Helen area hiking suggestions.

[brianW]

Heading to Helen in a few weeks. Most likely it will not include any riding but there is a chance. Looking for family friendly hiking options that a 4 year old can do. She has done some 3-4 miles hikes already but mostly flat CSRA trails. We did Anna Ruby Falls back in Feb.

I would like to do Tray Mountain and start of FS rd 79 (?) Can you drive this road w/ a mini-van? I would really like to get one summit and a waterfall hike in with the family.

[Angela]

We have hiked to all four of these waterfalls with our sons at various times when near Helen but that has been about 10 years ago. These varying in length with the most visited being Raven Cliff Falls.


Horse Trough Falls - www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Horse_Trough_Falls_Trail

Helton Creek Falls - www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Helton_Creek_Falls

Dukes Creek Falls - www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Dukes_Creek_Falls_Trail

Raven Cliff Falls -
www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Raven_Cliff_Falls_Trail

And if you haven't done it before most kids really enjoy tubing down through Helen on the Chattahoochee River if the water level is decent!

If your family enjoys hiking to waterfalls we used to make a day trip up to the northwest corner of South Carolina where one road basically has waterfall after waterfall to hike to, send me an email and I'll give you some information if you are interested. Good, cheap family fun!

[Angela]

Almost forgot, I can't remember if your children are mountain biking now but if so about 30 to 35 minutes from Helen is the SABA (Southern Appalachian Bicycling Association) created Jackrabbit Mountain Bike Trail system. Not a lot of miles (about 13 or 14 total) but fun if you are with novice riders - something for everyone. Since they run along a peninsula on Lake Chatuge would make for a nice hike for non-biking family members - there is an inner 3 mile loop that I would equate to Bartram Trail and then there are other trails that are off that trail of varying degrees of difficulty. Nice picnic area at the neck of the peninsula.

Here is the map - these are well maintained trails -

www.sabacycling.com/jackrabbit-trail-map.pdf

[tzeaser]

My advice - stay out of Helen as much as possible. Check out Little Ridge Creek and DeSoto Falls. And of course you have to go to Goats On The Roof. On your return trip, I recommend driving by Lake Rabun and stopping at Minnehaha Falls and Toccoa Falls.