Helen, GA to Unicoi State Park

Flowers of Helen, GA

Unicoi State Park and Lodge
1788 Highway 356
Helen , GA 30545
http://www.gastateparks.org/Unicoi

Helen, GA
706-878-2181
http://www.helenga.org/

Find the Unicoi Hill Park in Helen, GA, to start the hike from Helen to Unicoi. There is free parking in the lot and there are also public restrooms nearby if you walk down to the city.

Coordinates of Unicoi Hill Park: N 34° 42.096 W 083° 43.896

44 acre Smith Lake (aka Unicoi Lake)

Helen to Unicoi is a 3 mile hike one way, fairly moderate and flat. You will walk along streams and through fields. It is not very scenic but the hike does provide plenty of shade from the hot sun. I do recommend this hike during the fall season to see the changing of the leaves. Once you reach Unicoi, you can choose to walk the Lake Trail Loop, or walk the Smith Creek Trail up to Anna Ruby Falls.

We chose to walk the Lake Trail Loop (2.5 miles). You are able to rent canoes on the lake, and there is a small swimming/beach area as well. 


In total, Helen to Unicoi(RT) + Lake Trail Loop = 8.5 miles and approximately 4 hours.
You can also choose to walk from Unicoi to Helen and back. 


This is what the trail looks like:

And this is the stream that you walk along near the beginning: