inclines for both waterfall trails. Due to its location, it’s not the closest to Helen, but it’s right on the way from Chattanooga, making it the perfect hike to explore while traveling to Helen. Again, there is a fee required to hike here and there are pit toilets by the parking lot.
Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail
- Location: Helen Trailhead or Hardman Farm Trailhead
- Distance from Helen: in the south end of downtown Helen
- Fee: Free trail with free parking at either trailhead
- Length: 1 mile
The Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail is a 1 mile paved trail from downtown Helen to Hardman Farm. It’s fairly flat making it a great ADA accessible trail to explore while in Helen. On the Hardman side is Hardman Farm State Historic Site, which requires a fee to enter as this is part of the Smithgall Woods State Park. Inside this part of the park is the well-known Sautee Nacoochee Indian Mound. There’s also a mansion on site which can be toured as well. Learn more about this on the website for the Hardman Farm State Historic Site.
Adventure Thrills in Helen, GA
Georgia Mountain Coaster
The Georgia Mountain Coaster is on the south end of downtown. It has a free parking lot if you want to park here to ride. There’s lockers you can rent for an additional fee to store your valuables. This is an alpine coaster, so if you’re unfamiliar with this style, imagine a metal rail coaster with a single car for one adult or an adult and child. There’s a mechanism to pull you up the hills, but the rest relies fully on gravity. The coaster also has a hand lever you can pull up to stop the car. But for the most fun you should only do this at the very end when it’s time to stop and exit the ride.
Cool River Tubing
On the backside of Helen along the Chattahoochie River is Cool River Tubing. They are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. When you rent a tube from them, you can choose either a short or long ride. They will shuttle you upstream to the put-in, and you will exit the river where you parked your car. There’s also a waterslide to enjoy on site.
Cool River Aerial Adventure
Cool River also has an Aerial Adventure Park where you can enjoy the thrills of tree-top fun. There’s zip lines and suspended obstacle courses. This park can be found at the north end of downtown Helen.
Helen Waterpark and Tubing
Helen Waterpark and Tubing has its own waterpark featuring waterslides and a lazy river. If you opt to tube down the Chattahoochie River, they will shuttle you to the north end of town to get in, and you can exit at the waterpark. Since there’s a location on the north end too, you also have the option to park there and float downstream. Then be shuttled back to your car after you get out. This is a great option if you don’t want to go through the traffic of downtown Helen to get to the waterpark. They are also open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Places to Stay and Explore in Helen, GA
Unicoi State Park
Just a 6 minute drive from downtown Helen is Unicoi State Park. This state park has campgrounds, cabins, glamping options, and a lodge for overnight stays. There’s also plenty to do inside the park. They have a lake where you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, or even paddleboats. There’s also a beach front on the lake so you can enjoy a swimming area too. This park also has its own zip lines and outdoor sports to try. There’s also 2 restaurants in the park. Throughout the park are 4 different hiking trails as well. Even if you only plan to enjoy Unicoi State Park for a day, there is an entry fee required.
Smithgall Woods State Park
Just a 7 minute drive from downtown Helen is another state park, Smithgall Woods. This park has camping options too. There’s 28 miles of trail within the park to enjoy hiking or biking. Some enjoy fishing here, but this park is also known for hunting. Note, during hunting season some hikes will be closed. There is also an entry fee required for day use in this park.
More Things to Do in Helen, GA
There’s so many things to do in Helen that I can’t cover everything here. More things to do are better explained on this Helen website which will give you a more in-depth look at your options for planning your own trip to Helen.
Planning Your Trip to Helen, GA
If you’re planning a day trip or overnight trip to Helen, GA, from Chattanooga, it’s important to note that it’s a 2½ hour drive from Chattanooga. This is perfect for a long day trip, or longer weekend trip with an overnight stay.
Helen is very busy in the summer months, especially starting Memorial Day weekend. This is when the local tubing rental companies open for tube rentals on the Chattahoochie River. In the fall, I suspect it’s also busy for Oktoberfest and the fall foliage. Since Helen is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s a great area for leaf peeping. And during Christmas time, Helen is well-decorated and a popular destination for Christmas themed fun and lights.
