Smithgall Woods State Park: Hours, Fees and Directions

Water And Ice Safety: read this before you go

Short answer

Smithgall Woods State Park is a 5,844-acre state park in White County, near Helen. Park hours are 7 a.m.–Dark. Parking is $10 per vehicle per day or $70 for an annual ParkPass. Checked October 20, 2026 on its official page.

Hours

7 a.m.–Dark

Cost

$10 per vehicle

Where

Helen, North Georgia

Dogs

Leashed, 6 ft max

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A 5,844-acre conservation area on Dukes Creek near Helen, with catch-and-release trout fishing by reservation in season and 28 miles of trails. All visitors register at the visitor center.

Plan it in three lines

Getting In
Parking is $10 per vehicle for the day, or $70 for the annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park.
Park 7 a.m.–Dark
What to Do
The official page lists Archery, reservations required, Biking and Birdwatching.
Leashed dogs welcome outdoors
Make It a Day
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is about 3 miles away. Coming up near here: Downtown Dawsonville Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting in Dawsonville.
6 events within 30 mi

Smithgall Woods State Park Hours

Hours at a glance

Hours in a day

Park7 a.m.–dark
Office8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day.

A quick view of the usual hours. Seasonal changes and holiday closures are in the list below, so read that before you drive.

Park7 a.m.–Dark
Office8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day.

What It Costs

Parking, by the visit

Day parking vs. the annual ParkPass, by number of visits

$70 annual ParkPass

Day parking is $10 per vehicle. Seven visits cost the same as the $70 annual ParkPass; from the eighth visit the pass is cheaper. Bars show what that many day visits cost in total.

Parking: $10 per vehicle per day, or a $70 annual ParkPass that works at every Georgia state park. Overnight guests pay the daily fee once per stay; parking is not included with a reservation (Georgia State Parks ParkPass page).

Where It Is and How to Get in Touch

Address61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen, GA 30545
CountyWhite (North Georgia region)
GPS34.69195, -83.76715 (directions in Google Maps)
Park706-878-3087
Reservations800-864-7275
Official pagegastateparks.org/SmithgallWoods

Dogs and Strollers

Dogs: Georgia State Parks welcomes pets on a leash no longer than six feet, with the owner at all times. Pets are not allowed in park and historic site buildings, lodges, yurts, group camps, swimming areas or beaches (park rules).
Strollers: the park does not publish stroller rules. Paths range from paved walks to rough trails, so call ahead (706-878-3087) if you need a stroller-friendly route.

What’s at Smithgall Woods State Park

Facilities the park lists: 6 Cottages; Pioneer Campground — call park to reserve, youth & conservation groups only; 5 Picnic Shelters; Visitor Center; Discovery Room Museum; Gift Shop.

Things to do: Archery — reservations required; Biking; Birdwatching; Chronolog; Trout Fishing — seasonal, reservations required, catch & release only; Hiking — 28 miles of trails; Hunting; Picnicking; Weddings — park approval required; Geocaching.

Accessibility: this site lends an All-Terrain Georgia Action Trackchair (free, reserve ahead). How to book: free all-terrain wheelchairs at Georgia state parks.

Know Before You Go

Visitor Center Notice: All visitors must register at the Visitor Center.

Events Coming Up Near Smithgall Woods

Around Smithgall Woods within 30 miles

State parks and historic sites

1Unicoi State Park & Lodgestate park3 mi
2Hardman Farm State Historic Sitestate historic site3 mi
3Vogel State Parkstate park10 mi
4Moccasin Creek State Parkstate park15 mi

Events coming up

5Downtown Dawsonville Christmas Parade & Tree LightingDawsonville27 mi
6Gobble Wobble 5KBlairsville17 mi
7Mountain Country Christmas in LightsHiawassee19 mi
8Annual Lighting of the Village (Helen)Helen3 mi
9Helen Christmas Market (first weekend)Helen3 mi
10Victorian Christmas at Hardman FarmSautee Nacoochee5 mi

Straight-line distances from the site’s GPS point. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable. The same places are listed below.

