The Chattahoochee River
A 430-mile river that starts as a mountain brook a few miles above Helen and runs straight through town
The short answer
A river you can walk beside
Wikipedia puts the Chattahoochee at about 430 miles long, and says it begins in Jacks Gap at the foot of Jacks Knob, around 3,550 feet, inside the Chattahoochee National Forest. From that spring it tumbles down to Helen as a cold, clear, rocky creek, and in town it's shallow enough that kids wade it all summer. After Helen it feeds Lake Lanier, passes through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area north of Atlanta, forms part of the Georgia-Alabama line, and joins the Flint to become the Apalachicola River on its way to the Gulf.
In town, paved paths follow the water, and several downtown restaurants sit right on it. Our riverside dining guide and river walk guide cover both.
Tubing the river
Tubing through downtown is Helen's best-known summer activity. The official season runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, with a few extra spring and fall days; confirm before driving. These are the 2026 prices and addresses.
| Outfitter | 2026 price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Cool River Tubing | $14 Mon-Fri; $16 Sat-Sun and holidays; shuttle included | Chattahoochee Outpost, 590 Edelweiss Strasse (706-878-2665); Headwaters Outpost, 112 Poplar Stump Rd (706-878-9471); Main Street booth at 8600 N Main St |
| Helen Tubing & Waterpark | Check their site for current prices | North Office, 9917 Hwy 75 N (free parking, shuttle back to your car); South Office, 685 Brucken Strasse. Last shuttle to the put-in is 4:30 PM; personal tubes aren't allowed in their lots. |
The water is cold even in July, so wear water shoes with a heel strap. The full tubing guide is at Chattahoochee Tubing.
Trout fishing
Anglers 16 and older need both a Georgia fishing license and a trout license, per the Georgia DNR. The state stocks catchable rainbow and brown trout from late March through October across about 160 streams, so check its stocking report before you go.
For something quieter, Dukes Creek at Smithgall Woods State Park is a reservation-only fishery: Georgia State Parks allows trout fishing there Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from October through May, and the DNR says fish must be released and only barbless artificial lures are allowed. Details are in the trout fishing guide.
Beyond downtown
Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail
A paved path follows the river toward Hardman Farm State Historic Site at 143 Highway 17. Hardman Farm is open daily March through December, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Thursday to Saturday in January and February. Grounds-only admission is $7; the mansion tour is $13 for adults. See the trail guide.
Stay on the river
The Helendorf River Inn, at 33 Munich Strasse (706-878-2271), is open year-round and sits on the Chattahoochee in downtown Helen.
Smith Creek
Smith Creek flows out of Anna Ruby Falls and into the river system. Anna Ruby Falls is $6 for ages 16 and up and about 20 minutes from town.
Plan around the season
Tubing is summer-only, but the river is pretty year-round, and fall color in the valley usually peaks around the first of November. See the seasonal guide.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
