Unicoi State Park
Park
126 acres0.5 mi of trail
Helen Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto City of Helen Municipal ParkingWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Helen
20% of Helen’s land is conserved, and virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. The biggest trail networks: Unicoi State Park (0.5 mi). 20% of Helen’s land is conserved, about 260 acres.
Conserved land
20%
260 acres · of 2.1 sq mi of land
Trails
2.2 mi
1.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
260 ac
627 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
1.8 mi
1.8 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
1
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Unicoi State Park, with 0.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Smithgall Woods State Park
Park
36 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Hardman Farms State Historic Park
Park
54 acres0.2 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Who protects it
260 conserved acres
20% of Helen’s land. Who manages Helen’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources514 ac
U.S. Forest Service2 ac
Unknown Easement · 257 acState Park · 164 acState Historic or Cultural Area · 57 acState Conservation Area · 37 acNational Forest · 2 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1 acre is a conservation easement, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 4 of 8 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unicoi State Park State Park | State natural resources | 164 | Open |
| Hardman Farm Historic Site State Historic or Cultural Area | State natural resources | 57 | Open |
| Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek State Park State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 37 | Open |
| Chattahoochee National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 2 | Open |
Things to do
6 places to go in Helen
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Helen
Innsbruck Renter's Pool
DirectionsPlaygrounds in Helen
3 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Waterfalls in Helen
Alana Falls
DirectionsPicnic areas in Helen
1 picnic area without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Trails & water
2 named trails and 1 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Helen Trail0.6 mi
Judys Weg0.1 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
1.8 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
1.8 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
8Golf
6Pickleball
5Tennis
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Helen: April to June and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.1 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 14.5 | 14.3 | 13.4 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 9.8 |
| High (°F) | 51 | 55 | 62 | 71 | 78 | 84 | 87 | 86 | 81 | 71 | 61 | 53 |
| Rain (in) | 6.1 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 |
September is the driest month (4.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 6.1 inches fall in December, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Helen →
Questions about parks and trails in Helen
Where can I hike in Helen?
The longest trail networks: Unicoi State Park, 0.5 miles; Smithgall Woods State Park, 0.3 miles; Hardman Farms State Historic Park, 0.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Helen’s trails?
Unicoi State Park and Smithgall Woods State Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Helen?
1.8 miles of bike routes are on the map: 1.8 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Helen?
54,919 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Helen or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 263 of them inside the city line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Helen neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →