Unicoi State Park: Tips for Your Perfect Visit

Get back to the mountains at Unicoi State Park in North Georgia. Learn more about visiting this popular state park here.

Unicoi State Park is the ultimate mountain retreat where you can find outdoor adventure, relaxation, and a place to unplug in the great outdoors.

Located in Helen, this 1,050-acre park is an adventurers paradise with ziplining, water sports, a lake beach, hiking trails, and more. If you’re looking for a fun mountain escape, a weekend at Unicoi State Park is the perfect getaway!

To make the most of your visit, here are a few tips to help you have a memorable trip to Unicoi State Park.

Unicoi State Park & Lodge

Unicoi State Park & Lodge is the perfect place to unplug and enjoy the great outdoors. This popular state park is situated on 1,050 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The focal piece of the park is the 53-acre Unicoi Lake.

Located just two miles northeast of Helen in the North Georgia Mountains, Unicoi State Park is a great mountain retreat. Nearby are other popular mountain towns like Dahlonega, Hiawassee, and Sautee Nacoochee. And Atlanta is only 1 hour and 40 minutes away.

Dogs and pets are allowed at all Georgia State Parks as long as they’re leashed.

Parking at Unicoi State Park costs $5. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Unicoi Lodge: Georgia’s Adventure Lodge

The Unicoi Lodge is the hub of all things happening at the state park. The lodge has 96 rooms, and plenty with a mountain view. Rooms range from king rooms to double queen rooms to rooms with two full-size beds. The hotel has Wi-Fi and cable TV, so you’re not completely without modern amenities out here in the great outdoors.

There is also on-site dining at the Smith Creek Tavern, Anna’s Italian Kitchen, and the Unicoi Restaurant, which has an excellent breakfast buffet.

When you stay at the lodge, a state park pass is included in your fees. The Unicoi Adventures Gift Shop is where you can book your adventure excursions, which depart from the lodge.

Kevin and I have stayed at the Unicoi Lodge before during a family reunion. We gathered in the Mountain View Room of the Unicoi Restaurant, relaxed around the fire pit, and bonded over the zipline adventure.

Unicoi State Park Facilities

If you’re looking to stay overnight at the park, they have a 96-room lodge; 85 tent, trailer, and RV campsites; 29 cabins and cottages with one, two, or three bedrooms, including their unique Historic Barrel Cabins; 16 Squirrel’s Nest camping shelters; and 4 luxury glamping sites with completely furnished Safari Tents.

If you just want to picnic for the day, they offer 7 picnic shelters as well as meeting rooms and event rooms that you can reserve.

There’s plenty of space for play at the park’s playgrounds, lake beach, and swimming area.

Unicoi State Park Hikes

Unicoi State Park is perfect for exploring with its 12 miles of hiking trails. All of the park’s hiking trail trailheads are located at the far end of the level 3 lodge parking area.

• The 3 mile Unicoi to Helen Trail takes you from the lodge to Unicoi Hill City Park in Helen.
• The 2 mile Bottoms Loop Trail hikes through the hardwood forest and along the banks of Smith Creek.
• The 0.33 mile Frog Pond Nature Trail makes a short loop around Frog Pond and is marked by interpretive signs.
• The 2.5 mile Lake Trail loops around Unicoi Lake with stops at numbered docks along the way.
• The 4.8 mile Smith Creek Trail is a strenuous hike that takes you from the state park to Anna Ruby Falls.

More Things To Do at Unicoi State Park

This Georgia State Park isn’t called “Georgia’s Adventure Lodge” for nothing! There are so many more adventurous things to do around the park.

You can try your hand at archery or shooting at the Air Gun Range, or even hatchet-throwing. You can go on a 3-mile GPS scavenger hunt around the park. Mountain bikers will love the park’s 7.5 mile exclusive mountain biking trail. You can even take a guided nature hike.

One of the more popular activities is the Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventures zipline course. On this adventure, you coast across the canopy on 19 ziplines and 9 suspension bridges that range from 75 to 2,000 feet long and take you as high up as 100 fee off the ground.

(Quick tip: if you lean on a tree and get sap in your hair, hand sanitizer helps loosen up the knots).

The guides are fun, often armed with an arsenal of corny jokes and puns. If you master the first course, you can upgrade for a second or even a third experience for more scenic courses. (Another quick tip: to zip faster, pull your legs up into a cannonball position.)

For those interested in water sports, there are paddleboard, kayak, and Aqua Cycle rentals, as well as fly fishing classes.

Things to Do Near Unicoi State Park

During your stay at the Unicoi State Park & Lodge, head out to explore these other great things to do near the state park.

• Visit the Alpine village of Helen — great for getting dinner and feeling like you’ve been transported to Germany.
• Hike Anna Ruby Falls — two gorgeous waterfalls accessed by Unicoi State Park; however, your Georgia State Park Pass will not count toward Anna Ruby as it is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, so you’ll have to pay for the separate pass.
• Hike the Appalachian Trail — the southern start point of the AT begins at Amicalola Falls State Park.
• Visit Dahlonega — pan for gold at the Consolidated Gold Mine or get close to exotic animals at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve.

Where to Stay Near Unicoi State Park

• Unicoi State Park Lodging: Unicoi Lodge
• Closest Hotel: Riverbend Motel & Cabins
• Top Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Helen
• Great Value: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Helen, GA
• Unique Stay: Valhalla Resort Hotel

Unicoi State Park FAQ

More Georgia Tips

Explore more Georgia destinations with these top guides:

• 25 Fun Things to Do in Helen, GA
• 10 Best Spots for a Summer Vacation in Georgia
• 10 Incredible Spring Break Destinations in Georgia
• Your Perfect Weekend Getaway Guide to Helen, GA
• Top North Georgia Wineries for a Weekend Getaway
• 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)

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Ready to visit Helen, Georgia? 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 using VRBO.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
• Explore Helen in a New Way: Enjoy a Mystery Picnic Date in Helen to discover more of the town.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have you visited Unicoi State Park in Alpine Helen, Georgia? You can let me know all about your visit in the comment section below!