14 of the Best Places in New York State for Apple Picking in Style
Did you know that the apple is the official fruit of New York State, and there are more than 40 different varieties and approximately 600 producers in the Empire State?
Apple season is right now until the end of October. As fall foliage season starts to peak in New York State, it’s time for a scenic drive to your nearest orchard to wander through apple-scented countryside, pick your own bagful, and enjoy warm cider doughnuts, pressed apple cider, and freshly baked pies.
Boehm Farm (Catskills)
Family-owned and -operated since 1903, Boehm Farm in Greene County is the perfect place to spend a fall day. Golden Delicious, Empire, and Macouns are some of the apple varieties available for picking starting in September. If you’re looking for a certain kind, call ahead or check their website to find out which varieties are available on the day you plan to go. Once you’ve filled your basket with apples, head over to the pumpkin patch to select your favorite pumpkin. Grab a few gourds and some handmade apple cider doughnuts at the farm stand to get in the fall spirit truly. Pick-your-own apple prices vary depending on the quantity and variety of apples.
Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard (Central New York)
With apple season in full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the delicious fruit at Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard near Cooperstown. Try all of your favorite apple varieties in the pack-your-own room. Grab a bag from the mill store (various sizes available) and fill it with any of the apples in the bins—Paul Red, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, Zestar, the list goes on and on! Taste the apples in Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard’s famous cider slushies, apple wines, and hard ciders. Take a self-guided tour of the cider mill and see the entire process and unique equipment used to produce 20,000 gallons of cider each fall! The orchard is also part of the Cooperstown Beverage Trail. Pick-your-own apple prices vary depending on the bag size.
Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards (Greater Niagara)
Head to Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards, a fifth-generation family-owned farm in Gasport, for apple picking, beer tasting, and wine tasting. Take a wagon to the orchard for u-pick! From Ginger Gold and Jonamac to Cortland and SnapDragon, there are so many apples that will catch your eye, but varieties and quantities vary. Try refreshing craft beers and the Traditional Hard Cider made with Crispin, McIntosh, and Golden Delicious apples at the on-site Becker Brewing Co., or sample wine at Becker Farms’ Vizcarra Vineyards, part of the Niagara Wine Trail. Make it a weekend trip with a luxurious and stylish stay on-site at the 1830s Becker Farmhouse, or book one of their 10 eco-friendly Press Cabins, all situated amidst the vineyards and orchards. U-pick apple prices vary depending on the quantity.
Woodside Orchards (Long Island)
Bite into a crisp apple and sample hard cider at Woodside Orchards in Jamesport and Aquebogue. Check Woodside Orchards’ website for the latest varieties available, as they can change daily. Sip the flavors of the season at the tasting room in Aquebogue. Here you’ll find different types of hard ciders on tap, such as traditional sweet, raspberry, and cinnamon, or sip all 6 flavors on tap with a tasting flight! Apple prices and pick-your-own apple prices vary.
Behling Orchards (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Nestled near the shores of Lake Ontario is Behling Orchards, home to u-pick apples, fresh apple cider, hand-dipped candy apples, pumpkins, and more! Red Delicious, Cortland, McIntosh, and Macoun are a few of the nearly 80 apple varieties available for u-pick. Once you’ve picked your apples, visit the barn for carefully crafted apple cider and head to the Donut Room for freshly baked pies and donuts. The orchard just added a 6-acre Farm Brewery, where they will use fruit straight from the farm to make delicious brews for you to enjoy by the glass.End the day at the play area filled with kids’ activities like a corn maze, inflatable obstacle courses, and pony rides. U-pick apple prices vary depending on the quantity.
Meadows Apple Farm (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Just an hour west of Buffalo is one of the region’s favorite apple picking destinations, Meadows Farm in Forestville. Take in all the fall ambiance across 30 acres of farmland where you’ll find 10 varieties of apple to pick from, freshly-pressed cider, and other local produce like honey, pumpkins, squash, mums, and maple syrup. Prices for u-pick vary.
Kelder’s Farm (Hudson Valley)
Have a fun fall day with your family at Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson. Reach for u-pick apple varieties such as Cortland, Golden Delicious, Empire, and Crispin in beautiful apple trees, and take a hayride to the pumpkin patch. There you’ll find all shapes and sizes of pumpkins ready to be picked! Entertain yourself with over 35 exciting attractions for all ages. Launch an apple or pumpkin through the air in a cannon, navigate through a corn maze, play giant chess, and meet animals like goats, rabbits, donkeys, llamas, and chickens at the petting farm. There’s something for everyone here! U-pick apple prices vary depending on the quantity and variety of apples.
Beak & Skiff Orchards (Finger Lakes)
For five generations, Beak & Skiff in LaFayette has been committed to growing the most delicious apples possible. Home to over 300,000 trees, 19 different apple varieties, and voted Best Apple Orchard in a 2021 national poll, you’ll find hours of fall fun riding out to the orchards on a hay wagon, picking your own apples, and immersing yourself in the festive atmosphere from the picnic tables. On site, you’ll also find the 1911 Established tasting room, where you can sample hard ciders, wines, and spirits all made on site. Be sure to pay a visit to the apple barn, general store, and the bakery to pick up warm apple cider donuts on your way out! Or stick around and stay overnight at one of Beak & Skiff’s idyllic four houses on-site! Pick-your-own prices vary.
