The tourist enclave of Helen, Georgia, and surrounding mountains offer a variety of camping opportunities ranging from large recreational vehicle parks to more secluded walk-in, tent-only campsites. The nearby Chattahoochee National Forest and Unicoi State Park include miles of hiking or biking trails, including access to the Appalachian Trail, as well as places to fish, picnic and tube on the Chattahoochee River.
Fundamentals
Helena, Georgia, reinvented itself in the 1970s by creating an alpine Bavarian village from what had been a mining, logging and textile-manufacturing community. Old World-style facades and towers, a rich Cherokee Indian history and access to Blue Ridge Mountain outdoor recreation have made the community a popular stop for visitors looking to escape summer heat. Restaurants favor German and Southern U.S. menus. More than 200 crafts and import shops line the town streets, according to the Helen website. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the hiking trails throughout the Chattahoochee National Forest and Unicoi State Park, including paths that lead to waterfalls and historic Cherokee burial mounds.
State Park Campgrounds
Unicoi State Park encompasses more than 1,000 acres of rolling north Georgia forest, including a 53-acre lake. Campsites include 82 that can be used for tents, trailers or recreational vehicles, 33 walk-in sites for tents only, and shelters for hikers. In 2010, camping fees ranged from $15 to $53, depending on type and size, according to the park website. The park is two miles from Helen and remains open year-round.
National Forest Campgrounds
The Adams Cove campground in Chattahoochee National Forest, about six miles from town, includes 10 campsites along Andrews Creek in an area thick with hardwood trees. To reach this campground, you drive on a narrow road that the Chattahoochee National Forest Campground Guide website describes as “not particularly RV friendly.” Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis from late March to early November. Adams Cove closes in winter. Use fees in 2010 were $12 per day per campsite.
The Boggs Creek campground stretches for about two miles along the creek of the same name, according to the campground guide website. This hike-in, hike-out campground offers secluded tent campsites amid oak, poplar and pine trees. Reaching some of the sites requires crossing the creek. Boggs Creek campground provides access to mountain biking along old logging roads, as well as fishing for trophy-size trout in nearby streams. Fees in 2010 were $8 per day per site.
Several other national forest campgrounds are within driving distance of Helen, including the tent-only DeSoto Falls campground, known for its rhododendron-lined creek and easy hikes to waterfalls or the Appalachian Trail.
Appalachian Trail Campsites
The historic Appalachian Trail passes within a few miles of Helen; you can reach it from several trails and campsites. The trail is part of the U.S. National Park system but privately managed. There are shelters for multiday hikers about every 10 or 12 miles, according to the park service's Appalachian National Scenic Trail website. Most shelters include water sources and pit toilets. There usually are tent campsites along the trail near the shelters.
Privatel Campgrounds
Several private campgrounds around Helen offer a variety of services to tent campers and those with recreational vehicles or trailers, according to the White County Convention and Visitor Bureau. Cherokee Campground has 48 full hookup sites with optional cable television access. Creekwood Resort includes RV campsites as well as cabin rentals on 18 forested acres. Jenny’s Creek Campground includes a stocked fishing pond, wireless Internet access and laundry facilities. The Yonah Mountain Campground hosts holiday picnics during the summer.
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