It’s Apple Hill Season! Here’s Everything You Need to Know

What do caramel apples, pumpkin patches, and wine tasting have in common? They’re all the star attractions at Apple Hill, a scenic apple-growing region near Placerville in El Dorado County.

A visit to Apple Hill is a rite of passage for Sacramento locals. Home to dozens of orchards, farms, and wineries, it’s one of the best spots in all of Northern California to take in the fall vibes. Kids and adults alike can take part in the many things to do in Apple Hill, which include apple picking, pumpkin hunting, and, of course, sampling apple pie, apple donuts, apple fritters, and much more. For the grown-ups, there’s even wine tasting and cider sipping.

Whether you’re a newbie to Apple Hill or you visit every year, we’ve got the inside scoop on where to go, places to visit, things to do, and — perhaps most important — where to eat. This handy how-to guide will save you time planning, leaving more time for you to explore this beautiful region. The following are some insider tips.

When to Go to Apple Hill

October is prime time for visiting Apple Hill, but it’s also the busiest. In fact, it gets more crowded the closer it gets to Halloween. Apples are ripe for the picking, ranches are open and awaiting visitors, and the turning leaves are at their peak.

To avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting on a weekday if possible. Weekends are much busier, and a midweek visit means you won’t have to battle crowds or traffic. Full disclosure: many activities and special events (including craft markets) are held on weekends, so if this is important to you, try to arrive early — before 10 a.m. — on Saturdays and Sundays.

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Where to Go in Apple Hill

Apple Hill is made up of dozens of local farms, ranches, orchards, and vineyards. While best known for its apple growers, many farmers grow other produce, including pears, pumpkins, berries, grapes, flowers, and vegetables. Many farms have bake shops, kids’ activities, and other events as well. You can have a look at an interactive Apple Hill map to see where each farm is located and what they offer.

What to Do in Apple Hill

It comes as no surprise that apples are the main focus of Apple Hill. The area has the ideal climate for growing apples, and you can find every imaginable variety, including Arkansas Black, Braeburn, Jonagold, Macintosh and Rome, among others. There are also U-pick farms, where you can stroll the orchards and choose your own fruit straight from the tree. It should be noted that U-pick apples have limited quantities, so when they’re gone, they’re gone – it’s recommended to check in advance. Following are some of the farms in Apple Hill where you can pick your own apples:

• Apple Ridge Farms
• Argyres Orchards
• Denver Dan’s Apple Patch
• Harris Family Farm
• Pine-O-Mine Ranch
• Smokey Ridge Ranch

In October, pumpkin hunting is one of the most popular things to do in Apple Hill. There are several farms with pumpkin patches, as well as Halloween-themed activities for kids such as corn mazes and hayrides. Some options to consider include the following:

• Delfino Farms has a 3-acre U-pick pumpkin patch as well as a 2-acre corn maze.
• O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch has an on-the-vine pumpkin patch.
• Apple Ridge Farms has a pumpkin patch and a hay bale maze for the little ones.
• High Hill Ranch has pumpkins and a hayride through the orchards.
• 24Carrot Farm has U-pick pumpkins as well as flowers, tomatoes, and berries.

Shopping in Apple Hill

Shopping is another big draw of Apple Hill. In addition to fresh fruits and veggies, many spots also have farm stands selling gourmet food products such as jams and jellies, fruit and nut butters, honey, dehydrated fruit, sauces and other items. Apple Ridge Farms has homemade fudge, BBQ sauce and apple butters as well as local handicrafts; Rainbow Orchards has jams, butters, syrups and vinegars, and Grandpa’s Cellar has local honey, jams and jellies, vintage cookware, soup mixes, home decor and local crafts.

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Many farms host artisan craft fairs on weekends during the busy season. High Hill Ranch has one of the largest, with local vendors selling handmade jewelry, artwork, clothing and more. Delfino Farms also hosts vendor pop-ups, as does Jack Russell Farm Brewery.

What to Eat in Apple Hill

Fresh apples are the main draw, but Apple Hill is known for offering apple-centric food in all shapes and forms, whether baked into pies, pressed into juice, or candied. Apple pie is hands-down the most popular thing to eat here, as are apple fritters, apple cider donuts, apple turnovers, apple cake, and caramel apples. Most bake shops also offer frozen pies to take home. Following are some options:

• Apple Pantry Farm has vegan options and they do not use any nuts in their recipes.
• Grandpa’s Cellar has a 7-pound party pie and is one of the only spots where you can find gluten-free pastries like crisps, cookies and muffins.
• High Hill Ranch also has an expansive shop with pies, donuts, fritters, caramel apples and even caramel apple cider milkshakes.
• Larsen Apple Barn has a wide variety of pies, including apple, pumpkin and berry, as well as turnovers and dumplings.
• Rainbow Orchards is known for its hot-from-the-fryer apple donuts, as well as pies, cobblers, crisps and tarts.

