Traveling Green Around Helen
Leave No Trace, bear sense, river care and conservation-minded places to stay
The short answer
Why Helen's visitors matter to the river
Helen sits near the top of the Chattahoochee, and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper divides the river's cleanup work into regions, with the Headwaters in the north. Whatever gets dropped here travels downstream. The same river that carries tubers through town goes on to supply metro Atlanta, so a little care in the mountains goes a long way.
The good news is that it's easy to be a good guest. Most of what matters comes down to four habits: pack out your trash, stay on the trail, store your food, and spend money with people who live here. The Forest Service manages the Chattahoochee National Forest around town, and the state parks have their own rules, so a quick check of the site you're visiting is worth the minute.
Leave No Trace on the trails
Anna Ruby Falls, Dukes Creek Falls and the Raven Cliffs trail see heavy foot traffic, especially on fall weekends. The seven Leave No Trace principles are the shortest guide to keeping them that way. Here's what each one looks like around Helen.
Plan ahead and prepare
Check the rules and fees for the place you're going, and bring layers; mountain weather changes fast. Weekdays and early mornings ease the pressure on popular trailheads.
Stay on durable surfaces
Stick to the trail even when it's muddy. Cutting switchbacks and making shortcuts causes erosion. If you camp, use an established site, at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Pack out everything
Take your trash, food scraps and tissue with you. For backcountry toilets, dig a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, and cover it.
Leave what you find
Wildflowers, rocks and old foundations stay where they are. Brush mud and seeds off your boots between hikes so you don't carry invasive plants to the next trail.
Keep fires small
A lightweight stove is the better choice. Where fires are allowed, use only small sticks you can break by hand and burn them to ash.
Respect wildlife, and other visitors
Watch animals from a distance, don't feed them, and keep dogs leashed. Keep your voice down on narrow trails and yield to uphill hikers.
Bears: the short version
Black bears live all through these mountains, and the BearWise program (run by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies) boils coexistence down to a few habits. Never feed or approach a bear. Lock up food, garbage and recycling, and keep pet food indoors. Dogs and bears are a bad mix, so keep your dog leashed and close.
At a campsite
Cook away from your tent, and don't keep food or scented items such as toothpaste in it. Store food in your locked vehicle or a bear-resistant container, or hang it well out of reach.
On the trail
Make some noise now and then so you don't surprise one. If you see a bear, don't approach it. If it sees you, back away slowly and don't run. Consider carrying bear spray, as BearWise suggests.
Tubing and the Chattahoochee
River tubing is a big part of Helen's economy, and the outfitters and the city both have rules to keep litter out of the water. Rules on coolers and containers are strict, so ask when you buy your tickets and follow what the outfitter tells you. Leave the river only at the designated exits, and don't bring anything you can't carry out. The daily season runs Memorial Day to Labor Day, and outfitters may open on warm fall weekends, so call ahead. Prices at Cool River Tubing in 2026 were $14 on weekdays and $16 on weekends and holidays.
The big annual cleanup is Sweep the Hooch, run by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. The 16th event, on March 21, 2026, drew nearly 1,400 volunteers who removed 32.19 tons of trash from 67 sites. The next one is Saturday, March 20, 2027, with volunteer registration opening in February 2027. You can join as a walker or wader, or as a paddler.
Where to stay and what to support
Smithgall Woods State Park is the best example of conservation-minded lodging nearby. Georgia acquired the 5,844-acre park in 1994 in a gift-purchase from conservationist Charles A. Smithgall Jr., and the land has recovered from 19th-century hydraulic gold mining. Dukes Creek, one of North Georgia's best trout streams, runs through it. The park has six cottages with 17 bedrooms in all: Creekside, Smithgall, Dover, Parkside, Garden and Laurel. Overnight guests pay the daily ParkPass once per vehicle, and every visitor registers at the visitor center. Trout fishing is catch-and-release, by reservation, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from October through May. See the park page and our Smithgall Woods guide.
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is the other state-run option, with a lodge, a lake and 1,029 acres. And a few local stops keep money in the community:
| Place | What it is | Hours or details |
|---|---|---|
| Nora Mill Granary | A working gristmill on the Chattahoochee, established in 1876, with the original French burr millstones powered by the river. Sells stone-ground grits, cornmeal and mixes. | 7107 S Main St, Helen. Mon-Fri 9 AM-5 PM; Sat-Sun 10 AM-5 PM. (706) 878-2375 |
| Sautee Nacoochee Center | A nonprofit arts and cultural center with two galleries, the Folk Pottery Museum, theater and concerts. | 283 Highway 255 North, Sautee Nacoochee. (706) 878-3300; check the site for events |
| Smithgall Woods cottages | Six cottages inside the state park. | 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen. (706) 878-3087 |
Common questions
Is it safe to hike near Helen with bears around?
Yes, with ordinary care. Make some noise, keep dogs leashed, don't approach or feed a bear, and secure food and trash. If a bear sees you, back away slowly and don't run.
When is Sweep the Hooch?
The next cleanup is Saturday, March 20, 2027, run by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Volunteer registration opens in February 2027.
Where can I stay that supports conservation?
Smithgall Woods State Park rents six cottages inside the park, and Unicoi State Park & Lodge is a state-run lodge with a lake. Overnight guests pay the ParkPass once per vehicle.
More to Explore
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