There’s no better fall tradition than apple picking. The crisp, delicious apple varieties ripen between August and November and Orange County families flock to the apple orchards for fresh apples, cider, and autumn family traditions. Here’s a list of some of the best places to go for picking apples.
Note: Although there are several u-pick farms in Orange County such as Tanaka Farms, Hana Field, Manassero Farms, and South Coast Farms, none of these Orange County farms offer apple picking.
Apple Starr Orchards – Closed
1020 Julian Orchard Drive, Julian, CA 92036
Open Friday through Sunday
Apple Starr Orchards is open on weekends during apple season for u-pick apples and pears. Apple Starr Orchards is a Certified Organic Grower. There are approximately 1000 trees covering eight acres, many with low hanging branches offering easy access for children.
Julian Farm & Orchard
4381 Julian Highway, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
Open Early September – October 31
Open Friday through Sunday
Julian Farm & Orchard has 2,000 berry plants, 1,500 apple trees and three acres of pumpkins planted for u-pick activities. Fall at the farm includes hayrides, cider pressing, farm animals, axe throwing, archery, berry picking, pumpkin patch, and limited apple picking. All activities are available on weekends from September through October. Visitors may also participate in butter making, apple pie making demonstrations, and candle dipping. There are also several more apple picking farms in the area such as Julian Apple Co, Crosscut Farm and Orchard, Ranchita del Reo & Mesa Blooms and Volcan Valley Apple Farm.
Riley’s Apple Farm
12201 S Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, CA 92399
Opens Labor Day Weekend
Saturday & Sunday Only | Weekdays available by appointment only
The Original Riley’s Apple Farm in Oak Glen is one of the most popular apple picking destinations. They offer apple picking from August through October. They also offer cider pressing on weekends from September through November. Riley’s partners with Stone Soup Farm, a 130-year-old heirloom apple orchard, to offer a variety of u-pick opportunities and additional activities for the whole family to enjoy including kids crafts, panning for gemstones, shopping at the marketplace, and more. Apple varieties include Arkansas Black, Northern Spy, Pink Lady, Ozark Gold, Red Fuji, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Newton Pippen, Grimes Golden, Baldwin, Spitzenberg, Golden Russet, Red Astrachan, Standard Delicious, Senshu, King David HoneyCrisp, Jonathan, Royal Gala, Maiden’s Blush, Glen Seedling, Snow and Dixie Red Delight. There is also mystery apple tree that has been on the farm so long nobody knows what it is.
Snow-Line Orchard and Stone Pantry Orchard are additional options in the Oak Glen area.
Riley’s Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Open September through End of Season
Open every day except Wednesday
Established in 1906, Riley’s Los Rios Rancho offers apple picking from Labor Day through Thanksgiving. Some of the apple varieties available for u-pick include Macintosh, Pearmain, Spartan, & Gala. There are also raspberries and strawberries available. In addition to apple picking, visitors can enjoy living history field trips, delicious food, freshly baked treats, crafts, nature trails, dances, and more. Experiences include a miniature farm that includes gold panning, rabbit run, barnyard animals, hay bale maze, coloring cabin and yard games. Wagon rides and a corn maze are there to enjoy as well.
Stone Pantry Orchard
11993 South, Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
U-Pick apples (Gravensteins/Glen Seedlings/Crab Apple), pears, blackberries, and pumpkins. Families can also u-press cider or a farm tour. U-Pick is open on weekends from Labor Day to Thanksgiving.
Willowbrook Apple Farm
12099 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399
Willowbrook Apple Farm opens for u-pick apple picking on Labor Day weekend and runs every weekend through the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Visitors can also enjoy u-press apple cider, caramel apples, fresh organically grown seasonal berries, and mingling with the farm animals. Willowbrook farm was planted in 1910 and is a family-owned orchard.
Bonus: Underwood Family Farms
Moorpark Farm Center
3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, CA
Somis Farm Center
5696 E. Los Angeles Ave, Somis, CA
Both farms are open year round
This farm doesn’t offer apple picking but they offer a variety of Pick Your Own (PYO) fruits and vegetables year round. Located about ninety minutes from Orange County the options and varieties are endless on what you can pick. Here are a few berries, Roma tomatoes, oranges, onions, radish, spinach, fava beans, flowers, lettuce, carrots, beets, broccoli, cucumbers. PYO isn’t all they offer, these farms have seasonal events, wagon rides, farm tours, farm markets, animal centers and much more.
Smith Farms is another great local option (Irvine & Fountain Valley) for PYO fruits, vegetables and greens.
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