Three waterfalls sit within a short drive of downtown Helen, and they ask very different things of you. Here is how to choose, using the land managers’ own figures.
If you want easy: Anna Ruby Falls
Anna Ruby is the one for strollers, grandparents and a morning that ends with lunch on Main Street. The U.S. Forest Service describes twin waterfalls, the taller dropping more than 150 feet, reached by a paved trail from the visitor information center. You drive out GA-356 past Unicoi State Park.
Entry is $6 per person 16 and older, free for 15 and under. It is open 9 AM to 5 PM daily, with no entry after 4 PM, and closed on a few days around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you want a short hike: Dukes Creek Falls
Dukes Creek is west of town on the Richard Russell Highway. The trail is 1.25 miles each way from the parking lot to the second observation deck, rated moderate. Only the first tenth of a mile, to the first deck, is accessible. It costs $4 per vehicle and is open sunrise to sunset.
If you have half a day: Raven Cliffs Falls
Raven Cliffs is a proper hike: 2.6 miles each way into the Raven Cliffs Wilderness, with stream crossings along the way. The trailhead is at 3000 Richard Russell Highway and charges $5 per vehicle. No bikes or other wheels are allowed in the wilderness. Wear shoes that can get wet.
Side by side
| Anna Ruby | Dukes Creek | Raven Cliffs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail | Paved | 1.25 mi each way | 2.6 mi each way |
| Fee | $6 per person 16+ | $4 per vehicle | $5 per vehicle |
| Best for | Families, an easy morning | A real walk before lunch | A half-day hike |
Fitting it into a Helen day
Do the falls in the morning and come back to town for lunch: downtown’s two-hour lots work fine for an afternoon of shops. Our day planner builds that order for you, and the waterfalls and parks guide adds Unicoi and Smithgall Woods.
Quick answers
How far is Anna Ruby Falls from downtown Helen, and what does it cost?
It is up GA-356 past Unicoi State Park, which the park itself puts two miles from Helen. Entry is $6 per person 16 and older, free for 15 and under, and the falls are open 9 AM to 5 PM with no entry after 4 PM.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
Which waterfall near Helen is easiest?
Anna Ruby Falls, on a paved trail from the visitor center. Dukes Creek Falls is 1.25 miles each way and only its first deck is accessible; Raven Cliffs Falls is 2.6 miles each way with stream crossings.
Source: U.S. Forest Service
Written by the Downtown Helen Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.
Hours, prices and dates change. The official visitor center has the final word: Helen Welcome Center (Alpine Helen/White County CVB)
