North Georgia Cabin Country: Hiking, Waterfalls, and Wine Trails
The mountains of North Georgia don't get the same attention as the Smokies or the Blue Ridge in Virginia, but they should. The terrain is dramatic, the towns are interesting, and the crowds are manageable even in peak fall foliage season. Helen is the most visited town in the area, but it's just the starting point.
Helen, Georgia
Helen is a small town in the Chattahoochee River valley that reinvented itself in the 1960s as a Bavarian alpine village. The architecture is kitschy but the setting is real — the river runs right through town, the mountains rise on all sides, and the surrounding area has some of the best outdoor recreation in the Southeast.
Tubing on the Chattahoochee is the main summer activity. Several outfitters in town rent tubes and shuttle you upstream. The river is calm and shallow, good for all ages. On a hot July afternoon, it's hard to beat.
Oktoberfest runs from mid-September through early November and draws large crowds. If you're coming for the fall foliage and want to avoid the festival crowds, aim for late October on a weekday.
Hiking
The area around Helen has more good hiking than most people realize. Anna Ruby Falls is two miles from town — a short, easy trail to a double waterfall that's worth the walk even if you're not a hiker. Unicoi State Park, right next to the falls, has additional trails and a lake for swimming and kayaking.
Raven Cliffs Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in Georgia. The trail runs about five miles round trip through a gorge with multiple cascades, ending at a falls that drops through a cleft in the rock. It's more demanding than Anna Ruby but not technical.
Tallulah Gorge, about 45 minutes from Helen, is one of the deepest gorges in the eastern US. The rim trail gives you views down into the gorge without much effort. A permit is required to hike the floor of the gorge, and they're limited — book ahead if that's your plan.
Waterfalls
North Georgia has more waterfalls per square mile than almost anywhere in the eastern US. Beyond Anna Ruby and Raven Cliffs, Amicalola Falls is worth the drive — it's the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi at 729 feet, and it's the approach trail to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Dukes Creek Falls, just outside Helen, is a short hike to a 150-foot waterfall that most visitors miss.
Wine Trails
The Dahlonega Plateau wine region is about 30 minutes from Helen and has grown into one of the better wine regions in the South. The elevation and climate suit white varieties and some reds well. Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Three Sisters Vineyards are both worth a visit. Most wineries are open Thursday through Sunday and do tastings by the glass or flight. Call ahead on holiday weekends.
Dahlonega itself is a good town for lunch. It was the site of the first major US gold rush in 1828, and the Gold Museum on the square tells the story well. The square has a handful of good restaurants and shops.
Fall Foliage
Peak color in North Georgia typically runs from mid-October through early November, depending on elevation. Higher elevations turn first. The drive along GA-180 near Brasstown Bald (the highest point in Georgia) is one of the best foliage drives in the state. Brasstown Bald itself has a paved trail to the summit with 360-degree views — on a clear day you can see four states.
When to Go
Summer is warm and green, good for tubing and hiking. Fall is the most popular season for good reason — the foliage is real and the temperatures are ideal. Winter brings occasional snow, which makes the cabin experience better and the crowds smaller. Spring has wildflowers and waterfalls running full from winter rain.
Staying Here
Mountain Creek Heaven is a four-bedroom creekside cabin on more than two acres near Helen. It sleeps eight, has a full game room, a fire pit, and forest on all sides. It's the right base for a group that wants to be in the mountains without giving up comfort.
