Waterfalls Near Helen

Three falls within 20 minutes of town, and more worth the drive

By The Explore Helen Editorial Team Updated October 8, 2026 Fees and trail details checked with the Forest Service and FIND Outdoors

The short answer

Start with Anna Ruby Falls (about 20 minutes, $6, a 0.4-mile paved trail). For a longer hike, Raven Cliff Falls is 2.6 miles each way and Dukes Creek Falls is a 2.2-mile round trip. Both take a small parking fee, $5 and $4 per vehicle. Go after a good rain, and stay on the trails and viewing decks.

Helen sits at the edge of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, and the creeks running off the ridges around town make a lot of waterfalls. NOAA's normals for the Helen station show about 72 inches of precipitation a year, which keeps the creeks lively. Three falls are within 20 minutes of downtown, each with a different feel.

The big three, compared

Drive times from downtown Helen

Comparison of Anna Ruby, Dukes Creek and Raven Cliff Falls
Falls	Drive	Walk	Fee	Good to know
Anna Ruby Falls	About 20 min (6 miles)	0.4 mile each way, paved, steep in places	$6 ages 16+; 15 and under free	Twin falls: Curtis Creek about 153 ft, York Creek about 50 ft. 9 AM to 6 PM.
Dukes Creek Falls	About 15 min	2.2 miles round trip	$4 per vehicle per day	Views toward Mount Yonah. Sunrise to sunset; no restrooms.
Raven Cliff Falls	About 15 min to the trailhead	2.6 miles each way into the Raven Cliffs Wilderness	$5 per vehicle per day	A creek crossing can run calf-deep. 30-car gravel lot, vault toilet.

Sources: FIND Outdoors, the Forest Service pages for Dukes Creek Falls and Raven Cliff. Only Senior and Access passes are accepted at the Raven Cliff lot.

Anna Ruby Falls

The easy one

Two creeks arrive at one rock face and fall side by side. The paved trail follows Smith Creek up to two viewing decks, and the Lion's Eye Trail (0.1 mile, paved) is wheelchair accessible. The lot fills on fall weekends, so go early. Full details in our Anna Ruby Falls guide.

Raven Cliff Falls

The wilderness hike

The trail runs 2.6 miles each way into the Raven Cliffs Wilderness, which the Forest Service manages as wilderness: carry out what you carry in. A creek crossing can run calf-deep after rain, so wear shoes you don't mind wetting. See the Raven Cliff Falls trail page.

Dukes Creek Falls

The one with the mountain view

The recreation area at 1699 Richard Russell Highway has a moderate trail, 2.2 miles round trip, with views toward Mount Yonah. It's open sunrise to sunset, and you pay $4 per vehicle by fee box, card, or the Recreation.gov app. There are no restrooms. More in our Dukes Creek Falls guide.

Farther afield

Falls worth a longer drive

More waterfalls within a couple of hours of Helen
Falls	Where	Walk	Fee	Good to know
Helton Creek Falls	Off US 19/129 near Blairsville	0.2 mile, easy, with abrupt grade changes	Free	Forest Service: stay on the trail and observation deck.
DeSoto Falls	Off US 129, about 17 miles south of Blairsville	Easy trails to two falls	$5 per vehicle	No restrooms; camping available.
Toccoa Falls	Toccoa Falls campus (about 45 min)	100-yard graveled path	$2	186 feet. See our Toccoa Falls guide.
Tallulah Gorge	Tallulah Falls (about 45 to 50 minutes)	Rim overlooks and a gorge-floor permit trail	$10 ParkPass	See our Tallulah Gorge guide for release closures.
Amicalola Falls	Dawsonville (about 70 min)	Park trails and overlooks	ParkPass	729 feet; the lodge calls it the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi.

See the Helton Creek Falls and DeSoto Falls Forest Service pages, plus our Toccoa Falls and Tallulah Gorge guides.

Stay safe and take better photos

Stay on the deck

The Forest Service posts waterfall danger alerts at these sites. Wet rock is slick, so keep to trails and viewing decks.

Go after rain

The falls run fullest a day or two after a good soaking. In dry spells they thin out.

Use soft light

Overcast days and early mornings keep white water from blowing out. A tripod and a slow shutter give the silky look.

Shield your lens

Spray coats lenses fast. Bring a microfiber cloth.

Thinking about rappelling? Read our short rappelling and adventure options page first. For the fall, see fall color around Helen.

Waterfall questions

What is the closest waterfall to Helen?

Dukes Creek Falls and Raven Cliff Falls are each about 15 minutes away, and Anna Ruby Falls is about 20 minutes away.

Which waterfall is easiest?

Anna Ruby Falls, with a 0.4-mile paved trail that has some steep sections. Helton Creek Falls is an even shorter walk, 0.2 mile, but it's farther away near Blairsville.

Which waterfalls cost money?

Anna Ruby Falls charges $6 for ages 16 and up. Dukes Creek Falls is $4 per vehicle, Raven Cliff's trailhead is $5 per vehicle, and DeSoto Falls is $5 per vehicle. Helton Creek Falls is free.