04/13/2026
Hosted and “Partnered” again for the 3rd
year by the beautiful Bodensee German
Restaurant and presented by the Alpine Helen
Volksmarch Club (AHVC), a non-profit 501c3
organization. The event is aimed primarily at
promoting “Bavarian-style walking and hiking
activities” that help build a healthy lifestyle and
supports Helen’s Alpine oriented culture.
Our annual marquee event, the Volkswanderung 10k
hike and 5k walk and “Bavarian Biergarten Festival”
is held on the fourth Saturday of April every year in
beautiful Alpine Helen, Georgia.
Information and Directions
START LOCATION (Walk and Hike):
Bodensee German Restaurant &
Biergarten - Registration and Host Partner
64 Munich Straße
Helen, Georgia 30545
*Dogs: Friendly dogs on a leash are allowed on the walk with
registered walkers. Please pick up your pet’s waste along the way.
START TIME:
You can register at the Bodensee Biergarten and start
walking the 5k or 10k anytime between 7:30–10:00 am,
Saturday morning, April 25, 2026
FINISH TIME:
Please return by Noon to the Bodensee Biergarten. AVA
WALK Books will be stamped and AVA Start Cards
collected. Bavarian FEST begins at approximately 12 noon
for all registered WALK participants. Tickets will be
available for food and bier at $10.00 each at the Fest.
DISTANCES:
The Hiking Trail distance to the Unicoi Lodge and back
on the Helen to Unicoi trail is 10k (6.2 miles) and has a
rating of “3C”, (inclines on established hillside trail). An
alternate 5k route on the same trail is also available with a
checkpoint and turnaround for registrants wishing to take the
shorter route. The hiking trail is marked with both orange
trailblazer markers and AHVC signs starting at the trailhead
located at the Unicoi Hill park in Helen, GA. From there,
you will see the beautiful trout streams and spectacular
Page 2 AHVC Tri-fold 2026 V8rp
views along the foothills in Unicoi State Park. Water and
restrooms are available at the Unicoi Lodge checkpoint
before returning to the Helen on the same marked trail. The
Unicoi Lodge also features a convenience store and
restaurant which is available for hikers who need or would
like a break before their return hike back to Helen.
The total Walking Trail distance on the Hardman trail is
5k (3.1 miles) and has a rating of “1A”. This walking trail is
mostly flat sidewalks and is suitable for wheelchairs and
strollers. The trail starts at the edge of Alpine Helen and
winds along the beautiful Chattahoochee River to the
Hardman Farm State Historic site. Restrooms and water are
available at the Hardman Visitor Center which is located just
beyond the 5k mid-point turnaround.
A map to guide hikers and walkers to the beginning of each
trail will be provided during the event registration at the
Bodensee German Restaurant.
ON SITE REGISTRATION FEES:
NOTE: PLEASE CASH OR CHECK ONLY!
Bank machine is closeby.
can provide debit s cash.
Walk REGISTRATION FEE - CREDIT
ONLY: $5.00 AVA Registration fee per
person. Children under 12 walk free but must be
accompanied by an adult.
COMMEMORATIVE PIN (“A”
Award) for 2026, with logo, $5.00
“BAVARIAN FEST PACKAGE” is only
$10.00 per person. This includes a FREE
ticket for gift drawing at 2:00 pm, Bodensee
German (2) Biers (Must be 21) & German food at
lunch in the Biergarten (registration area).
REGISTRATION:
Registration information is available for the hikers/walkers
at the AHVC Website: www.alpinehelenvolksmarch.org or
www.ava.org. The registration and AVA Official WALK
cards will be on site at the Bodensee Biergarten on the day
of the event. Look for the IVV/AVA/AHVC banners and the
AHVC WALK Registration sign.
STIPULATIONS :
The walk event is open to everyone. Should the event be
canceled due to severe weather, it will be rescheduled for
Sunday, April 26, 2026, same time and location.
DISCLAIMER:
The presenters and sponsors are not liable for accidents,
thefts, and/or material damage. Every effort will be made to
make this a safe, enjoyable, and memorable event. Neither
the AVA nor its subsidiary clubs are responsible for theft or
loss of personal belongings or property.
All participants must sign and date the AVA Official
Event Start Card (Waiver) registration form prior to
participation in the walk event.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Water will be free at the start/finish and checkpoint(s).
Refreshments, bier (21 or over), Bavarian food, and music
will be available at the finish for registered walkers with the
Fest Package from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the famous
Bodensee Restaurant. Please wear your Lederhosen or
Dirndls to help celebrate this great event!
PRIZE RAFFLE by Helen Rotary Club:
All participants finishing the ALPINE GERMAN-STYLE
walk will receive one free ticket and be provided an
opportunity to purchase xtra tickets for prizes for the
drawing in the finish area following the walk. Additional
prize tickets can be purchased from Rotary volunteers for
$5.00 each or 5 tickets for $20.00. Drawings will be at
approximately 2:00 pm, and you must have your drawing
ticket to win. We expect to have hundreds worth (in total
(Retail value) in donated items and gift cards by local
business sponsors for the drawing. Net proceeds from the
prize drawings go to Helen Rotary Club for local charities.,
White County, GA.
ABOUT HELEN, GA:
Helen, GA is located approximately 90 miles northeast of
Atlanta, GA on route 75, (Helen Highway). Alpine Helen
offers visitors a unique place to relax and enjoy the Bavarian
village, mountains, trout streams, waterfalls, and more at 200
specialty stores, import shops and restaurants. Lodging is
provided by over 1,100 quality rooms located in within
Helen’s city limits. Helen also earned the position as one of
the top three tourist attractions in Georgia, and a very special
“cannot miss” place to visit in the southeastern USA.
Please
contact Helen Welcome Center for more local information.
Alpine Helen Welcome Center
726 Brücken Strasse
Helen, GA 305453
WEB Site: www.helenga.org
PH (800)858.8027
Helen Chamber Information:
WEB Site: www.helenchamber.com
Alpine Helen Volksmarch Club (AHVC) is a 501(c)3
charity and a local “Bavarian-style” AVA walking club
affiliated with the AVA and is dedicated to promoting family
wellness by sponsoring healthy walking & hiking events for
the community. www.alpinehelenvolksmarch.org
Helen Rotary Club is a nonprofit service organization
affiliated with Rotary International USA.
http://rotaryclubhelenga.org
This event is sanctioned ( #131489-2026-SE) by the
American Volkssport Association (AVA), member of
International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV).
Alpine Helen Volksmarch Club “Bavarian Hiking in Alpine Helen, GA” Volksmarch History Volksmarching, (German “Volksmarsch” for people’s march), is non-competitive walking/hiking that developed in Europe in the mid-late 1960s. Vision, Values, and Goals The AHVC believes that hiking is an ad...