Rulfs Orchard (Adirondacks)
Rulfs Orchard in Peru turns out more than 10,000 handmade pies a year, so a trip there will undoubtedly satisfy your sweet tooth. Sample apple cider donuts or frosted pumpkin cookies as you search for your favorite type of apples. Some of the varieties available include McIntosh, Cortland, Northern Spy, and Empire. While you’re at the orchard, take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your very own pumpkin (starting mid-late September), and don’t forget to get that famous apple pie from Rulfs’ 9,900-square-foot farm stand! U-pick apple prices vary depending on the quantity.
Indian Ladder Farms (Capital-Saratoga)
A staple in the Capital Region for more than 100 years, Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont is home to more than 40 apple varieties across 60 acres of orchards. Honeycrisp and Gala are just two of the varieties typically available for pick-your-own starting early September through mid-October. For the most up-to-date list of pick-your-own varieties, call Indian Ladder’s hotline at 866-640-7425. Make the most of your visit and sample hard cider and beer made using local ingredients such as apples, pumpkins, and hops at Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery, located on-site. Try one (or one dozen) of their famous cider donuts and walk around the scenic grounds, petting all kinds of farm animals along the way. Pick-your-own apple prices vary depending on the quantity and variety of apples.
Lagoner Farms (Finger Lakes)
Pluck colorful apples straight from the trees at Lagoner Farms in Williamson. This fifth generation family-owned and operated farm truly has all you need to enjoy fall with weekend wagon rides, an adorable market with cider donuts, apple pecan pies, apple dumplings, an impressive lineup of hard ciders pressed from apples grown on site, and of course, tons of u-pick apple varieties. There’s also exciting events throughout the season for the whole family to enjoy like the yearly Cider Fest in September. Prices for u-pick vary.
Masker Orchards (Hudson Valley)
For more than 100 years, Masker Orchards has offered some of the best apple picking in the Hudson Valley. Wander through the 200-acre orchard, breathe in the crisp fall air, and take in views of the entire valley. With 14 varieties of apples ripening throughout the season, you can check out the weekly ripening schedule to pick your favorite varieties! Make sure to stop in the country store afterwards for homemade apple pies and apple cider donuts.
Angry Orchard (Hudson Valley)
It’s all smiles at Angry Orchard in Walden, where you can explore 60 acres of orchard oasis and pick a variety of apples as you overlook the famous Shawangunk Mountain ridge. After filling your bag, unwind on the expansive outdoor patio with yard games, Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, and a food truck serving apps and pizza. Head to the tasting room to sample ciders on tap, and learn what it takes to make them during a production tour, or level up your experience with a treehouse tasting tour. Snap a selfie in front of the bright red Angry Orchard truck and the giant “I <3 Cider” sign, and stick around for one of their fun-filled events like live music, Pups & Pints, karaoke nights, and even a Halloween bash.
Fresh apples, cider, and doughnuts in the city (New York City)
Want to experience fall in the Big Apple? Make a stop at one of New York City’s Greenmarkets. The flagship location in Union Square, which is open year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, features fresh fruit and vegetables, along with ciders, meats, and cheeses. Breezy Hill Orchard, based in the Hudson Valley, features seasonal fruit and ciders at many of the Greenmarkets. Looking for something a little sweeter? Indulge in an apple cider or cinnamon sugar doughnut at the Doughnuttery. Prices for products at Greenmarkets vary.
For more on apple varieties in New York State and to find another orchard near you, click here. Browse farm stays in the heart of New York State here.
Editor’s Hack: Spruce Up Your Day Trip Wardrobe with Accessories Made From Apples!
A day trip or road trip always benefits from a solid choice of purse, tote, or messenger bag to store your essentials necessary for the day out of town. Check out this brand! Allegorie, a women-owned designer bag brand (the minority, female entrepreneur founders are Heather & Jen), embodies our mission at Vacationer of responsible travel and sustainable style.
Allégorie provides luxury and stylish bags and accessories, ethically crafted from sustainable materials including fruits, cacti and other bio-based materials. They are pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion while solving the food waste problem proudly knowing that each Allégorie piece is a small step to reduce food waste and build a sustainable future.
Allégorie’s eco-friendly collections particularly upcycle discarded apples collected from grocery stores and juice factories, and transform them into stylish leather-look lifewear—while ensuring health and fairness for all workers involved. Allégorie’s signature Gala Collection is crafted from apple peels recycled from apple juice factories—for example, each Gala Puzzle Card Holder upcycles about 25 apples.
We also love the Classic Gala Wallet with a colorful interior crafted from upcycled apples, among other recycled and plant-based materials. This large wallet has separate zipped and slip pockets as well as eight card slots and four note slots.
Our favorite for a day in the charming rural town is the Gala Compact Crossbody Bag, featuring a simple, smart, low-profile silhouette crafted from natural apple peel and plant-based materials. This small but mighty bag has a functional exterior pocket, perfect for a phone, room key, tickets, maps, and brochures, and an interior that can hold all your on-the-go essentials. The crossbody design with adjustable strap is a good choice for leaving your hands free for apple picking and donut dunking! The strap is also detachable, serving double duty as your purse for a night out. The sleek style also works for city folk, especially if the closest you get to an actual orchard is one of Manhattan’s many fine farmers’ markets.
