Plan your mountain escape in Helen, Georgia and experience a unique Bavarian town.
My Itinerary
Day 1:
- Check-in at the Airbnb cabin
- Lunch at Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe
- Wander around downtown Helen – stop in at Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen
- Dinner at Mully’s Nacoochee Grill
Day 2:
- Breakfast at Huddle House
- Hiking Mount Yonah Trail
- Dinner at Hofbrauhaus Restaurant
- Dessert at Village Crepe Haus
Day 3:
- Breakfast at Huddle House
- Hiking Unicoi Lake Loop Trail
- Dinner at Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria
Day 4:
- Breakfast at Huddle House
- One last stop at Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen to replenish on the “salty dogs”
What to do
Hiking
There are many hiking trails to choose from around Helen, varying in difficulty and scenery. Many of the trails are also dog-friendly which we fully appreciated, but take note that dogs must be leashed and be sure to pick up after them as a courtesy to fellow hikers. Below are some of the hikes we’ve done and some that we have on our list but haven’t made it to yet! Plan to pack snacks, water, and any other necessities before you head out for the day.
Mount Yonah Trail
Mount Yonah Trailhead is about 6.5 miles from Helen and probably the most popular. The trail is 4.1 miles out and back with 1,453 ft elevation gain, per AllTrails. They rate it as a hard trail, and I’d probably agree due to the last half of the hike. The first half of the trail I’d say is moderate, with a few steep spots where you have to step up on rocks, but we’ve never had any issues.
There are 3 lookout points that are great for taking a break, enjoying the view, and having a little snack. We find that we’re completely content hiking to the first lookout point and calling it a day, but if you want to challenge yourself and say you made it to the top, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll also mention that we have not taken the dogs passed the second lookout point, so make sure you’re prepared if you choose to bring your pup along for the full trek.
Tip: This trail gets pretty busy on the weekends, so aim for a weekday or early in the morning on the weekend to avoid the crowd.
Unicoi Lake Loop Trail
Unicoi Lake Loop Trail is 2.5 miles from Helen and has a trail perfect for anyone as there’s really no elevation gain, it’s a well-defined 2.2 mile simple path around Unicoi Lake. The landscape is beautiful, especially in Fall. They even have a zipline that goes across the lake, but we sit that adventure out. This is a great opportunity for a dog-friendly hike because about halfway through there’s a dog park near the campground check-in building, there’s also restrooms for humans. The one downside of this path is that you have to walk along a road bridge at one part, but if you’re aware of your surroundings shouldn’t cause any issues. There is a $5 parking fee for this one.
Dukes Creek Trail
Dukes Creek Trail is 5.5 miles from Helen. This is an easy 2.3 mile out and back trail with only about 300 ft elevation gain. We were unable to hike this one due to weather related road closures in January, but we definitely plan to come back to it with our pups. There is a parking fee here. There’s also a lookout spot that’s just a 0.3 mile walk if you prefer that to the full trail.
Raven Cliff Falls Trail
Raven Cliff Falls Trail is about 6.5 miles from Helen, just 1 mile passed the Dukes Creek Falls trailhead. This 5 mile out and back trail with 623 ft elevation gain is rated as moderately difficult on AllTrails. The views on this trail are said to be spectacular. We were also unable to hike this one due to weather related road closures in January, but we will be coming back to it. There is an amenities fee per vehicle.
Explore downtown Helen and Nacoochee Village
No trip to Helen is complete without a stop at Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen. This is a candy store that has a ton of varieties, I challenge you to not find something you like. They make all kinds of chocolate, fudge, brittle, you name it. The salty dog is my absolute favorite – peanuts held together with caramel and covered in milk chocolate, topped with sea salt (aka heaven).
The Wildewood Shop is impressive to just wander even if you don’t purchase anything. There are so many unique items, for kids and adults, it’s simply a fun experience. We ended up there because we were on the hunt for a wood-carved bear to match one we already had, and they had so many to choose from! So if you are also in the niche market for a wood-carved bear, I highly recommend checking out the Wildewood Shop.
