We came across the location I. The touristy downtown area and so thankful to the young lady who suggested we drive to the base location so we wouldn't have to get on a bus and could have access to the bathrooms and changing rooms. While at the base we also bought waterproof cases for our phones as it's a must . . . But the biggest must and don't let these people fool you is getting that stick. They will tell you it's optional and yes it does cost but you will wish you had the stick when you are stuck on a rock and can't push off. We got on the river near the end of the day and did the long route. It was suppose to take 2 hours but as soon as we got on the river it started pouring so between increased water flow and us pushing ourselves down the river we finished in about 1 1/2 hours. At the half way point there were staff members asking if we wanted to get out (many people hand gotten out and abandoned their float) however we were in for the long haul. The water was shallow in most spots, a few deep areas, the do offer life vest for free. I'm from Texas and we float the river every summer so I'm not new to this but this was seriously one of the best floats I've had (even with the rain and the sunblock that melted into my eyes). The staff was super friendly, we were the last ones to get off the river. They held our keys with an ID. They offered a military discount and we would definitely do this again. Get the stick, thank me later!! read more

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Top tips up front: The stick is not optional and wear water socks! They give a military discount!! The path is wrought with rocks. Without a stick, you will get stuck on one. We lost our stick and jumped out to get it. The river rocks are very unforgiving to feet. Bring water shoes in case you end up outside your tube. We were strapped together and ran the strap through our shoes to keep from losing them. We got caught in a torrential rain fall. It was no one's fault and we finished the float anyway. I would go back and do it again. read more

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This has become one of our yearly traditions and it's always such a fun day. If you're expecting a smooth relaxing float... think again hahaha. You WILL probably get stuck on rocks a few times, but honestly that's what makes it fun and usually leads to the funniest moments of the day. The river itself is really pretty and it's such a fun way to spend time with friends and cool off in the summer. I'd definitely recommend wearing water shoes because the rocks are no joke. The tubing process itself has always been pretty easy for us and it's something we keep coming back for every year. Overall, if you're going to Helen in the summer and want something fun and laid back to do, I definitely recommend giving Cool River Tubing a try. I suggest getting there right when they open at 9am for shorter wait times and easy parking! read more

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My family had the best time while we were here a few weeks ago. Morgan was very helpful and very friendly. We are from upstate New York and came with family that lives in Georgia. You have a true gem of an employee with this young lady. We definitely look forward to our next visit. read more

This was probably one of the most efficient tubing locations I have ever gone to. Of course.We went on fourth of july so they were incredibly busy as to be expected. Luckily I. Had purchased my stuff prior to so when I got there they were quick to get me in and get me situated. The ladies running the register were very quick to answer every question and have me squared away so that I didn't have much to worry about. Waiting on the bus wasn't bad at all, and we even had.Some people provide us sticks so we did not have to pay for them. When I was through with the stick , I did like they did and paid it forward. We thoroughly enjoyed the tubing and it provided us with several fun memories for my family. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - The wheels on the bus go round and round! - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

What a great time! A must do when in Helen We had a little bit a of a rain delay and the owner came by and hooked us up with free ice cream. The two hour trip down the river was just an awesome family time. A lot of time when you are on vacation and do an activity, you are like I did that and I'm good But I would do it again the very next day. There are days that I wake up and wish I can take a trip down a river on a tube read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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It was a great experience. The floats were comfortable. The staff were wonderful. Definitely get the push stick when traveling down the river. It's a time saver. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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Such a great experience! The guides are awesome and educational! It was our first time and they made us feel at ease.

So much fun!! Just buy the stick! Seamless check-in and shuttle. My 65yo mom tubed without trouble. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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Well worth doing. Water was cold but you get used to it. Make sure you have water shoes rocks are very slippery. We did it in the afternoon so the water felt great. Make sure if you do this that you protect your electronic devices or even key fobs with a dry bag or even a zip lock to make sure water doesn't get them. read more

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The website says the last float is at 6:30 PM, but we were told at the Main Street location they had already closed and we were sent to another location "less than a mile away"--which was a 3-minute drive while we were on foot. We ran. We received no notice that we needed to arrive before 6 PM. Thankfully, a manager was helpful and held the bus for us, but other customers were also turned away despite it being before 6:30 PM. Every worker just about said "you should know to arrive earlier than 6PM" when we drove 4 hours for tubing, never had been to the area, and doesn't mention anything on their website to be early. This was very frustrating and easily avoidable with clearer communication. They ask for your number and email but don't send you information to come early. People tried to stop the bus for the same reason, they were rejected and told to get a refund. read more

