Tubing the Chattahoochee
A lazy float through downtown Helen. The 2026 season is over; see you around Memorial Day
The short answer
$14 to $16
shuttle included
Age 2+
13 and under wear a life jacket
Memorial Day
2026 season is over
Check Live River Conditions Before You Go
Real-time gauge data, tubing zone, float time estimates & butt-drag risk
Floating the Chattahoochee is the thing most summer visitors to Helen remember. The river starts in the Blue Ridge just north of town, and you drift past the Alpine storefronts in a tube with a headrest. It isn't whitewater, just a long, cool, slow float with plenty of time to wave at people on the bridges.
Two outfitters run it: Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing. Each sells a one-trip ticket that includes the tube, a life jacket where needed, and a shuttle. Both seasons ended for 2026, so use this page to plan next summer, and check the outfitters' sites for 2027 prices once they post them.
The two outfitters side by side
2026 prices and details
| Outfitter | Price | Where you start | Float time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool River Tubing | $14 Mon-Fri; $16 Sat, Sun and holidays (2026). Same price for kids and adults; groups of 20+ $12 | Chattahoochee Outpost (590 Edelweiss Strasse) or Headwaters Outpost (112 Poplar Stump Rd); ticket booth at 8600 N Main St | Short 1 to 1.5 hours or long 2 to 2.5 hours, same price | Tubes with bottoms and headrests; dogs can ride in a lap or rent a tube; tickets online |
| Helen Tubing | $14 per person, any day (2026), plus a 4% surcharge on card payments; groups of 20+ $12 | North office, 9917 Hwy 75 N (free parking, you park, buy tickets and start here) | About 2 to 2.5 hours; 1.5 to 4 hours depending on water | Exit at the South office, 685 Brucken Strasse; free shuttle with your armband; last shuttle to the upper river 4:30 PM; 250 lb limit; one trip per ticket |
Details come from each outfitter's FAQ and FAQs. Call Cool River at 706-878-2665 or Helen Tubing at 706-878-7465.
Rules before you go
Helen has a city ordinance on the river
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | Tubers must be 2 or older. Cool River says no exceptions for a child on an adult's lap. |
| Life jackets | Required for kids 13 and under (included). Adults can wear one or decline. |
| Coolers | Not allowed. A city ordinance bars coolers and drink containers on the Chattahoochee in Helen. |
| Drinks | One drink container per person: 32 oz plastic at Cool River; water or a non-alcoholic drink at Helen Tubing. |
| Alcohol and glass | Not allowed. Helen police patrol the river. |
| Footwear | Cool River recommends shoes with heel straps and doesn't allow flip-flops; water shoes are $13 there. |
| Dogs | Allowed at both. At Helen Tubing a dog needs its own tube at full price; at Cool River a dog riding in your lap is free. |
| Payment | Cool River takes Apple Pay, Cash App, cash or card. Helen Tubing sells online or at its booths. |
Full rules: Cool River's rules and safety page and Helen Tubing's rules and regulations.
Tips for a better float
Small things that make a difference
Wear shoes with straps
The river bottom is rocky, and Cool River doesn't allow flip-flops because they wander off. Water shoes are $13 at Cool River if you forget yours.
Check the water first
Float times stretch when the river is low. Both outfitters post weather and water conditions, and our state of the river page shows the gauge.
Protect your phone
Use a waterproof case or leave it in the car. You can only bring a single drink container, so there's no room for much else.
Bring sunscreen
You're on open water for up to a couple of hours or longer. Put it on before you start.
When to go
Both outfitters open daily from around Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and Cool River says it opens several weekends before and after, depending on weather. The slowest days are weekdays, and Cool River's weekday ticket is $2 cheaper. For lunch afterward, see riverside dining and Troll Tavern. If you're visiting in fall, the river is for looking at; see the fall color guide.
More to Explore
Discover nearby attractions
Tubing questions
How much does it cost to go tubing in Helen?
In 2026, Cool River Tubing charged $14 Monday through Friday and $16 on weekends and holidays. Helen Tubing charged $14 every day, plus a 4% surcharge on card payments. Both include the shuttle, and prices for 2027 haven't been posted yet.
What age do you need to be to go tubing?
Both outfitters require tubers to be at least 2 years old. Kids 13 and under have to wear a life jacket, which is included with the ticket.
How long does a tubing trip take?
At Cool River you pick a short trip of 1 to 1.5 hours or a long one of 2 to 2.5 hours, for the same price. Helen Tubing says to plan on about 2 to 2.5 hours, and it can run from 1.5 to 4 hours depending on water level.
Can you bring a cooler or drinks while tubing?
No coolers, alcohol or glass. Each tuber can take one drink container: a 32 oz plastic one at Cool River, or water or a non-alcoholic drink at Helen Tubing. A city ordinance covers the river, and Helen police patrol it.
Is tubing open now?
Not in October. The 2026 season is over, and both outfitters reopen around Memorial Day weekend. Cool River also opens some weekends in April, May and September, so check before you go.
Is there a weight limit?
Helen Tubing sets a 250 lb maximum, and Cool River recommends staying under roughly 250 to 280 lbs, because the river is shallow in places.
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