Apple Picking: Just Hours from Ventura County and Great Weekend Trips

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    Little girl holding a basket full of apples

    Apple Picking & Orchards In and Around Ventura County

    Fall is such a wonderful season! The cooler, crisp morning air, oversized sweaters, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING, fall festivals, pies, cozy socks and cider! And don’t forget the fun of going to the different apple orchards for apple picking!

    Many families enjoy the fall tradition of visiting an apple orchard and picking their own apples. So, we have rounded up a huge list of apple orchards in and around Ventura County to pick apples.

    While some orchards may be a bit of a trek – it will definitely create lasting memories for years to come with you and your family!

    Be sure to call before you make the drive to one of these apple orchards so you know what’s available!

    Top 5 Tips For Apple Picking In Southern California

    • The best time to go apple picking is to go during the week. That’s because it’s less crowded than on weekends when everyone decides to go.
    • The weather at these apple farms can be unpredictable so bring layers to adjust accordingly. Also, bring some sunscreen!
    • Bring your own reusable bags to take home all your fresh apples that you’ve picked!
    • Bring some picnic items because you might find the perfect picnic spot to enjoy the scenes.
    • Buy some fresh apple pies if you can for a later feast – they actually freeze well!

    Don’t forget to check out our Guide to Where to View Fall Foliage + Colors!

    LOCAL APPLE PICKING

    15315 Santa Paula Ojai Rd, Santa Paula, CA 93060

    Apple Picking available for groups of 20 or more.  We take you on a tour of the Farm and give an educational lesson and a day out in the sunshine Picking Apples.

    Reservations are required. Please Contact Pam to Schedule your Class Room Field Trip and for more information. Email Pam at

    Cost: $7.00 Per Child and $7.00 Per Adult with a 20 Child Minimum.

    WORTH THE DRIVE & OVER NIGHTS

    19042 Cherry Ln, Tehachapi, CA 93561

    You pick/we pick. In other words, you can bring your family and friends and enjoy the apple picking experience first hand. Or if you prefer, we pick ‘em for you. While you’re here, visit our store (well it’s really a barn).  We have baked goodies, jams and jellies, butters, apple chips, gifts and crafts, apple peelers and much, much more!!

    HOURS 9am-3pm. Cash only.  Please bring bags or boxes for apple picking.

    39611 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399

    We offer seasonal fruit picking. Before you go, check-in at our U-pick Tent (on the north side of the farm) or in the Tent Store for orchard information. Depending on your visiting time, different orchards will be available. Check out the “Know-before you-Go” page for great information to plan your trip.

    Reservations are not required to visit the ranch. There is NO Parking Fee or Admission Fee.

    OPEN: Labor Day Weekend-Thanksgiving Weekend

    12261 S. Oak Glen Road Oak Glen, California 92399

    Oak Glen is famous for its apples, and we’re proud to have one of the largest orchards in The Glen.We also support a large assortment of apples, with over 30 varieties. We have trees that are over a hundred years old, planted by the original Oak Glen family, and we have trees less than a year old. Every year we  plant new trees to restore old orchards that have been forgotten or damaged.

    As always U-Pick Fruit is available “while it lasts.”  Check in at the
    general store for your picking baskets first.

    12131 Oak Glen Rd, Oak Glen, CA 92399

    ALL PICKING IS BY RESERVATION. APPLE FAIR 2024 DATES: OCTOBER 12,13,19,20,26, & 27th.

    Pick your own apples are not included with admission cost. If you wish to pick, apples are $3.75 per pound and sold by the bag. 

    Orchard Tour Timings: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30.

    12099 Oak Glen Rd, Oak Glen, CA 92399

    The apple trees on Willowbrook Apple Farm were planted in 1910 and have been lovingly cared for by generations of family farmers.  We invite you to come experience u-pick apples and u-press apple cider this fall at Willowbrook Apple Farm and savor just how amazing our Stayman-Winesap apples are fresh off the tree.

    Check website for when apples are ready for picking.

    MAKE IT A WEEKEND ADVENTURE!

    Before making plans and taking the drive, PLEASE check availability, times, and cost as things may have changed.

    1055 Julian Orchards Drive Julian CA 92036

    This year our apple trees are resting, so we will not have very many apples to pick. We will be opening on Saturday, September 14th and will stay open until the apples are gone. We will have Red Delicious (not many), McIntosh, Jonagold, and Arkansas Black.

