North Georgia Mountains Day Trip Itinerary: Helen & Dahlonega

The North Georgia Mountains are just a quick day trip from Atlanta and they offer spectacular adventures. Follow my simple North Georgia Mountains day trip itinerary to pack in a lot of fun into one day!

A day trip to the mountains is a quick and easy escape from Atlanta that’s full of adventure. And Helen and Dahlonega are two of the most popular places to see in the North Georgia Mountains.

I’ve put together the perfect North Georgia day trip itinerary that will have you exploring a waterfall hike, eating in a Bavarian-inspired town, and mining for gold. Let’s go!

North Georgia Mountains Day Trip Itinerary

Adventure awaits just two hours away from Atlanta! Follow this North Georgia road trip itinerary for the perfect day in the mountains.

Morning: Hike Anna Ruby Falls

After a two hour drive from Atlanta, the first stop on our North Georgia Mountains itinerary was Anna Ruby Falls in Helen, Georgia.

To get to Anna Ruby Falls, you drive through the lush Unicoi State Park, though it isn’t actually part of the state park. Don’t worry, you won’t have to pay the state park fee just to drive through. There is a per-person entry fee at Anna Ruby Falls, though.

Anna Ruby Falls are named for the daughter of John H. Nichols, a wealthy White County resident who owned much of the land nearby. The story goes that he found the falls while riding through these mountains shortly after the death of his wife and other child.

The tallest of the two waterfalls is the Curtis Creek falls with a drop of 153 feet. The York Creek falls have a drop of 50 feet.

The path to the falls is paved and is just under half a mile, or about 1 mile round-trip. It’s a pretty easy hike, but there is a slight incline. Because it’s easily accessible, hiking Anna Ruby Falls is one of the best things to do in Helen.

Morning: Explore Alpine Helen

Back on the road, it’s just a short drive to the mountain town of Alpine Helen, Georgia. Helen is one of the best places to see in the North Georgia Mountains, and it’s known for its German theme.

Helen was once the most popular tourist destination in the North Georgia Mountains. A former logging town that was in decline, the town resurrected itself in the 1960s by becoming a replica of a German town.

The Bavarian design is mandated so that every building represents this style. Helen’s sister city is Füssen, Germany, which is where you’ll find the famous Neuschwanstein Castle (one of my favorite castles).

In the summer, Helen comes alive with tubers shooting the ‘Hooch and people out enjoying the shops and patio restaurants.

I recommend spending some time enjoying the Bavarian-ness of the town, getting a cold glass of German beer while you enjoy some live music on a patio, and picking up some fresh-made fudge from any of the many sweet shops around town. If you have time, a ride on the Georgia Mountain Coaster is pretty quick and fun, provided the line isn’t too long.

Lunch: The Heidleberg in Helen

For lunch, we stopped in a The Heidelberg. This iconic three-story German restaurant, pub, and music hall in Helen’s Main Square is the town’s most recognizable building.

The restaurant’s original owners were from Heidelberg, Germany and wanted to bring authentic German food to this small mountain town that was just starting to revitalize itself.

They have a full menu of classic German dishes. I recommend the Kartoffelpuffer, the Zigeunerschnitzel, and the Wurstsampler.

Afternoon: Visit the Consolidated Gold Mine in Dahlonega

The final stop on our itinerary was the Consolidated Gold Mine in Dahlonega, Georgia. Since Dahlonega is known for its gold rush history, this gold mine is one of the most popular things to do in Dahlonega.

Consolidated Gold Mine is the largest hard rock gold mine east of the Mississippi. Gold was first discovered in the Dahlonega area in 1828, twenty years before the Gold Rush to California. In the Dahlonega side of the mountain, several extremely large veins of quartz containing gold formed one giant vein 22ft thick.

That vein is still one of the largest veins of quartz discovered in the world containing gold. Investors bought 7,000 acres of land around the discovery site to continue mining the “Glory Hole” vein. All this land formed the Consolidated Gold Mine.

Our tour of the gold mine took us 200ft underground where you can see the mined Glory Hole and the tools miners used to extract the quartz and gold. After the tour, we panned for gold and each found three tiny flecks of gold for 20 minutes of work sloshing sand and water in a pan. That’s a lot of work for such a little payout!

With gold in hand, it’s time to head out of the mountains and back to the city.

North Georgia Day Trip Map

Ready to head to the North Georgia Mountains? Use the map below to find all the points mentioned in this North Georgia day trip itinerary.

I hope you have a great day in the North Georgia Mountains!

North Georgia Day Tours

Want to take a trip to the North Georgia Mountains but don’t want to plan any of it yourself? Check out these top North Georgia Mountain day tours from Atlanta for an easy day trip:

• North Georgia Wine Country Tour from Atlanta
• Brasstown Bald Mountain Self Guided Tour
• Helton Creek Falls and Slingshot Self Guided Tour
• Tallulah Falls Slingshot Self Guided Tour
• North Atlanta Polaris Slingshot Group Tour
• North Georgia Mountains Two Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour
• Ellijay Hike w/ Waterfall & Wine Tasting Private Tour from ATL
• Atlanta Vineyards and Wines Full-Day Tour
• Helen Hike Wine and Dine Private Tour from Atlanta
• Yonah Mountain Hike Private Tour in Georgia
• Helen N. Georgia Private Winery Tour, Dine and Shop from Atlanta
• North Georgia Mountains Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour
• Private Luxury Wine Tour from Atlanta to North Georgia Vineyards

Where to Stay in North Georgia

Decided you love North Georgia and you want to spend more than just a day there and stay overnight? I’ve got you covered with the best places to stay in the North Georgia Mountains near Helen and Dahlonega:

• Where I’ve Stayed in Helen: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Helen
• Where I’ve Stayed in Dahlonega: Barefoot Hills Hotel
• Helen Cabin Rental: Serenity Ridge Cabin
• Dahlonega Unique Stay: Villa della Luna Tuscan Villa

More Things To Do in North Georgia

Looking for more to do around the North Georgia Mountains? Check out these great itineraries and travel tips:

• 3 Days in Helen, GA: Weekend Itinerary for First-Timers
• Things To Do on a Day Trip to the North Georgia Mountains
• Hiking Anna Ruby Falls in Helen, GA
• Unicoi to Helen Trail at Unicoi State Park
• 12 Best Restaurants in Helen (That Aren’t Just German Food)
• Unicoi State Park: Tips for Your Perfect Visit
• A Weekend Getaway Guide to Dahlonega, Georgia
• 9 Best Wineries in Dahlonega, Georgia
• 26 Fun Things to Do in Dahlonega, Georgia
• Unicoi Lake Loop Trail at Unicoi State Park
• Walking the Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail in Helen, GA

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Ready to visit the North Georgia Mountains? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find accommodation: You can find top cabin rentals in Helen or in Dahlonega using VRBO.
• Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
• Explore in a new way: Enjoy a Mystery Picnic Date in Helen or a Mystery Picnic Date in Dahlonega.

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Cheers!

Paige

Did you find this North Georgia day trip itinerary helpful? Let me know in the comments about how your North Georgia day trip goes!