Crisp apples, gorgeous views, and picture-perfect fall memories. These are just a few reasons to plan an apple-picking outing this fall and North Carolina is full of excellent options. North Carolina's apple season starts mid-August and runs through early November, though some orchards may have a shorter season depending on location and weather conditions. To plan a memorable day apple picking in NC, keep reading!
Did you know that NC produces more than four million bushels of apples every year? The primary apple varieties grown in North Carolina include Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Stayman.
Read on to find out everything you need to know to plan your apple picking in North Carolina adventure.
There are plenty of orchards in the state that offer this fun fall activity. In this blog post, we will provide everything you need to know about apple picking in NC, including tips on where to go and what to bring. So get ready to enjoy a day out with your family or friends at one of the many beautiful apple orchards in North Carolina!
Most of North Carolina's apple orchards are located in the Blue Ridge mountains, but if you don't want to travel quite that far, there are a few options in Piedmont.
Millstone Creek Orchards, located in Ramseur, is about an hour's drive from Raleigh. The location makes it a perfect day trip for Triangle residents. The orchard is open seven days a week, but if you want to pick your own apples, you must reserve a ticket to the Apple Pickin' Adventure online and in advance (weekends only).
In addition to the Apple Pickin' Adventure, they host an apple-themed Fruity Picking Story Time. Millstone Creek also has one of the state's only licensed non-pasteurized cider mills. They press their own fresh apple cider in the apple barn every week in the fall-get a free sample when you visit the orchard! They also sell all kinds of delicious apple products including apple butter, apple cake, apple jam and more!
If you want to make a weekend trip out of your visit, the North Carolina Zoo is only twenty minutes away.
Devil Dog Orchard in Reidsville is another great Piedmont u-pick apple option. Clocking in at an hour and a half from Raleigh, and only twenty minutes from Greensboro, the focus here is on a relaxed, country atmosphere.
With fifty-seven acres, trails through the woods, and plenty of picnic areas, you are sure to enjoy the slow pace of life during your visit. There is no fee to pick-you pay for the size of container you fill. Check their facebook page for updates before you head to Devil Dog-you can find information about when they'll be open, which varieties are available, and more.
Eighty percent of North Carolina apple picking and apple crop comes from Henderson County, so there is a bounty of apple picking options. Hendersonville, a Blue Ridge mountain town located forty minutes from Asheville, is also the location of the North Carolina Apple Festival, held every Labor Day weekend for over seventy-five years.
Apple picking isn't the only thing to do in Hendersonville-you can also try your hand at gem mining and find a plethora of outdoor adventures. Chimney Rock State Park, home to panoramic mountain views and the location for much of the filming of The Last of the Mohicans, is just a short thirty-minute drive away.
Just a few more miles down the road is the stunning Lake Lure, home of Dirty Dancing. Hendersonville is also home to the Cheers! Trail, which includes twenty-four tasting experiences featuring five different kinds of beverages (beer, wine, cider, mead, and spirits).
Stepps Hillcrest Orchard, a fourth-generation, family-owned farm has been in operation for almost fifty years. Spread over seventy acres, the orchard opens for the season in mid-August and offers both pick-your-own apples or pre-picked.
Fun activities on the farm include a five-acre corn maze, jump pad, wagon ride, and apple cannon (weekends only). Be sure to stop by the country market for apple cider, apple cider slushies, apple cider donuts, t-shirts and more. If you want to make a whole day of it, pack a cooler and relax in their picnic area with your lunch.
Grandad's Apples is a 100-acre family farm that has been in operation since 1994. Offering more than thirty varieties of pre-picked apples, they sell apples by the pound, peck, and bushel.
The 2022 season starts at the end of July, and they are open seven days a week. Family fun includes a corn maze, cow train, and apple cannon (weekends only, must arrive by 4 pm). Visit Grandad's Barn and Country Store to pick up local honey, apple butter, handmade crafts, fresh pressed apple cider, fermented apple cider, caramel apples, and many more delicious apple treats.
