While Helen may be home to under 700 people, it still is one of the most popular destinations in Georgia state, thanks to its adorable Bavarian architecture and stunning mountain views. While Helen itself is adorable, there’s lots of natural beauty to be explored outside of town, like the popular Anna Ruby Falls, a set of twin waterfalls cascading down a rocky cliffside. If you want to see this beautiful slice of Northern Georgia for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Anna Ruby Falls Trail, the most popular hike near Helen.
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About Anna Ruby Falls Trail
Anna Ruby Falls are named by Colonel John H. Nichols, who acquired the surrounding land after the Civil War. Nichols decided to name these beautiful falls after his only daughter, Anna Ruby.
Here’s some quick stats about this hike.
- Length: 0.9 miles
- Elevation gain: 219 feet
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Parts of the trail definitely feel on the steeper side, but we definitely passed a woman doing this hike in high heels… so you know it’s not too difficult!
- Dog friendly? Yes, on a leash
- Trail map
Getting to the Anna Ruby Falls Trail
Anna Ruby Falls is located here in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, right outside of the Bavarian-themed town of Helen, Georgia or around two hours from Atlanta.
There’s limited public transportation options around Helen, so the best way to get to the Anna Ruby Falls trailhead is to drive. My husband, Justin, and I have driven on a many National Forest roads with intense potholes and washboarding, but I’m happy to report that the roads leading to the Anna Ruby Falls parking lot are paved and very well-maintained.
The parking lot for the Anna Ruby Falls trail is decently sized, probably holding about 150 cars. However, this hike is one of the most popular things to do in Helen, Georgia and, accordingly, it can fill up during busy times, like on weekends in September and October. We visited on a random Monday in November and I’d say approximately 80% of the lot was full! So, I’d recommend getting here super early if you’re visiting on a weekend or, if you can swing it, coming on a weekday.
Before you get to the parking lot, you’ll pass a ranger station, where you’ll need to pay a $5 entrance fee per person over 16 years (cash and credit cards accepted). Unfortunately, America the Beautiful passes (which typically are accepted at all national parks and national forests) are not accepted here, although Senior and Access interagency passes are.
It’s also worth mentioning that, in order to get to Anna Ruby Falls, you’ll need to drive through part of Unicoi State Park. Certain areas of this park, like Unicoi Beach, charge an admission fee, which is totally separate from Anna Ruby Falls, which is managed by the National Forest Service. So, even if you happened to pay to visit the state park, you’ll still need to pay an additional fee to visit the waterfalls.
The parking area has tons of nice features, including a visitor center, bathrooms, picnic tables, and grills. Be sure to stop by the viewing deck near the visitor center, where you can see brook, rainbow, and brown trout, especially in the summer months.
Perhaps the most important thing to know about the Anna Ruby Falls Trail is that its gates are only open from 9 AM to 4 PM, so you won’t be able to do your sunset or evening stroll here.
What to Expect Along the Anna Ruby Falls Trail
The pathway is on the north side of the parking lot, near the building that houses the bathroom and gift shop.
The trail is well-maintained and paved, with a handful of wooden walkways, and is actually ADA accessible. Along the pathway, there are interesting informational signs about the trees, wildlife, and other parts of the ecosystem in the surrounding National Forest.
The incline along the trail is pretty gradual and consistent, although there’s a short section of the trail, about halfway into the hike, that felt noticeably steeper to me. Generally, though, the trail meanders alongside Smith Creek, with lots of benches and a few rocky outcroppings overlooking the creek and the small waterfalls sprinkled throughout.
At the end of the trail, you’ll find Anna Ruby Falls, which is formed by two separate creeks, Curtis and York. The Curtis cascade rushes 153 feet down a rocky cliffside, while the York cascade drops about 50 feet, with smaller waterfalls rushing down chunky boulders at its base.
There are a few different wooden platforms and bridges to view the waterfalls, so you can’t actually access or swim in the creek or the falls directly. Still, if you’re visiting during a hot day, the trail is mostly shaded and there’s usually some light mist from the cascades that offer some respite from the sticky Georgia heat.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, you can extend the hike by tacking on the Smith Creek Trail, which connects the Anna Ruby Falls Trail to Unicoi State Park and adds a total of 8.6 miles.
On the bright side, this trail is WAY less crowded than the very popular Anna Ruby Falls and provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy the Appalachian plant and wildlife species that you can find in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, including deer and even black bear. However, the trail is poorly maintained, with lots of overgrowth, spider webs, and sketchy water crossings, so I’d only recommend hiking this extension if you REALLY want more of an adventure.
I hope you enjoy exploring the Anna Ruby Falls trail—it’s the perfect way to squeeze some natural beauty into your trip to Helen! Do you have any questions about hiking this trail? Let us know in the comments below!
