Where to Go Apple Picking: Bay Area + Northern California Guide (2025)
Want fresh apples? It doesn’t get any fresher than straight from the tree. There are lots of local farms near San Francisco where you can pick your own apples.
Peak apple-picking season near the Bay Area is typically September and October. But don’t wait – many people who wait until later in the season are disappointed that many varieties have slim pickings. The following apple orchards offer apple picking for free, but you’ll buy what you pick, of course.
Updated 9/3/25
Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch
U-Pick is expected to open for the season in “soon,” so perhaps mid September or early October 2025. In 2023, they opened October 1. Updated 9/3/25
Sebastopol | Located in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, pack a picnic and head to a local, family-run farm focused on apples and pears. Their ranch has picnic tables and ample parking. In addition to apples, you can also take home some of their award-winning crisp apple cider. Their “U-pick” season is typically offered September through early December where you can harvest your own Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Roman Beauty apples. Pears are also available for U-Pick. Updated 9/3/25
- Open 9am to 4pm, September to early December. Closed on Thursdays and Saturdays (however, the website also states Sundays. We think they are open on Sundays for U-Pick season). Check Facebook for season updates and exact dates. Times are subject to change for the 2025 season.
- Apples: Golden Delicious, Gravenstein and Roman Beauty Apples (and Pears): $2.50/lb – no reservations needed, no minimums
- Cider: Gallon $10; 1/2 gallon $7; organic 1/2 gallon $9; quart, $4; pint $2.50, organic pint $3.50
- Cash and cards are accepted
Gizdich Ranch
U-Pick is expected to open for the season in mid-September 2025. Check the website for updates. Last year, U-Pik opened 9/14/24 for weekends only. Updated 9/4/25.
Watsonville | Bring the family to one of the most popular U-pick apple orchards in the Bay Area where you can pick your favorite fruit of the season right off the tree or vine and then picnic among the apple trees and the hills. Gizdich Ranch’s “Pik-Yor-Self” program allows you to harvest your own strawberries, Olallie berries, boysenberries, and apples. Check their website to find out what’s currently available for U-pick (or call in advance at (831) 722-1056). Don’t miss their pie shop and deli which has seasonal favorites including their famous homemade pies.
- Apple U-Pick was $1.95/lb in fall 2022 (price last confirmed Sept. 2022, so prices most likely have gone up)
- Open 9am to 5pm every day; “Pik-Yor-Self” Apple Picking typically offered weekends only
- Apple picking season runs from mid-September for about 3-4 weeks
Lucky You Orchards
U-Pick is open from Labor Day weekend through the second weekend in November, every Saturday and Sunday (plus Labor Day Monday) from 9am to 3pm. Updated 9/4/25.
Ripon (San Joaquin County, northwest of Modesto, about 80 miles east of San Francisco)| Lucky You Orchards is a 100+ year old 4th generation organic family farm. Get a real life harvest experience and walk away with the bounty of the season including Organic Early Fujis. Guests of all ages can enjoy a free scenic tractor ride and fresh picked organic apples for $2.99/lb. Admission to the orchards is free; relax among the trees, munch on delicious organic apples and take a scenic tractor ride all while learning how California Apples are grown on this working farm.
Cloverfield Organic Farm
U-Pick is open year-round, but the apple season is tentatively open June through early November. Check their fruit ripening calendar to see what’s in season. Updated 9/4/25.
El Sobrante | East Bay’s Cloverfield Organic Farm is the first USDA certified organic farm in El Sobrante. The tiny farm grows a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and potted plants including rhubarb, mint, peppers, squash, onions, beets, pluots, plums, apples, figs, tomatoes, grapes, garlic, honey, and more. Above the vegetable patch, there’s a meadow that doubles as a picnic area and pasture for Magic Ben, their free-range horse who also moonlights as a therapeutic horse. They sell by the ‘bunch’. A large farm basket filled with about 6 different things that you u-pick fresh from the garden and orchard is $36. A single pint basket (or bunch) of fruits, flowers, vegetables, or herbs is $6. Our organic potted plants range in price from $7 to $25 each. We have dried herbs, garlic, seeds, raw honey, and organic Black Point olive oil in the shed. Items in the shed are individually packaged and priced (from $3 to $27). Read their September blog to find out what produce is available. Updated 9/4/25
- Open for public U-pick. They are typically open for public u-picks on Friday-Sunday from noon to 5 pm during Daylight Savings Time and 11am – 4 pm during the winter season (please call for updates 510-253-8859)
- Free parking & no reservations needed unless you want a private tour and u-pick experience
Swanton Pacific Ranch
The U-Pick Apple Orchard season has now opened for the 2025 season as of 9/10/25. Check their website for updates.