    We are a U-Pick apple orchard where for only $15 you can pick a “half peck of apples” which is about 5 pounds and spend a fabulous afternoon in our beautiful mountain orchard and charming gold-rush era town – Julian, California. The apples are not perfect like store apples, our apples are pesticide free and all natural – they have never been sprayed. Our soil has not been contaminated with pesticides or weed killers either.

    ALL NATURAL, PESTICIDE FREE, NO GMO.

    2952 Carson Rd #1, Placerville, CA 95667

    The Apple Hill Area is a Wonderful Year Round Destination. Apple Hill is Situated in the Greater Placerville Region; Located Alongside Highway 50 Between the Vibrant California State Capital of Sacramento and World Renowned Lake Tahoe.

    Check website for when apples are ready to pick.

    209 Farmer Road Julian CA 92036

     Nestled in the beautiful mountain town of Julian, California!
    This is the fifth s
    eason for U-Pick at Crosscut Farm and Orchard. We are truly a mom-and-pop operation! As a family friendly farm, we hope to make your experience fun and enjoyable.

    As a family friendly farm, we hope to make your experience fun and enjoyable. Group sizes are limited to 75 per time slot to enhance the quality of your experience.  Reservations are required for one of three timeslots.

    Reservation Times:

    10AM-12PM
    1:00PM-3:00PM
    3:00PM-5:00PM

    U Pick Pricing:

     $20 per ½ peck bag (7-8 lbs) or $20 per decorative wicker apple basket (4-5lbs) 

     

    55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076

    Apples are available in our Pik-Yor-Self program. Experience the most fun part of growing fruits, here at the Ranch! Combined with fresh air, sunshine and a little sweat, it’s a whole lot of fun for the kids and the entire family. Don’t forget your camera.

    Call for our opening dates and prepare for a fun day of picking delicious fruit. Bring your own containers or let us provide boxes for a small fee.

    When everyone’s ready for lunch, picnic behind our sales barn and let the kids play.

    Opens Sat., September 14, 2024 Weekends Only

    2899 See Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

    Did you know there are thousands of apple varieties? We have tried hundreds of them here at Gopher Glen and kept 65 of the top ones for our customers to enjoy. We also grow many other old-fashioned varieties such as Rhode Island Greening, Skinner, Missouri Pippins, three Limbertwigs and other uncommon varieties not mentioned on our list.

    We have multiple harvests of each apple variety and may run out between harvests. Please call the fruit stand (805) 595-2646 before making the drive for a specific variety. Our apple availability often changes hour by hour!

    NOW OPEN FOR THE 2024 SEASON!

    4444 State Hwy 78 Julian/Wynola CA 92036

    Julian Mining Co. still offers U-Pick apples but specializes in gold panning, gem mining and other old fashioned activities for families and school field trips.

    Check website for availability as they had a frost damage much of their crop.

    6455 Monte Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

    Come enjoy the beautiful 44 acre certified organic apple orchard and pick your very own fresh apples right from the trees!

    Open Firday-Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
    U-Pick Apple Season is September through the end of November

    CCOF Certified Organic U-Pick Apples, Flowers, Vegetables, and Herbs.

    1284 Julian Orchards Drive Julian CA 92036

    Volcan Valley Apple Farm is a family-owned & operated U-Pick apple orchard. Come wander our 10 acre orchard with over 8,000 trellis-grown apple trees. We’ve cultivated many varieties that ripen in reds, greens, and yellow!

    2024 Apple U-Pick Begins: Sunday, September 8

    Apple picking of our many varieties will open the weekend AFTER Labor Day this year. Picking only lasts as long as we have apples (roughly 4-6 weeks)!

    Friday, Saturday and Sundays
    9:00 am – 5 pm – *Last bags sold at 4:30pm – Gates close at 5pm

    Admission: $5 each (5 yrs and younger are FREE)
    Apple bags: $15 each (holds 6-7 lbs. of fruit!)

    INTERESTED IN SPONSORING ONE OF OUR FAMILY GUIDES?

    Partnering with us allows your business greater visibility with a large targeted market of local families. Join us and help enrich the lives of Ventura County Moms! For more information on sponsoring a guide please email us at [email protected]

     

    2 COMMENTS

      • Hello! Apples & Art Orchard does not use pesticides. It doesn’t say they’re organic but it does specify they don’t use pesticide. And SLO Creek Farm is certified organic.

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