Apple Picking in NC | 27 Amazing Orchards 2023
Looking for Apple Picking in NC?
Apple picking in North Carolina is a favorite fall activity, as thousands flock to the apple orchards to find locally grown apples. North Carolina is among the top ten apple producers in the United States, with hundreds of apple farms and apple orchards scattered across the state. Roughly 4 million bushels of apples are produced in North Carolina each year.
The majority of the apples produced in North Carolina come from Henderson, Haywood, Wilkes, Alexander, Lincoln, and Cleveland counties, all found in the western part of the state. While many apple farmers produce many different varieties of apples, the four main varieties grown are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, and Gala apples.
Although apples aren’t native to North Carolina, settlers in the 1600s and 1700s began to plant them. These apples were grown mainly for family use, but as people discovered how well the apples grew in the area, production took off. Now, let’s dive into the fantastic options for apple picking in NC.
[display-map id=’4234′]Apple Picking in NC
Today we are going to bite into the apple world of North Carolina and share with you the best apple farms throughout the state. We’ve broken it down by the areas in which the farms are, and we hope this guide helps you on your next trip to the apple orchards of North Carolina!
Hendersonville, NC Area
✅ Apple House & Owenby Orchards
Address: 3807 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
The Apple House is a family-owned and operated roadside market that has been serving the area for nearly 60 years. The farmstand has apples and peaches picked fresh daily, including homemade apple cider, blackberry cider, boiled peanuts, apple butter, fruit butter, jams, and preserves.
✅ Coston Farm & Apple House
Address: 3748 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Coston Farm is a relaxing little farm with a variety of options to get fresh apples. At their Apple House, they have pre-picked apples, fresh apple cider, delicious baked goods (including donuts,) apple-themed gifts, and more. Visitors also have the option to visit their U-Pick apple farm anytime from September-November.
✅ Creasman Farms
Address: 280 Bent Arrow Ln, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Creasman Farms is a third-generation farm with lots of different fruits and vegetables grown throughout the year. Their big producer is apples.
However, they have a variety of other fruit trees, berries, and many vegetables that they sell during the spring and winter at the farmer’s markets. Their U-Pick apple orchard begins in September (after Labor Day) and goes until the end of October. The orchard is open every Sunday during this time.
✅ Grandad’s Apples
Address: 2951 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such is more than just an apple farm, it’s a whole experience! On this 100-acre farm, they have a number of family-fun activities like a corn maze, train rides, an apple cannon, and a pumpkin patch.
Apples are available at Grandad’s Barn and Country Store that are picked fresh daily. At the store, guests will also be delighted with apple cider donuts, warm apple pies, cookies, cider slushies, and a great selection of fall decorations.
✅ Jeter Mountain Farm Apple Orchard
Address: 1126 Jeter Mountain Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739
The Jeter Mountain Farm is popular in the area and has hundreds of acres of farmland. At Jeter Mountain Farm, guests have the option to visit the U-Pick orchards for apples, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins.
Afterward, check out their Cider Barn for their hand-pressed, hard cider and non-alcoholic hot cider, or enjoy a latte from their coffeehouse. Jeter Mountain Farm hosts live bluegrass music during the season and has activities, including an indoor playground for the little ones.
Jeter Mountain Farm is open seasonally from around mid-July to the end of November. Their apples are ripe and ready in September. Their beautiful wedding and event venue is open any time of the year.
✅ Jimmy Nix & Sons Apple House
Address: 3642 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Jimmy Nix & Sons have been a local favorite apple orchard since 1983. They are well known for growing some of the best Honeycrisp apples around, and they have orchards of pears and peaches. The small-town store has lots of produce picked fresh daily, along with delicious baked goods.
✅ Justus Orchard
Address: 187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Justus Orchard is a fourth-generation farm and is one of the oldest U-Pick apple orchards in the area. Their U-Pick orchards include apples, pumpkins, and blackberries.
Folks are welcome to take a tour of the farm on the train, stop and see the farm animals and ducks, and then stop by the Apple House for pre-picked produce, baked goods, delicious cider donuts, and more! Justus Orchard is a classic, old-timey feeling farm with a bright spirit.