Davenport (Santa Cruz County) | The gorgeous 3,200 acre Swanton Pacific Ranch rests among a lush redwood forest, riverine ecosystems and expansive coastal grassland overlooking the bay and the Pacific Ocean. Normally closed to the public, it’s owned and operated by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) for educational and research in sustainable agriculture, but they open their doors to the public for their organic U-pick apple season which usually runs from Labor Day until they sell out (normally in early October). Their 2-acre orchard produces 16 varieties of apple which ripen progressively throughout the fall allowing for an extended picking season.
- Browse their Harvest Calendar to see what’s available for picking – from Gingergolds (Late August to early September) through Suntans (Oct.-Nov.)
- Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday from 9am to 5pm – typically until early October
- Apples are $2.50/lb. as of 2023
Apple Hill
Greater Placerville (50 miles east of Sacramento) | If you’re up for a little road trip to a countryside getaway, drive along Highway 50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, to a bountiful Gold Country with 50 locales featuring fruit orchards, roadside stands, ranches, breweries, tree farms, wineries and even a spa. Check out their Harvest Calendar to find out what’s in season and review their detailed Apple Hill Growers map. View the apple varieties by farm, or download their dedicated app for updated info on every ranch plus food, lodging, events and more. Updated 9/4/25
- Apple Ridge Farms – Camino, CA – Opens for the season on August 23 for family-friendly U-Pick apple adventure with rows of crisp fall varieties, scenic views, and fresh seasonal treats like cider and homemade pies. Open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm
- Argyres Orchard – Camino, CA – Pick crisp apples and Concord grapes from 80-year-old trees while snacking as you go, open weekends 10am-4pm from September 27 until the fruit is gone – cash or check only.
- Denver Dan’s Apple Patch – Camino, CA – Pick from 35 varieties of apples in a family-friendly orchard, with weekend favorites like Apple Crisp Sundaes, Pumpkin Rolls, and jam tastings, open August 29 to December 15, Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm.
- Harris Family Farm – Pollock Pines, CA – Visit a peaceful 150-year-old family farm, offering seasonal you-pick berries, flowers, apples and pumpkins, plus cider, baked goods, and a scenic picnic area, open May 1 to December 24, Thursday to Sunday and Monday holidays from 9am to 4:30pm.
- Jack Russell Farm & Brewery – Camino, CA – Enjoy a family-friendly U-Pick experience (produce varies) along with hard ciders, craft beers, and meads, picnic areas, and llamas, open year round, closed major holidays, Monday to Thursday 12pm to 6pm, Friday 11am to 8pm, and Saturday to Sunday 11am to 7pm.
- O’Halloran’s Apple Trail Ranch – Camino, CA – Pick from 16 apple varieties, pears, pumpkins, flowers, berries, and more at a 30-acre farm with a nature trail, picnic area, and homemade goods, open August 30 to December 14, Saturdays and Sundays until Labor Day weekend, then daily 9am to 5pm.
- Smokey Ridge Farm – Pick from 17 varieties of tree-ripened apples, chestnuts, flowers, and pumpkins at a family-owned, sustainably-farmed ranch, enjoy tastings, farm-made wine and hard cider, and a kid-friendly orchard experience, open August 23 to November 16, 2025, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 9am to 5pm.
Find more Apple Hill You-Pick farms.
More U-Pick Farms
Always contact the farm first to make sure they are open.
- 24Carrot Farm – Placerville – Flowers, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Pumpkins
- Bluestone Meadow – Placerville – Lavender
- Rainbow Camino Ridge – Camino – Blueberries
The Apple Hill region typically extends the apple picking season throughout October where you can harvest Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Ladies. Check out Sactown Mag’s Ultimate Guide to Apple Hill for more info and tips.
Find a pick-your-own farm near you.
More Festive Fall Activities