Nov 21Downtown Dawsonville Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting, Dawsonville (about 27 miles away, free)
Nov 26Gobble Wobble 5K, Blairsville (about 17 miles away)
Nov 26 – Dec 31Mountain Country Christmas in Lights, Hiawassee (about 19 miles away, free to $12)
Nov 27Annual Lighting of the Village (Helen), Helen (about 3 miles away, free)
Nov 28 – Nov 29Helen Christmas Market (first weekend), Helen (about 3 miles away, free)
Dec 4 – Dec 19Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm, Sautee Nacoochee (about 5 miles away)

Events within 30 miles in the next 90 days from our Georgia event calendar, as of October 20, 2026; distances are straight-line from the site’s GPS point. The park’s own ranger programs and events are on the Georgia State Parks events calendar.

Nearby State Parks and Historic Sites

Unicoi State Park & Lodge (state park, White County), about 3 miles away
Hardman Farm State Historic Site (state historic site, White County), about 3 miles away
Vogel State Park (state park, Union County), about 10 miles away
Moccasin Creek State Park (state park, Habersham County), about 15 miles away

More on It’s Georgia

All Georgia state parks and historic sites, by region
Georgia state parks compared: hours, parking, dogs and free accessibility equipment in one table
Helen guide
North Georgia: more places to go in the region

Source: the Smithgall Woods State Park page on gastateparks.org (Georgia Department of Natural Resources), checked October 20, 2026. Hours and fees change, so check the official page before a long drive. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it.

Safety Notice

Water And Ice Safety: Read This Before You Go

Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, beaches and ice can kill, quickly and without warning. Conditions change by the hour and we cannot see them from here. This page is general information only. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not say or promise that any place, water, ice or activity is safe.

We do not inspect, test, measure or monitor water, ice, currents, depth, water quality, algae, wildlife, access, closures or lifeguard staffing at any place we list.
Posted signs, closures, advisories, flags and the directions of rangers, lifeguards and the land owner or managing agency always override anything here. A place being listed does not mean it is open, legal to enter, or permitted for swimming, wading, boating or fishing, and does not give you permission to be on private land or private water.
Children and weak swimmers: the CDC says to assign a responsible adult to watch children closely and constantly in or near water, with no phone, reading, alcohol or drugs, and to use life jackets for children in and around natural water. It also says inflatable or foam toys are not safety devices.
Open water hides hazards. The CDC names currents, waves, rocks, vegetation and poor visibility. As general guidance (not from a named source), also expect sudden drop-offs, very cold water even on a warm day, submerged objects, boat traffic and changing weather. Never swim alone, and never mix alcohol with water or boats.

Emergency in the United States: call 911. Learn CPR, as the CDC recommends.

Not ConfirmedWe have not verified current water or ice conditions, water quality, access, swimming or boating permission, lifeguard hours, fees, rules or closures for any place on this page. The land owner or managing agency (a park, city, county, state or federal office, or the property owner) is the one who can confirm them. Ask them before you go.

Sources read on 8 November 2026: the Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html, no page date shown) and the CDC drowning prevention page (cdc.gov/drowning/prevention, page dated 29 September 2025). Guidance can change and can differ by state and by place: check the current text and your local agency before relying on it. This notice is general guidance only. It is not legal, medical, rescue or professional safety advice, and nobody on this site is a lifeguard or safety professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for any children and pets with you, and you use this information at your own risk. Water, ice, weather and local rules change quickly and differ by state, county and property. To the fullest extent the law allows, this site, its owner and its contributors are not responsible for any injury, death, loss or damage that results from using this information or from visiting any place, water or ice mentioned here. If you do not accept that, do not rely on this page (see the Limits Of Liability in our Terms Of Use).

Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Smithgall Woods State Park”, itsgeorgia.com/places/smithgall-woods-state-park/ (updated 2026-11-09). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.

Getting In

What to Do

Make It a Day