✅ Mountain Fresh Orchards
Address: 2887 Chimney Rock, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Mountain Fresh Orchards has a wonderful variety of over 15 apples that can be purchased at their roadside store. Their store also has fresh baked daily treats like pies, pastries, donuts, jams, and more. They also have a cute mini farm train that takes guests on a little tour of the orchard. Tickets for the train can be purchased at the store.
✅ Sky Top Orchard
Address: 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731
This beautiful mountaintop orchard has been open since 1967, and the farm has grown into a place families can’t wait to visit year after year. They have a few different U-Pick orchards of apples, cherries, pears, grapes, and delicious treats at the store.
They have mouthwatering, made-while-you-watch cider donuts, fudge, caramel apples, fresh apple cider, kettle corn, and other baked goods and jams. After all that, you can enjoy their fun activities like gem mining, the apple cannon, a train ride, a tractor ride, farm animals, a playground, and nature trails.
✅ Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Address: 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville, NC 28792
For nearly 50 years, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard has been bringing fun and apples to Hendersonville. They have pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a 5-acre corn maze, an apple cannon, and a bakery with sweet treats, cider, donuts, and more.
✅ Twisted Apple Orchard
Address: 4039 US-64, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Twisted Apple Orchard is the only organic apple orchard open to the public in Hendersonville. They have a lovely roadside bakery with freshly picked apples, other seasonal fruits, and baked goods, including gluten-free pies and treats.
They also have a great selection of seasonal decor and gifts. Please note they do not allow apple picking; you purchase the apples in-store.
Other Western, NC, Apple Picking in NC
✅ Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill
Address: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave, Morganton, NC 28655
Apple Hill Orchard has 22 varieties of apples that are carefully grown to the perfect ripeness to ensure the best quality. Their market has fresh baked goods, local honey, maple syrup, children’s toys, seasonal decor, and more.
Their website has excellent guidelines with all their apples, what is ready to be picked, and when other varieties will be ready. To pick Apple Hill Orchard apples through their U-Pick services, visitors must purchase a picking pass beforehand. The picking pass is so the apples don’t get over picked, and everyone is getting the best quality. However, their store is open to everyone at any time.
✅ Coffey’s Orchard at Coffey Grounds
Address: 833 Ridge Rd, Boone, NC 28607
Coffey Grounds is a small-town orchard with a market open to the public. The owners are very knowledgeable about apples and happy to give you any information visitors might need. They sell a good variety of apples and some seasonal decor at their store.
✅ Knob Creek Orchard
Address: 6471 Fallston Rd, Lawndale, NC 28090
Knob Creek Orchards is a local orchard with a fun variety of fruit sold year-round. They have strawberries and peaches in the spring and a large variety of other berries and apples in the late summer and fall. When you visit, make sure to try their peach cider, and you can’t stop in without getting their homemade ice cream!
✅ The Orchard at Altapass
Address: 1025 Orchard Rd, Spruce Pine, NC 28777
The mission of the Orchard at Altapass is to preserve the culture and heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains through apples and preserving the natural land. At this orchard, they have family-fun hayrides, U-Pick apple orchards with over 20 varieties of apples.
An old-timey general store with apples, and baked goods, a butterfly garden, walking trails, live music all summer and fall, and the Apple Core Grill that is open on weekends to serve guests delicious home-cooked lunches. You’ll also want to try a slice of their hot apple pie à la mode.
✅ Saylor Orchard
Address: 1022 Saylor Lake Rd, Bakersville, NC 28705
Saylor Orchard is famous for their unique varieties of apples, two of which were created on-site, the Saylor Sunrise and the Summer Cortland. These two varieties, and many others, can be found at Saylor Orchard and are sold in either small or large bundles. They also have delicious homemade cider.