Fourth year visiting Helen, and we always choose Cool River. Their locations are so convenient and their process is smooth. $14 gives you a ride on the river - same price if you choose long or short ride - and your tube. You get a wristband, and then a bus ride to the drop off. The river is beautiful! And so fun. There does seem to be more trash in the water this year than in the last years we were here, but my hope is they clean it up. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

Easy transactions, friendly staff and great experience in the river. Clean restrooms, showers and changing rooms. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - River in Helen, GA. - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

What a blast . It was fun and relaxing. Bought tickets on line, you can go for 1 hour or 2 hours. Make sure you get a stick. You may get stuck on rocks. The water was 72, but the tubes have bottomsWe went early, 10am on Saturday and it was perfect. Peaceful, only a few tubes on the river.12 the river was packed, and it was bumper cars. It was great. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

This was my favorite part of visiting Helen besides the food. This was so relaxing, refreshing and fun. There were some fun smaller rapids, the water was a little low in spots, but again made for a fun day. This is great for the entire family. Definitely have water shoes and I recommend you get the pole to help navigate certain areas. The price was extremely fair too! read more

We had a party of 4 with 2 of them not really wanting to go tubing, yet I made them go anyways and that ended up being the best part of our trip for everyone. Very fun. In Florida our water is flat and boring, this was so much better. read more

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Our family of 7 went tubing with Cool River on May 29th as walk up's. We were given wristbands and directed to check in and get on the bus. Water shoes and river stick are a must. Bus trip for our 1 hour trip was short. There is also a 2 hour trip option. Drop in was easy and the river was relaxing. Several areas of shallow water get you hung up in the rocks so pay attention. Gets a bit dicey around the retail area and bridge with some bigger rocks locking us in place. In some cases you might need to get out of your tube to get unstuck. Overall a great family adventure! We will be back:) Recommend. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

Just a fun amazing trip. The whole thing was easy and they were very nice. The tubes were great and the busses were ok. The long trip only took us an hour and a half. I would have done it two day in a row had we stayed one more day. read more

Arrived at 9:40 for a 10am PREPAID reservation and nobody there. Nobody to call. Nothing. Completely unprofessional! DO NOT BOOK HERE!!!

There was a group of 4 of us that went tubing, on the weekend. We went on a Saturday so of course it was super busy, but it also rained part of the time so it may have deterred a few people. This would have been really fun if it weren't so crowded but you have groups of teenagers who also listen to simple instructions that cause big pile ups in which you then have to try to get unstuck. Probably better to go shortly after it has rained for there to be more water. read more

I visited Cool River Tubing on a Sunday early afternoon in late July. It was unbelievably packed. It seems this is one of the towns main attractions & the crowds are too big for the operation. Granted, everything for the most part runs smoothly, but the amount of people everywhere really slows the flow down. Once the free parking is full, you have to walk about a mile to pay $10 to park. No shuttles provided. I thought purchasing a ticket in advance would help the wait time, but I don't believe it made a difference. I 100% would recommend purchasing a push stick for $5. The river is extremely crowded and low at this time. You will definitely get stuck and run into people on your way down. I wish there was timed entry to help with this. I enjoyed the floating down the river & would recommend the two hour trip to get an worth while experience. I would recommend visiting on a weekday during a slow period. read more

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Get the stick!! My friend and I had so much fun when we went tubing! It was so beautiful! We got the tubes with the bottoms and headrests. Thank goodness because they did warn us it was shallow, but we did not realize how shallow it actually was. We hit a lot of rocks and got stuck a lot because of it. Which is why you should get the stick! We went on a Thursday morning in mid August and it was not very busy at all. There were maybe 10 people on the bus ride to the beginning of the river that started with us. They did not end with us though lol! It was about a two hour tubing experience. read more

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I had an amazing time with my family tubing down the river! One thing that I do recommend is straps to tie with your family to stay close and sticks to help push you off the rocks! The staff members were so nice I was barefoot and the guy rushed to come and save me before I stepped in some glass that was shattered. Although it was busy we had a blast! When you go down the river people will have music and sometimes have water guns! One last thing I do recommend is water shoes so your feet stay safe! After we were done went to go eat and the food in the Helen downtown is amazing! We did have long lines but it was definitely worth the wait. We even got time to go to the Helen ride downhill which was awesome! The staff there was also so sweet and helpful! If they had more than five stars I would definitely give them a ten thank you so much for the amazing experience today! read more