Browse the huge antique inventory at Nachoochee Antiques and stop in at Habersham Winery right next-door while you’re there.
Betty’s Country Store has groceries, wine, and a few grab-n-go type items if you want to stock your airbnb or have something quick and simple on your hike. Checkout the dried bug snacks near the cash register, I always wonder if anyone actually buys those.
Visit a Nearby Town
Dahlonega, GA is a small town 25 miles from Helen and is another popular tourist destination. Dahlonega has a rich history, known for being the site of the first major Gold Rush in the U.S. It’s also nestled in wine country and the Blue Ridge Mountains. You’ll definitely be able to spend a full day exploring all Dahlonega has to offer from museums, parks, and vineyards.
Where to stay
We’ve only ever stayed at Airbnbs in Helen, but there are a number of hotels to choose from as well. We have enjoyed staying at a dog-friendly cabin in town near, hosted on Airbnb. The host has three neighboring cabins with very similar floorpans. They aren’t luxurious by any means, but they fit the wilderness feel and they’ve never had an issue with us bringing our three dogs, two of which are 70+ pounds. These cabins are atop a fairly steep hill and there’s a walking trail right outside that’s nice for dog walks. You can also take the trail down to the Nacoochee Village to get to Mully’s Nacoochee Grill and Nachoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria.
Where to eat
- The first place we ate at in Helen was Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe and honestly, it’s a big reason why we keep going back. The Weinerschnitzel and homemade potato salad is delicious, the Jaegerschnitzel is a good option too.
- Hofbrauhaus Restaurant has a large menu to choose from, the pretzel appetizer and Schmorbraten are to die for. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
- If you’re looking for a nicer dinner spot, Mully’s Nacoochee Grill is the place. The ambiance is great, they have live music some nights, and quality food. I’d recommend calling ahead to make a reservation, they tend to fill up, for good reason!
- Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria is located right next to Mully’s and is great for a causal, non-german dinner option.
- Huddle House is the only place worth going for breakfast in my opinion. It’s so so good. They have an extensive menu and they open early, perfect for fueling up before a hike and still allows you to beat the crowds.
- Village Crepe Haus has massive sweet and savory crepes, I can attest the sweet ones make for the best dessert. They have a few signature crepes or you can choose your own fillings. Anything with Nutella and/or peanut butter always gets my vote. I warn you though, they truly are massive. You could split one between 2-4 people, or make it your dinner – no judgements here!
- The best coffee in town is for sure Yonah Coffee Company. It’s a cute shop with unique signature flavors and they offer all the major milk alternatives. “The Yonah” latte is my go to flavor – white chocolate and raspberry – it’s unexpected in the best way. They also have some breakfast sandwich and pastry options.
How to get around
Helen is a town that you’ll need a car to explore. The main downtown area is walkable, but getting to the hiking locations is not. There are a handful of parking lots in town to get to the shops and restaurants, but heads up they are all paid parking.
When to visit
We’ve been to Helen, GA on three different occasions, once in January, February, and October. January was freezing cold, temperatures in the 30s, it even flurried one night. I would not recommend visiting in January, it’s not an enjoyable cold. It was too cold to wander around town because of the wind and the hikes weren’t great either. To caveat that, Helen does decorate beautifully for Christmas/Winter, so if you plan to go right around Christmas then it might be worth it. February was warmer and way more enjoyable, we never had to bundle up too much, just a jacket was fine.
Summertime in Helen offers a few more activities when it’s warm enough to go kayaking, tubing, and the waterpark is open. Keep in mind that hiking in the peak hot season will be a different experience than the cooler months.
My favorite time to visit, though, would have to be October. The temperatures make everything more enjoyable plus the fall landscapes are stunning. The town typically hosts an annual Oktoberfest so I’d do some research to decide if you want to be there for that or avoid it, since it would be a busier time to visit.
Whatever time of year you choose, use this guide to help plan your mountain escape!