Piedmont Region, NC, Apple Picking in NC
✅ Blueberry Thrill Farm
Address: 6938 Eaglesfield Rd, Gibsonville, NC 27249
Blueberry Thrill Farm is a humble family farm that has been operational since 1983. The farm started off as a berry farm with delicious fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, and eventually grew into more with apples, peaches, pumpkins, flowers, grapes, and tomatoes. Everything is pick-your-own besides the tomatoes.
Blueberry Thrill Farm is open as early as June with their fresh berries, flowers, tomatoes, and peaches! Guests are encouraged to come back in September for apples, pumpkins, and muscadine grapes.
✅ Brushy Mountain Farm & Orchard
Address: 7673 NC-16, Moravian Falls, NC 28654
Brushy Mountain Farm has an excellent selection of U-Pick berries and apples. They also have a large selection of seasonal vegetables and fruits such as grapes, rhubarb, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, and more! Brushy Mountain Farm is also a great place to pick up some local pasture-raised eggs and meats.
✅ Carrigan Farms
Address: 1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115
Carrigan Farms has been a fully operational farm for over 100 years and continues to deliver farm-fresh produce and tons of fun! They have practically every vegetable you could imagine available, plus apples in the fall.
Their apple-picking season is very short and runs just through September, so be sure to visit on time!
Every trip to the apple orchard includes a hayride with a pit stop at the petting zoo.
Other fun activities at Carrigan Farms include open swimming at their quarry, sunflower fields, U-Pick strawberries, and a haunted trail open in October.
✅ Deal Orchards
Address: 7400 North Carolina 16 N, Taylorsville, NC 28681
Deal Orchards is about as classic as they come, with an old-fashioned farm market, delicious produce, and homemade goodies. The same orchard that was planted in 1939 is still the one delivering the apples you see today.
At their farm market, they sell freshly picked apples, baked goods, cornmeal, jams, honey, syrup, family cookbooks, candies, and other seasonal items.
✅ Hareapple Farm
Address: 5650 E Brocktown Rd, Moravian Falls, NC 28654
Hareapple Farm is a small, family-run farm that focuses on newer and unique varieties of apples and peaches. The farm opens in July with fresh peaches, and the apples are ready in September. Upon visiting, guests are welcome to stroll around and visit the farm animals to say hello.
✅ Perkins Orchard
Address: 5749 Barbee Rd, Durham, NC 27713
Perkins Orchard is a well-known and well-loved orchard in Durham, NC. The large family-run orchard is the oldest and largest produce market in their area and is open year-round with all kinds of seasonal fun! This year will mark their 52nd year in business.
Perkins Orchard has 45 varieties of apples, and their season starts early in August and ends late in December. Visitors can purchase local cheeses, meats, honey, greens, herbs, flowers, pumpkins, and more at their farm market. They are also a popular place for getting Christmas trees during the holiday season.
✅ Perry Lowe Orchards
Address: 8741 NC-16, Moravian Falls, NC 28654
Perry Lowe Orchards has over 100 acres 30 varieties of apples. Their apple production starts in June and ends in December, giving visitors plenty of time to come down and explore the farm and pick their own apples. Their farm store has retail apples for sale, dried apples, cider, donuts, and several fruits and vegetables.
✅ Millstone Creek Orchards
Address: 506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316
Millstone Creek Orchards is an exciting spring, summer, and fall farm that has tons of activities, U-Pick produce fields, and more.
They have berries in the summer and apples in the fall, along with activities like waterfront picnics, storytime for the kids, and painting Peaches the baby cow. They also host live music every Saturday in June.
Millstone Creek is a beautiful property and one you could easily spend hours at! The prices are reasonable, and the whole family is bound to have a blast.
✅ Miss Angels Farm & Orchard
Address: 252 Heart Lane, Mt. Airy, NC 27030
Miss Angels Farm & Orchard is Surry County’s first pick-your-own peach and pumpkin farm, and, of course, they also have a fabulous pick-your-own apple orchard as well.
The farm has fun activities too, such as a corn maze, a petting zoo, a children’s barn play area, barrel train rides, tractor rides, and a country store with fresh produce, baked goods, homemade sangria, and ice cream.