My First Visit to Helen Experience
My parents were staying in Helen for a week and invited Adam and I to join them for a day on Memorial Day weekend of 2024. This coincided with the annual Hot Air Balloon Race to the Atlantic. Every year, Helen hosts a hot air balloon race that starts in the town and heads towards the Atlantic. During the week of the race, air balloons are also set up for the public to enjoy. You can walk around and look at them and even pay to take a tethered ride if you’d like. You can learn more about this hot air balloon race on the website.
Adam and I headed out on our scenic drive down to Helen, GA. Coming from Chattanooga is a beautiful drive on some curvy, mountain roads. Along the way are some hikes, but we didn’t have time to explore them on this trip. But if you do, I would suggest stopping by DeSoto Falls as it’s literally on the way into Helen. Scroll back up to learn more about this in one of the sections above.
We arrived in Helen at lunchtime and met my parents at Hoffer’s Bakery and Restaurant. We had to wait about thirty minutes for a table as they were switching over from breakfast to lunch. They empty the dining room to make this switch so you are waiting on people to finish their breakfast before they will seat you. We used this wait time to check out the baked goods and buy a couple to take home and enjoy now.
For lunch, I opted to try a German dish of Rindsroulade mit Spaetzle und Rötkohl, which is a lean beef roll filled with apple, bacon, onion, German pickle, and spiced mustard. The spaetzle is a side dish of essentially German pasta. And there was another side dish of red cabbage which is sweet. The red cabbage is cooked with apple and spices, giving it a spiced apple flavor, not the cabbage flavor you’d expect. Everything here was really good. If you’re wanting a German cuisine experience in Helen, I can definitely recommend this restaurant along with their baked goods.
After lunch we walked around town which has various tourist shops as well as some unique spots like locally crafted goods. I also had to grab my afternoon coffee from the Mason Jar Coffee and Gelato. You can order espresso to be poured over your gelato if you want both, but I just kept it classic and ordered the namesake “Mason Jar Latte.” This latte consisted of lavender, vanilla, and local honey.
Another point of interest is the bridge over the Chattahoochie River. From here you can watch river tubers enjoying the cool waters below. This is another activity I would love to come back and try, but we didn’t have time for it on this trip.
At the north end of town is Unicoi Hill Park. Here you can enjoy a little walk through nature. This was one of my favorite spots we visited simply because Helen was very crowded on this day and the park is more calm and quiet, allowing you space to rest a little from all the craziness below. There’s also a waterfall inside the park, and back out on the main sidewalk is Alana Falls.
After our walk in the park, we headed to the other end of town where we rode the Georgia Mountain Coaster. This alpine coaster is one of the longer, more fun ones I’ve ridden. If you’ve never ridden an alpine coaster before, I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy thrills.
After this, it was time to find dinner. However, this was a very difficult task. Since it was such a busy day, most restaurants had very long waits that we didn’t have time for, because there’s only a 2 hour window to enjoy the hot air balloons starting at 6PM. So, we reluctantly went to the Dog Haus which is an outdoor place where you walk up to the window to order and pick up your food. This spot also took a while as they were also quite busy. But we did get our food. They mostly serve hot dogs, hence the name, and I had to keep it traditional by getting a brat with sauerkraut and mustard on a pretzel bun. It was good! This place is also conveniently located across the street from the land where the hot air balloons event takes place.
We walked from dinner over to the field where the hot air balloons were set up. It was very crowded of course, but still a pleasant experience. There’s lots to see here too. We got to watch one balloon being set up. Tethered rides were happening all around, but we didn’t try it ourselves. And at the end, we got to watch them take the balloons down to pack away. Overall, this experience was very much worth the trip to Helen, in my opinion. Especially if you’ve never seen hot air balloons in-person before.
After this, we headed back home to Chattanooga. If I were to plan going to Helen again for the hot air balloon event, I would leave early in the morning to allow time to explore DeSoto Falls on the way, and make reservations for dinner at a restaurant downtown, if possible, to help make the most of my time.
Conclusion
There’s so many things to do in Helen, Georgia, whether you want to explore the outdoors or enjoy the tourist attractions, you could easily spend a week here and have plenty to enjoy.
Be sure to watch the short YouTube video recap of our trip to get a better visual of everything we did.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve visited Helen before. If so, what season did you go and what’s your favorite thing you did? I’d love to know. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
More Trips to Explore from Chattanooga:
- Camp on Lake Chatuge in North Georgia
- Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina
- Enjoy the Outdoors in Cherokee, North Carolina
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