Pot & cigarette smokers ruined an otherwise great trip. It was disgusting & we'd get past one group of smokers only to get stuck around another group. Can you people not lay off for a couple of hours & have some respect for everyone else's outdoor experience? Also, the teenagers they have working were overwhelmed by their own processes for waivers, wristbands, lockers, stick purchases. I don't know how the company can stop people from doing it, but I'll never go back & don't recommend others go, either. Unless you're a pothead or addicted to cigarettes. You'd love it. Gross. read more

This was a relaxing and very fun experience for my family. We paid for the one hour ride which was plenty long for us. The route is very picturesque and shaded throughout by a tree canopy high above you. We recommend getting the "push sticks" because they are very useful in ensuring you can push off against rocks, the shore, trees, etc. read more

Enjoyed a day of tubing through Helen with my boyfriend and dog. I wish I took photos but I was too scared my phone would get ruined so I left it behind. We opted for the longer route and brought a stick to shimmy ourselves off the rocks with. Some areas were tough to get off the rocks but for the most part it was smooth sailing. Word of advice: look ahead and plan which areas to avoid. Also being strapped together helped when we pushed, pulled and kicked ourselves out of tough areas. read more

Hubs and I had the most amazing time tubing at Cool River Tubing last weekend. Full disclosure, we were planning on heading to the other tubing company right across the street, but became discouraged by the line of people waiting to get in the water. We decided to try this one instead, and are happy we did. There was ample parking and we had no trouble finding a spot on the busy Sunday we visited. We walked right into the shop to buy our tickets. We opted for the long ride and one rental of the push stick (we should have gotten two). There were signs saying you could not wear flip flops or slides on the river (which we were) so we purchased pairs of water shoes on site for $10 each. They were really poorly made and broke during the trip, but considering we flipped over twice (it was quite funny) it was money well spent. There were tons of people in the river with flip flops and slides so I guess the sign was to encourage shoe sales. I will say, however, we did pass several rogue shoes floating in the river so keep that in mind. We had a really nice float down the river. The waters were a bit more rough than we had anticipated, but we had a lot of fun. We ended up grabbing a strap to tie our floats together - which then made it more difficult for hubs to navigate around some rocks. I would recommend a push stick per person irrespective of whether you will tie the floats together. Once we got to the end, there was a line to get on a busy to head back to the starting point. The line was long, yet it moved really quickly. A bit of warning, though, for those uneasy about being in close quarters with others - the bus ride was mighty tight. Multiple people in each seat and people standing in the middle. I would make other arrangements if you will be uncomfortable in this set up. We will probably use a ride share app next time. All in all, it was a lovely afternoon. The cold water took a second to get used to, but we had so much fun. Everything is taken care of so you don't have to plan much. Just get yourself over and park - hop on in the water and you're all set. We will absolutely be back! read more

Pictures of my family tubing August 5, 2023 with Cool River Tubing CO at Helen GA. They did the 2 hour one and loved it!!! read more

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Overall 4/5: Super easy process and experience. Although it looks super busy, the lines move pretty fast. My family and I visited Cool River Tubing on July 4th, and I myself visited again on the 5th with my friends. It was so much fun. I highly recommend getting the poking sticks though, it won't be an enjoyable experience if you don't. The river is super rocky and has lots of stuff to navigate around. Definitely invest in the sticks, they are only $5! The tubing itself for two hours is not a bad price either. You take the bus up the mountain, and although the line for the buses it long, they had plenty. They do pack them pretty tight though, so be warned. Love the set up of the place though, you end right where you parked. Parking is kind of hard to find though, so I recommend getting there early, or parking further and just walking. Just be sure to read the signs that it is not private property. Great experience overall, just be prepared to be pushing and navigating more than just laying and relaxing lol. Thank you, Cool River Tubing! read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

This is the place to tube in Helen, in my opinion. It's the only place I go to and I've been several times. It was just over $10 per person. With that said, it's not my favorite place to tube in Georgia. (Sorry Helen!) Pros: The water is shallow through a majority of the float making it great for kids. They sell sticks to help push off rocks and get unstuck. The float goes through beautiful Helen and there are rhododendron in the banks. There are changing rooms and bathrooms where you pay, which is where you catch the bus and where you'll ultimately end your float. The float is fairly shaded throughout. There are 1 and 2 hour options available, and you can even squeeze in several floats if you arrive early enough in the day. There's free parking in the surrounding city lots. Now for the cons: The water is shallow and you will get caught up on rocks. I've gone before and the water has been so shallow in spots that I've had to walk my float through areas. When you float through downtown by all the restaurant patios, you are the show. lol So don't take a tumble out of you float through that stretch. The current can be pretty swift in spots, especially if it has recently rained. Pro-tips: Always call where you're tubing the morning of and ask about the water level and flow. Bring snacks or a packed tie-over meal to skip all the food crowds in town. By the time you get off the water you'll be hungry and likely be looking at a wait because that's Helen. They do sell some snacks in their shop where you start/stop your float. It gets busy on weekends and holidays. While I've seen photos of the river so packed people couldn't move; I've also been there when there were maybe 8 people I saw on the 2 hour float. Timing is everything. Buy the stick! You'll definitely need it. Secure anything and everything you bring with you on the water. If you flip you'll lose everything faster than you can grab your float, stick, drink, camera, bag, shoes. If you're floating with someone else you can get a strap to connect your floats. I don't suggest connecting the floats because it just makes it harder to navigate obstacles. I'm not saying you're absolutely going to flip your float at some point or get really wet but... it is likely to happen. Wear water shoes. Remember it's all fun. A few times I saw people desperately running to try to catch a raft or stick, fighting currents and stumbling on rocks. Remember it's supposed to be fun and laugh about the adventure of it all. Although this last trip down the river in Helen left me feeling beat up and exhausted, Helen, I am certain I will be back. read more