Justus Orchard has been growing apples for over a hundred years, and offers both u-pick and they-pick apples from mid-August through early November.
Farm activities include a cow train, apple cannon, picnic area, adventure playground, and jumping pillow. Plus, they have farm animals-goats, fish, and ducks! The bakery sells apple pies, apple cider and apple donuts, and on weekends they host vendors, including barbecue.
Jeter Mountain Farm has been actively farming in Henderson County for over two hundred years, dating all the way back to 1813. Spread over 411 acres in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, they offer activities for all ages.
From a 6,000-square-foot play area for the kids (including slides, tractor tire trampolines, and a hay mountain) to a hard cider taproom with six ciders on tap, there's a little something for everyone.
On weekends, you can enjoy live bluegrass music while sipping their small batch of hard cider, or the whole family can enjoy a meal at the 1813 Smokehouse. In the Cider Barn, you'll find apple cider and apple cider donuts, and in the market, apple butter, hand-poured candles, salsas and more.
Skytop Orchard, family-owned and operated since 1967, is a great option for a scenic and beautiful apple picking experience in the Flat Rock area. With a focus on making family memories, activities include a hayride, bee train, apple cannon, and famous apple cider donuts-made while you watch!
New for 2022, they also have gem-mining. There is plenty to explore, with a nature trail through a bamboo forest, a playground, and farm animals (including goats, sheep, chickens, and peacocks). Other area attractions include the historic Carl Sandburg home and Flat Rock Park, a 66-acre park with two playgrounds and a running trail.
This is just a sample of what's available in Henderson County-you can find a full listing of Hendersonville area apple farms and markets here.
Perry Lowe Orchards is just forty-five minutes outside of Boone. The Apple Store specializes in local products and in-season produce.
The U-pick orchard is a mile and a half from the apple store, and reservations are required.
Be sure to enjoy the scenic mountain views while you drive the Blue Ridge Parkway on your way there. If you are traveling with kids, Tweetsie Railroad is about an hour away, and if your group is made up of adults, the Boone Area Wine Trail might be of interest.
Historic Orchard at Altapass in Spruce Pine is part of a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the land, the history of the area, and offering education about the Appalachian experience.
Both pre-picked apples and guided picking are available and the season runs through October 30, with free live music every Saturday and Sunday.
The fun doesn't stop there: play games like cornhole and giant Jenga with your family, explore the butterfly garden, stop by to hear some storytelling (offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm), and visit the Red Barn to see the model railroad.
Don't forget to stop by the general store to pick up some homemade fudge and other delicious treats. If you are making a weekend of it, it's just a thirty-minute drive to Linville Caverns and a forty-minute drive to Grandfather Mountain.
Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill is located in the South Mountains of Western North Carolina and dates back to 1930. The 100-acre farm houses both an orchard and cattle. They offer first-come, first-serve wagon tours on Saturdays, departing approximately every forty-five minutes.
The Farm Market and Bakery is stocked with scratch-made apple pies, apple muffins, apple crisp, and many other delicious apple treats. Opening in mid-August for the season, be sure to purchase a Picking Pass before you arrive if you'd like to pick your own apples.
Carrigan Farms is a perfect option for Charlotte residents. This fifth-generation, family-owned farm is located just forty minutes from downtown Charlotte. In addition to picking apples and learning about the farm, you can experience a hayride and visit their petting zoo. The apple season starts in September-keep an eye on their facebook page for updates.
Don't miss out-make your plans now to enjoy North Carolina's apple season!
Remember that storing your apples in the fridge will help them last a little longer-and be sure to bring home enough apples to give this NC Apple Festival's prize-winning Mountain High Apple Pie recipe a try.
When you plan your apple picking in North Carolina excursion, you can impress your family and friends with these fun facts about apples!
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