✅ Sugarloaf Orchards
Address: 7415 NC-16, Taylorsville, NC 28681
Sugarloaf Orchards is an NC Century Farm with top-quality apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and pears. Everything can be purchased at their farm store, where they also have a fun selection of Amish-made jams, honey, molasses, canned items, corn meal, grits, pancake mix, and so much more!
✅ Tevepaugh Orchards
Address: 800 Vannoy Ridge Rd, Moravian Falls, NC 28654
Tevepaugh Orchards is a small, family-run farm high in the Brushy Mountains. They have a lovely selection of produce, including apples, peaches, nectarines, blackberries, and pumpkins, that they swear to taste better because of that fresh mountain air.
Their farm store has everything for sale, including dried apples, apple cider, baked goods, and more.
Annual Events for Apple Picking in NC
Since apple picking and apple farms are so important to North Carolina, some wonderful annual events take place to celebrate the apple harvest and fall itself! Here are some you don’t want to miss.
✅ NC Apple Festival (September 1-4, 2023, Labor Day weekend)
Address: Hendersonville, NC
Every year during Labor Day weekend, the community comes together to celebrate the North Carolina Apple Festival. Fourteen farmers around Hendersonville participate in the festival to share their apples and apple products.
The festival will have many vendors displaying art, jewelry, clothing, and more. There will also be live music, games, kids’ activities, an apple window display contest, food trucks, and all the apples you could imagine!
✅ Brushy Mountain Apple Festival (October 7, 2023)
Address: 898 Main St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is one of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the southeast. Over 100 non-profit organizations team up to make this festival special.
It is estimated that over 160,000 people attend the festival to enjoy all the vendors, apple-themed booths and products, tasty treats, and more! This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to get into the fall spirit.
✅ Apple Harvest Festival (October 21, 2023)
Address: Downtown Waynesville, NC
This annual harvest festival has been named one of the “10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation,” and for good reason! This event celebrates not only the bountiful fall harvest but also the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and everything this area has to offer.
Food vendors with things like fresh honey, apple cider, apple baked goods, kettle corn, street food, and more will be lining the streets of Waynesville. There will also be tons of arts & crafts vendors, games, kids’ activities, and more at this fabulous event.
Apple Picking in NC: FAQs
📌 What is the best month to go apple picking?
The best month to go apple picking is usually September and October, when most of the apples are ripe.
📌 When can you pick apples in North Carolina?
Generally, the apple harvest season begins as early as mid-August and goes until the end of October, sometimes mid-November. Though a few select orchards will have apples ready sooner in the season.
📌 When can you pick apples in Asheville?
Mid-August through mid-November.
📌 Are apples ready to pick in Hendersonville, NC?
The apples will be ready to pick in Hendersonville by mid to late August.
📌 What is the sweetest apple in NC?
Gala is the most popular sweet apple grown in North Carolina.
📌 What part of NC are most apples grown in?
Most NC apples are grown in the western part of the state, where the temperatures are a little cooler and the soil is more fertile.
📌 Do Honeycrisp apples grow in NC?
Honeycrisp apples are grown in North Carolina. However, they are not a leading variety grown.
📌 How many apple orchards are in Hendersonville, NC?
There are 19 apple orchards in Hendersonville.
📌What are the most popular apple orchards in NC?
The more popular orchards for apple picking in NC include Justus Orchard, Granddad’s Apples N’ Such, Sky Top Orchard, and MIllstone Creek Orchard, just to name a few.
📌 What to avoid when picking apples?
Apples are ready to be picked when they can be easily twisted off the branch. Avoiding pulling or shaking the apples from the tree, as this can cause damage to the tree and the apples.
Final Thoughts
This summer and fall seasons, you must take a trip over to western North Carolina to visit some of these famed apple orchards! No place has more excitement and fall spirit than this area, on top of producing some of the tastiest, freshest apples and products around.
Whether you are looking for a quick trip to a farm stand or you’d like to bring the family to experience an exciting orchard full of activity, you can find it all in this part of North Carolina.