For those responsible enough to NOT eat dessert first, Apple Hill also has spots that offer lunch. Some places to consider include the following:

• Abel’s Apple Acres: smoked pork, barbecued chicken, burgers, hot dogs.
• Boa Vista: brisket, hot dogs, burgers, black bean burgers.
• Bodhaine’s at Drew Bean Farms: chicken pot pie, pulled pork, mac & cheese, plus vegan and gluten free options.
• High Hill Ranch: burgers, hot dogs, chili.
• Larsen Apple Barn: sandwiches, nachos, hot dogs, veggie burger, veggie dogs.

Or, if you prefer, you can pack your own lunch and picnic beneath the trees. Many farms offer lovely picnic areas with scenic views, including High Hill Ranch, which has picnic tables and a grassy hillside overlooking a pond.

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Other Things to Do in Apple Hill

Although Apple Hill is best known for its family-friendly attractions and kid-centric activities, there are plenty of things for moms and dads to do in Apple Hill as well. For starters, there’s the Apple Hill Hard Cider Trail, a collection of farms that produce hard cider from their mountain-grown fruit. Included are the following:

• North Canyon Cider Co.
• Delfino Farms
• Rainbow Orchards
• High Hill Ranch
• Wofford Acres Vineyards
• Smokey Ridge Ranch and Winery

The climate that makes for ideal apple growing conditions also makes for ideal wine grape growing conditions, and there are several wineries in Apple Hill where you can enjoy some foothills wines. Following are some spots to visit:

• Boeger Winery. This family-owned winery offers tastings looking over its charming garden, complete with a pond. Their portfolio runs the gamut, including both varietals and blends. They also offer harvest tours and yoga.
• Delfino Farms. Delfino Farms produces small-batch wine under the Edio Vineyards label. Selections include Albariño, Chardonnay, Grenache, Primitivo, and several blends. They offer tasting and pairing experiences, plus folk music concerts during the summer.
• Docmanov Vineyards & Winery. This off-the-radar winery produces unique varietals such as Counoise, Cinsault, and Negroamara, plus several blends. They have a lovely outdoor tasting area and offer charcuterie boards as well.
• Fenton Herriott Vineyards. This small winery offers tastings in its quaint picnic area overlooking the vineyards. Wines offered include Zinfandel, Barbera, Gewurztraminer and more. They also have bocce ball!
• Lava Cap Winery. With scenic views of the surrounding mountains, Lava Cap offers estate-grown varietals including Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet and Zinfandel.
• Lewis Grace Winery. Malbec, Souzão, and Torrontés are a few of the varietals grown at this charming winery. They offer tasting flights on their charming outdoor patio with views of the mountains beyond.
• Madroña. Known for its Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, Madroña offers estate-grown varietals such as Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Riesling. They offer special events such as tasting classes, pairings, and winemaker dinners.
• Rucksack Cellars. This small-but-mighty tasting room in the heart of Apple Hill offers tasting flights on a rustic patio overlooking the vineyard. Pinot Noir, Barbera, and Cab Franc are a few of the wines they produce. They also host special events such as harvest dinner and flower arranging workshops.
• Starfield Vineyards. It’s all about the calming mountain scenery at this charming winery. They have miles of nature trails, a beautiful lake, and an amphitheater surrounded by manicured gardens. They offer dozens of wines, including sparkling wines and rosés, and they serve lunch on their outdoor patio.

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Apple Hill FAQ

What is Apple Hill?

Apple Hill is a region made up of more than 50 farms, orchards, ranches, wineries, and tree farms. Most of the farms are members of the Apple Hill Growers Association, but some are not. Most apple farms are open Labor Day weekend through December. But there are also berry farms open during the summer, flower farms open in the spring, and Christmas Tree farms open in the winter — usually the weekend after Thanksgiving. Wineries are open year-round.

When Does Apple Hill Open?

Because it’s simply a growing region, Apple Hill is technically always open. But each individual farm is only open to the public during certain times and they set their own hours. Most apple ranches open in mid- to late-September for the fall season, but some, especially those that grow other fruits and veggies, are open year-round. There are also Christmas tree farms that don’t open until November or December. Wineries, breweries, and cideries tend to be open year-round.

What’s the Best Time to Go to Apple Hill?

October is hands down the busiest month in Apple Hill. To avoid the crowds, it’s best to go during the week or early in the morning. Otherwise, wait until November when the crowds have thinned out.

Can I Bring My Dog to Apple Hill?

Every farm and ranch sets its own rules with regard to bringing dogs, so check with the spots you’d like to visit ahead of time to make sure they welcome your four-legged friend.