Helen GA is a relatively small mountain town, measuring just 2.17 square miles, with a population of around 600 people. Yet it attracts around 3 million annual travelers with its unique shops, delicious restaurants, intriguing roadside attractions, and quirky reputation as “Georgia’s Alpine Village.” The town is also home to Oktoberfest, one of the longest-running … Read more
[Updated April 3, 2022] It’s not difficult to understand why Horse Trough Falls is one of the least visited waterfalls in Helen GA once you decide to explore the area for yourself. The Horse Trough Falls trailhead is located at the back of the Upper Chattahoochee River Campground, which is tucked about 5 miles off … Read more
[Updated December 30, 2021] Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, about an hour north of the I-285 perimeter, Helen GA is known for its Alpine architecture, quirky character, impressive array of hiking trails, and annual Oktoberfest festival. There are lots of great attractions and activities in “Alpine Helen.” But until recently this unabashedly unusual … Read more
[Updated September 30, 2021] Some experts suggest there are as many as 700 waterfalls in Georgia, although many of these remain remote and inaccessible to all but the hardiest of bushwhackers. Other than accessibility, there are a lot of other factors that play into the relative popularity of a given GA waterfall. Some folks focus … Read more
[Updated September 13, 2021] Widely known as “Georgia’s Alpine Village,” Helen is a beautiful mountain town that offers a charming bit of Bavaria in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although the town is relatively small (2.17 square miles, population around 600), travelers come from all over to experience a taste of the Alps in the southern … Read more
As a tiny mountain town (just 2.11 square miles) that receives some 3 million annual visitors, there are plenty of Helen GA cabin rentals to choose from. Whether you want an Alpine inn or B&B in the heart of downtown or a cozy cottage in the surrounding mountains, there’s a Helen vacation rental for … Read more
[Updated October 26, 2021] Georgia State Park cabins are arguably among the best deals you’ll find for cabin rentals in North Georgia. Most cost around $160 a night for a 2-bedroom cottage with a full kitchen that can sleep 6 to 8 people. And when it comes to Unicoi State Park lodging, their rental … Read more
[Updated September 21, 2021] Anytime someone in our Blue Ridge Mountains Facebook groups asks about the best easy to moderate hiking trails in North Georgia, we recommend the waterfalls near Helen GA. Anna Ruby Falls (.8 miles) and Helton Creek Falls (.3 miles) are both easy hikes that offer extraordinary payoff for minimal effort. … Read more
[Updated September 21, 2021] Among the 100+ North Georgia waterfalls, Anna Ruby Falls was both the first I remember visiting as a child and the last one we visited in 2020 before travel was discouraged. Not to be confused with Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Anna Ruby is one of the four most impressive waterfalls … Read more
[Updated on 7/20/21] Growing up in Atlanta, the mountain town of Helen GA seemed like another world, with its festive Christmas in Helen celebration and fun Alpine architecture, biergartens, bratwurst, and annual Oktoberfest Fall Festival. But even as a kid I was much more attracted to the natural beauty of Unicoi State Park, which is … Read more