Tales of Scales Events

Smithgall Woods State Park


Wednesday, January 1, 2025

First Day Hike: Duke's Creek Falls Hike
Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025 1 PM to 4 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Start your New Year's resolution off right! This hike will begin at the Visitor's Center, and we will make a pit stop approximately 1.3 miles away at our primitive cabin. There, by a toasty fire, you can warm yourself against the winter chill. If you are feeling adventurous, you can then continue an additional 1.2 miles to Duke's Creek Falls. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
First Day Hike Event 
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Saturday, January 11, 2025

Chilly Chunanee Falls Hike
Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join Smithgall's Naturalist on a frosted hike to Smithgall Woods' most remote waterfall. Chunanee Falls is a beautiful ridge-line trail to a small waterfall. This trail is an easy 1 mile, but please dress for the weather, and make sure to bring water. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Homeschool Day: Animal Adaptations
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
This program is intended for individual homeschool families, and is reservation only. Come to Smithgall Woods to learn all about the animals of North East Georgia, and how they are adapted to the local environment they call home. Get a chance to have a close look at individual animal features, skulls and furs. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
Wild Georgia Event 
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Saturday, February 8, 2025

Martins Mine Hike
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join Smithgall's Naturalist on a guided hike of Martins Mine Trail. Learn about the history of the trail, and what native plants make up the park's landscape. This trail is a moderate .9 mile and has steep inclines. please wear the appropriate attire and remember to bring plenty of water! $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Homeschool Day - Smithgall Snakes
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
This Program is geared towards Homeschool Families. Come to Smithgall Woods to learn all about snakes, what makes them unique, what species we have in Georgia, and what to do when you come across one. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Edible Plant Hike
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
join Tom Hennigan, retired professor of Truett McConnell University, on an educational hike of all things edible plants! See what can be found, even in February, how to identify it, and how it can be used. We will be hiking the Martins Mine Trail, a moderate .9 mile trail. Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes, and remember to bring water. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, March 8, 2025

Wetland Hike
Saturday, Mar 8, 2025 9 AM to 10:30 AM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join Smithgall Woods' Naturalist on a guided hike of the Wetland Trail. This easy, .3 mile trail wraps around Smithgall's wetland area and covered bridge. Learn about the unique qualities of a mountain wetland, and what plants need this type of ecosystem to survive. Please make sure to dress for the weather, and bring plenty of water. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Wonderful Wild Plants
Saturdays 10 AM - 12 PM – Mar 8, 2025 until Mar 15, 2025 
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Learn all about the wonderful wild plants of Eastern Appalachia, and their practical uses as food, supplements, and medicines. Learn the basics of foraging, and how to do it ethically. This is a beginner class for Spring Wild Plants. There will be a one hour class portion, then a one hour outdoor "plant walk" to see what we can find! $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Wonderful Wild Plants
Saturday, Mar 8, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Learn all about the wonderful wild plants of Eastern Appalachia, and their practical uses as food, supplements, and medicines. Learn the basics of foraging, and how to do it ethically. This is a beginner class for Spring Wild Plants. There will be a one hour class portion, then a one hour outdoor "plant walk" to see what we can find! $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, March 22, 2025

Wonderful Wild Plants
Saturday, Mar 22, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Learn all about the wonderful wild plants of Eastern Appalachia, and their practical uses as food, supplements, and medicines. Learn the basics of foraging, and how to do it ethically. This is a beginner class for Spring Wild Plants. There will be a one hour class portion, then a one hour outdoor "plant walk" to see what we can find! $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, March 29, 2025

Magic Mycology
Saturday, Mar 29, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join mushroom expert Brian Hale to learn all things mushrooms! Spend 1 hour in the "classroom" going over the basics of mushroom identification, uses, and how to avoid any bad foraging experiences. After the class, we will head outside to see what we can find! $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, April 12, 2025

Build Your Pollinator Garden
Saturday, Apr 12, 2025 11 AM to 12:30 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Learn about the vital importance of pollinators, the different kinds, which are unique to the Southern Appalachia, why you should care, and how you can help. This program is a one our "class". Native and flowering plants will be available for purchase at this program. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
Wild Georgia Event 
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Saturday, April 26, 2025

Art in the Park
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025 10 AM to 1 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join our fellow watercolorists of all ages and skill levels, as we learn to paint one example of the beautiful plants and flowers that thrive in Smithgall Woods State Park. Found in our swamp bog, the simple but elegant Swamp Pink makes a delightful splash of color with an elegant form that begs to be painted. $15 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
Wild Georgia Event 
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Saturday, June 21, 2025

Smithgall's Snakes
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025 10 AM to 11:30 AM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join Smithgall Woods to discover the numerous species of snakes living all around us! get a chance to ask your reptile-related questions, see some snakes in person, learn how to identify the venomous species, and learn how to live safely around them. $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, July 19, 2025

Magic Mycology
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025 10 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Join mushroom expert Brian Hale to learn all things mushrooms! Spend 1 hour in the "classroom" going over the basics of mushroom identification, uses, and how to avoid any bad foraging experiences. After the class, we will head outside to see what we can find! $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, August 9, 2025

Sunflowers & Selfies
Saturday, Aug 9, 2025 10 AM to 3 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
A much-awaited annual event, Sunflowers & Selfies, promises to deliver on a family-fun day of hayrides, games, photo ops, a native plant sale, and our blooming field of sunflowers. Learn about the park, from our knowledgeable guides, as you enjoy the beauty of Smithgall on a hayride or enjoy at your own pace. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Sunday, August 10, 2025

Sunflowers & Selfies
Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 10 AM to 3 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
A much-awaited annual event, Sunflowers & Selfies, promises to deliver on a family-fun day of hayrides, games, photo ops, a native plant sale, and our blooming field of sunflowers. Learn about the park, from our knowledgeable guides, as you enjoy the beauty of Smithgall on a hayride or enjoy at your own pace. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, August 16, 2025

Sunflowers & Selfies
Saturday, Aug 16, 2025 10 AM to 3 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
A much-awaited annual event, Sunflowers & Selfies, promises to deliver on a family-fun day of hayrides, games, photo ops, a native plant sale, and our blooming field of sunflowers. Learn about the park, from our knowledgeable guides, as you enjoy the beauty of Smithgall on a hayride or enjoy at your own pace. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Sunday, August 17, 2025

Sunflowers & Selfies
Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 10 AM to 3 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
A much-awaited annual event, Sunflowers & Selfies, promises to deliver on a family-fun day of hayrides, games, photo ops, a native plant sale, and our blooming field of sunflowers. Learn about the park, from our knowledgeable guides, as you enjoy the beauty of Smithgall on a hayride or enjoy at your own pace. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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Saturday, September 13, 2025

Fall Edible Plant Hike
Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 9 AM to 12 PM
Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen, GA
Come to Smithgall Woods to learn all about what you can be munching on in the fall. This program consists of 1 hour of indoor class time, before we head out on a short hike to see what we can find! Learn about the difference between edible, medicinal, and supplemental plants, and what can be foraged ethically in the Southern Blueridge region. $10 plus $5 parking. 706-878-3087.
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