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My husband and I had a great time tubing while in Helen. You can pay the same rate for a 1 hour or 2 hour float. We chose the shorter trip because one of the girls at check in said we were less likely to get stuck or have to walk. It was a great tip for us as we were looking for a relaxing float. Had a really good time! read more

Definitely better than the pink tube company...they had open center tubes so your ass would be hitting every rock. Cool River Tubes were fully enclosed bottom...definitely a better experience. Only thing I'd say is their workers at the end of the river to get you out of the water are rude as hell! Very unprofessional kids. Other than that this company is the way to go. read more

definitely an experience! definitely get a push stick for everyone, you'll need it! got caught on a couple rocks since the water levels were low and it was a little tough to get out but we managed. lots of laughs were had ! read more

Super fun! Do not miss out! I very much recommend getting the stick for $5 as this will help you navigate the river with rocks. A few areas on the river were super rocky and the sticks help you! Overall, very quick bus ride to the drop off points. Our bus drivers were super nice and helpful! read more

I've had the opportunity, YouTube many rivers in many places, and this one presents a very unique and fun time. The only downside is, the Chattahoochee is very narrow and shallow at this point, and quite crowded with all of the tubing companies. None of us is well worth it if you're in Helena for a Bavarian beer and Myrtle Beach in the mountains !!! Substitute Gatlinburg substitute any beach town with T-shirts shops, fudge shops. Strange place if you're not there, but it's well worth visiting. If you're close by call Tip and company provided a very quick efficient and extremely affordable trip for myself and our entire family. read more

So so fun! Very professional and organized. Would HIGHLY recommended this tubing company! We would've done it twice if the water was higher.

I have not been tubing since I was a teenager, so this was a fun venture for the day. We actually got there kinda late, and I thought they would turn us down, because the hours on the Yelp site said they closed in less than an hour, but thankfully that wasn't the case. They even asked if we wanted a one hour or two hour ride. We opted for the hour because we were both starving before we even got going. They have a dressing room area to change, and you can purchase a locker if you want to store your things. Unfortunately I didn't bring my phone, so I didn't do a good job getting pictures. Thankfully there are plenty to see on Yelp already. So basically you pay, get your hand stamped, and then go get your tube. Then you sit on a bus, and they drop you off for the 1 hour or the two hour. The water was cold! I mean, I am a wimp, but still...I found it freezing. Also, I got ate up by those darn no see ems...those bugs you can't see but man, I had bites all over when I was done. So bring bug spray. You can get these sticks that are supposed to help navigate you around rocks etc, but we kept getting stuck. Overall it's a fun relaxing way to spend some time outdoors and appreciate nature, but no way would I want to do the two hour...I felt like an hour was long enough for sure. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Sorry this is the one pic I took! - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

This is a very fun activity for the whole family. I highly recommend it! The kids enjoyed it. read more

Fun time. 2 hour trip is the way to go. You need the stick to have a better time. We got stuck a lot and that was all part of the fun. We brought kids ages 3-13 & they all liked it. We did see a lady that let her boobs out while floating, she was having a good time. read more

Cool River Tubing & Ziplines - Tubing Near Me - Helen, Georgia

They will tell you it's faster to buy tickets online, but it's an hour-plus wait either way on a weekend day, and they'll even put you in a longer line if you bought your tickets in advance online. Plus, they'll be extremely rude to you the whole time. On top of that, wouldn't recommend tubing down this river through this company or Helen Tubing. Both are quite bad, and the experience is the furthest thing from relaxing you can imagine. Overcrowded at all times. Helen is somehow the Bourbon Street of Georgia. Tourist trap. read more