Spring is one of the most inviting times to visit Helen! With the warmer temperatures and blossoming flowers & trees, you will find yourself at ease in your new adventures surround by nature.
Springtime Hiking is truly amazing... set forth on a trail covered by a canopy of trees while listening to the birds chirping. See the sun glisten off the rushing waters of Duke's Creek or the Chattahoochee River. Soak in the sun from the banks of the river or atop the boulders while taking in the breathtaking views...
North Georgia has hikes for the entire family:
Stroller Friendly/Good for All Ages:
- Anna Ruby Falls
- Hardman Trail
Easy Hikes that are good for all Ages:
- Duke's Creek
- Smithgall Woods
- Yonah Mountain Preserves
- Unicoi Lake Loop
Moderate Hikes
- Raven's Cliff
- Horse Trough Falls
- Unicoi to Helen Trail
Hard Trails
- Mount Yonah Trail
- Unicoi Gap & Indian Grave Gap Loop
- Appalachian Trail: Unicoi Gap to Dick's Creek Gap
- Brasstown Bald
- Tesnatee Gap
While hiking is definitely one of my family's favorite things to do in North Georgia, there are tons of exhilarating things to try from Zip Lining across the tree tops and over bodies of water, ATVing, horseback riding, tubing and more!
A one stop shop to experience it all is Sunburst Adventures. At Sunburst, the offer 1 to 3 hour guided horseback riding, paddle kayaking (new Summer 2022), zip lining and ATV/UTV tours. The ATV/UTV tours are across 5 miles visiting a gold mine and mini farm.
If the Zip Lining caught your eye, there are several places that offer zip lining tours & rope courses. Unicoi Zip Lines has several options depending on what your level of adventure is... they have family friendly adventure, zipline canopy tours, a nature's trek & bird's eye view of the mountains courses ranging from 1 hour to 4 hours. Cool River Adventures has courses for the whole family. Their Little Adventure Course is perfect for little ones (40 lbs or more) and has different elements for the little ones and a zip lines. It takes approximately 30 min to complete. Their two other courses the Big Adventure & Extreme Adventure aren't for the faint of heart and have tougher elements and higher platforms and ziplines!
Of course no visit to Helen would be complete without German-American Food or Sweets! Talking deserts, a trip to Hansel & Gretel for some delicious chocolate or fudge is a must! If the chocolate didn't calm your sweet tooth, Das Ice Cream is your place for some fantastic homemade mouth-watering ice cream with a German flair! Das Ice Cream flavors range from kid friendly classics to adult-friendly mud slide or honey bourbon. Something for every pallet!
If you are looking for some German fare, Hofbrahaus has amazing schnitzel, goulash, and pretzels with beer cheese with a wonderful outdoor patio right on the river. Bodensee is another favorite offering Germain classics in an authentic atmosphere. Muller's Fried Cheese is a mix of German and Czech fare offering classics as well numerous delicious fried cheese dishes.
No matter what your adventure seeking spirit is, you are sure to find it in Helen during the spring! We look forward to having you!