10 Quieter Things to Do Around Helen

By The Explore Helen Editorial Team · Updated October 8, 2026 · Hours and fees checked with Georgia State Parks and each business

Most Helen visits follow the same loop: Main Street, a pretzel, the tubing outfitters, maybe Anna Ruby Falls. That loop is fun, but ten minutes off it you'll find quieter places, and none of them need a scramble down a creek bank or a trespass to reach. Here are ten lower-key stops around Helen that are open to the public and worth a slot in your plan.

The short answer

For a quiet day, pair Smithgall Woods (the Martin's Mine and Wetland Loop trails) with Nora Mill and the Old Sautee Store in the Nacoochee Valley. Save the Helen-to-Hardman Heritage Trail for an easy walk, and the Unicoi/Helen Trail for a longer one.

The ten lower-key stops with cost and what to know
Stop	Cost	Good to know
Nacoochee Valley at sunrise	Free	View the mound and gazebo from the road; it's private land
Nora Mill sampling kitchen	Free to browse	Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat-Sun 10-5
Martin's Mine Trail, Smithgall Woods	$10 per vehicle (ParkPass)	0.9-mile loop; register at the visitor center
Wetland Loop, Smithgall Woods	$10 per vehicle (ParkPass)	0.55-mile loop past a beaver pond
Cathy Ellis Trail to Chunanee Falls	$10 per vehicle (ParkPass)	0.5 mile one way, moderate
Creekstone Winery	Tasting $20 plus tax	Mon-Thu 1-7, Fri-Sat 11-9, Sun 12:30-7
Stovall Covered Bridge	Free	Built in 1895; a short stop on a valley drive
Old Sautee Store	Free to browse	Store daily 10-5 (Fri-Sat 10-5:30); Market 10:30-4
Helen-to-Hardman Heritage Trail	Free	About 1 mile each way, ADA accessible, closes at dusk
Unicoi/Helen Trail	$10 ParkPass at the lodge end	About 3 miles each way; foot traffic only

1. The Nacoochee Valley early in the morning

Everyone photographs the Nacoochee Mound and its white gazebo at midday. Go early instead, when the valley is quiet and the light comes in low across the pastures. The mound sits on private property, so enjoy it from the road and stay off the grounds. The valley is a couple of miles south of downtown on GA-17/75.

Morning mist in a mountain valley near Helen — Early morning mist in the valleys around Helen.

2. Nora Mill's sampling kitchen

Nora Mill Granary has been grinding grain since 1876, and the mill's site says the stones are powered by the Chattahoochee. Plenty of people stop for grits and leave, but the country store also has a demonstration kitchen where you can taste products before you buy. It's open Monday through Friday 9 to 5 and weekends 10 to 5.

3. Martin's Mine Trail

Martin's Mine Trail in Smithgall Woods is a 0.9-mile moderate loop past a historic gold-mining site, with a vertical shaft that bats use and a short extension to a waterfall. The park's 5,844 acres stay quiet even on busy weekends. Every visitor registers at the visitor center, and the ParkPass is $10 per vehicle.

4. The Wetland Loop and Chunanee Falls

Also at Smithgall: the easy 0.55-mile Wetland Loop passes a beaver pond, with a boardwalk and a deck for watching birds and frogs. For a bit more effort, the 0.5-mile Cathy Ellis Trail leads to Chunanee Falls on the Alabama Branch. Park rules apply, and the park is open 7 AM to dark.

5. Creekstone Winery

Several wineries sit in and around the Nacoochee Valley, and Creekstone Winery is one to try if you'd rather taste in a smaller room. Its site lists a tasting at $20 plus tax and hours of Monday through Thursday 1 to 7, Friday and Saturday 11 to 9, and Sunday 12:30 to 7. Our wine trail guide covers the others.

Wine tasting at a North Georgia winery — Tasting rooms in the foothills tend to be smaller and quieter than downtown.

6. Stovall Covered Bridge

Stovall Covered Bridge dates to 1895 and is only about 33 feet long, one of the shortest covered bridges in Georgia. It sits on a quiet back road in the valley and takes ten minutes to see, so fit it into a drive rather than making a special trip. Late afternoon light is the kindest for photos.

7. The Old Sautee Store

Open since 1872 at 2315 GA-17, the Old Sautee Store is a working general store that bills itself as Georgia's longest operating. It's free to walk in, known for imported Swedish farmer cheese and an interior packed with old-store fixtures, and the Market next door makes sandwiches. The store is open daily at 10 AM; the Market runs 10:30 to 4.

8. The Helen-to-Hardman Heritage Trail

This paved trail is about a mile each way between Alpine Helen and Hardman Farm. It's free, ADA accessible, closed to vehicles, closes at dusk, and pets are welcome (visitors bureau page). It's a gentle way to leave the crowds behind without a car.

9. The Unicoi/Helen Trail

For a real walk, the Unicoi/Helen Trail runs about 3 miles each way between town and Unicoi State Park, foot traffic only. The trailheads are at the far end of the lodge's level 3 lot, where the ParkPass ($10 per vehicle) applies. Details are on the Georgia State Parks page and in our trail guide.

10. Mount Yonah from the valley

Mount Yonah's bare granite face is easiest to enjoy from the valley roads around Sautee Nacoochee, where it rises above the pastures, or from the Dukes Creek Falls trail, where the Forest Service points out views toward the mountain. Check current trail and parking information before you plan a climb.

A note on staying safe

Waterfalls are slippery and the Forest Service posts warnings about them. Stay on marked trails and viewing areas, and skip unofficial scrambles. Cell service can be spotty on back roads, so download a map. For more plans, see our weekend itinerary and seasonal guide.