Helenback Race Series

Helenback Race Series - April 18, 2026

Come run the beautiful and challenging trails surrounding Helen GA. Stay for post-race party with food, drinks, and music!

Join GUTS for just $15 a year and receive $5 off GUTS races plus other benefits. GUTS Membership is available on Ultrasignup - GetGUTS

PACKET/BIB/TSHIRT PICKUP:

Runners can pickup their packet either Friday night or on race day. Packet pickup will be available from 3 pm - 5 pm at the start/finish area on Friday night. Race day packet pickup will be available starting at 6:15 am on race day (Saturday)- this will also be at the start/finish area.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS:

Enter Helen on Hwy 17/75/Main Street. You will turn on Brucken Strasse. (There is a Circle K Gas station at the corner.) The address of the Circle K gas station is 7934 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545, so if you put that into your GPS you will get to the intersection of Brucken Strasse and Hwy 17/75/Main Street. Once at this intersection, drive down Brucken Strasse about 300 meters. You will cross the Chattahoochee River. IMMEDIATELY after the bridge, there is a private drive on your left. Turn left into the private drive (there will be a Helenback sign to direct you). At the fork, keep left to continue along the river. Drive about 200 meters to get to the start/finish field and the parking area. We will have parking for about 150 cars. When the start/finish field is full, cars will need to park across the river at the outlet mall (we will have signs/parking attendants directing you). If you park across the river, simply walk back to Brucken Strasse, cross the bridge over the river, and walk down the path to the start/finish field (it's about a .25 mile walk from the overflow parking to the start/finish field).

RACE SCHEDULE

• Marathon: 7:00 am Start (7 hour time limit)
• Half Marathon: 8:30 am start (4.5 hour time limit)
• 4mile: 10:30 am Start

All races start and finish on the field adjoining the Chattahoochee River. See the Race Details section for directions to the start and parking info. ALL RACES HAVE A MANDATORY PRE RACE MEETING 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE START. THE MEETING WILL GO OVER THE COURSE AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET LOST.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Go to GUTS Helenback to view course descriptions, elevation profiles, and maps.

LODGING

Our preferred lodging partner is Unicoi State Park. They have numerous lodging options available (rooms at the lodge, cabins, and campsites) and the park is only minutes from the start and finish of the race. Unicoi State Park has offered Helenback Race Series participants a special promotional rate to stay at the park. Use rate code "10314" when you call or book online for the race weekend.

AID STATIONS & CUTOFFS

There will be several aid stations for the Marathon & Half Marathon. Runners should expect to get aid every 4-6 miles. If you need water/food at a greater frequency than the aid stations, you should bring your own water bottle/hydration pack and food. Go to www.helenbackraceseries.com for full details. We have strict cutoff times for the marathon and 1/2 marathon.

Marathon Cutoffs:

• Need to be past Anna Ruby Falls by 9 am (approx 6 miles)
• 1st blood (Mile 9.6): 9:30 AM (If you do not meet cutoff at 1st blood, you will not be allowed to go up Tray Mountain. You can continue on the 1/2 marathon course to the finish)
• Tray Mountain (Mile 15): 11 am
• Bear Trap (Mile 21.9): 12:45 pm

Half Marathon Cutoffs:

• Bear Trap: 11:45 am
• Field: 12:15 pm