Apple harvest season in Southern California yields lots of family-fun activities. Photo by Hedgehog94/ stock.adobe.com
August 18, 2023
Apple season in Southern California typically spans July through October, which means now is the best time to visit orchards. Hand-picking apples from trees is the highlight, of course, but there’s so much more to do on your visit.
A fall day trip to any of these 4 charming towns will yield bushels of fun. Family-run orchards, farm stands, wineries, and bakeries offer seasonal treats and activities in picture-perfect settings.
The offerings may depend on the harvest, so confirm hours and details before hitting the road. Also check the forecast: Higher elevations often mean cooler temperatures.
Jump to: Julian | Oak Glen | San Luis Obispo | Tehachapi
The highway to Julian in the Cuyamaca Mountains, about 62 miles northeast of San Diego, passes through a forest of oak and pine trees. The winding road will force you to slow down and take in the scenery. This historic gold-mining town, known for its award-winning apples, mouthwatering pies, antique shops, and outdoor adventures, is a delightful step back in time.
Julian is known for its award-winning apples and apple pies. Farms grow many varieties and offer U-Pick opportunities. Photo courtesy Julian Chamber of Commerce
You’ll find several orchards in Julian, some offering U-Pick sessions where guests pick the apples themselves. The largest, Volcan Valley Apple Farm, has 8,000 trees and grows 7 apple varieties, including sweet Empires and tart Pippins. U-Pick opportunities here include semidwarf trees, perfectly sized for kids. Stay for barbecue and fresh-pressed cider. Check harvest updates online before visiting.
Farms and farm animals go hand in hand. At some of the orchards, kids can visit with goats, pigs, and chickens. Photo courtesy Julian Farm and Orchard
Three miles west of town, the 25-acre Julian Farm and Orchard’s Harvest Fest is in full swing on weekends in September and October. Fun activities abound: Pick your own pumpkin. Navigate the hay bale maze. Visit the goats, chickens, and pigs in the animal sanctuary. Scale the rock-climbing wall.
An apple-red tractor at this Julian farm provides a bright spot of color in this picture-perfect setting. Photo courtesy Julian Farm and Orchard
Pose for photos with vintage tractors. Or ride the tire swings. And don’t miss the locally made apple pies and gifts. Need a break? Relax in the picnic area while sipping apple cider. Check U-Pick updates online. $5 general admission.
Apple pies are available in abundance in Julian. Don't leave without a whole one to go! Photo courtesy Julian Chamber of Commerce
Don’t leave town without trying a slice of Julian’s famous apple pie. For nearly 40 years, Mom’s Pie House has served apple pie made daily from scratch with a choice of flakey or crumb crust. Order a slice à la mode with cinnamon ice cream or take a whole pie to go.
Also visit Julian’s tasting rooms for local wines, beers, ciders, and entertainment. Calico Cidery has 4 hard ciders on tap, each made with apples and pears from local orchards.
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Oak Glen’s first roadside apple stand opened in the 1940s. This tiny San Bernardino County community—about 80 miles east of Los Angeles—has attracted generations of visitors to experience a feast for the senses: fall foliage, cool mountain air, and just-picked apples.
Fresh-pressed apple cider is on tap at the family-friendly Oak Tree Mountain in Oak Glen. Photo courtesy Oak Tree Mountain
There’s usually a long line for the piping-hot apple cider donuts at Snow-Line Orchard and Winery, but they’re worth the wait. On a chilly fall morning, these cinnamon-sugar-sprinkled treats pair perfectly with the orchard’s hot apple cider.
On warmer days, try the cider slushies (adults might prefer the wine slushies in summer). The winery also offers samples of Snow-Line’s hard apple cider, apple brandy, and wine.
Oak Tree Mountain in Oak Glen has lots of fun activities, including a 14-acre family fun zone. Photo courtesy Oak Tree Mountain
Oak Tree Mountain started as a simple apple shed 50 years ago. Now, the 14-acre family fun zone has activities, shops, and restaurants.
Race the kids on the new 350-foot, 9-lane Mountain Slide ($8 per ride or $35 for 1 hour); visit the petting zoo; fish in the ponds (staff will clean and ice your catch); and try your hand at axe-throwing or cornhole. Enjoy live music, street tacos, and gourmet pizza in the beer garden at Common Ground, a restaurant and bar that opened last year.
During apple season, Apple Annie’s Restaurant serves a hearty breakfast buffet on weekends from 8 a.m. to noon. Before you leave, pick up a 5-pound “Mile High” apple pie from the bakery.
Oak Tree Mountain is one of several local businesses that participate in Oak Glen’s Apple Butter Festival. The Thanksgiving weekend event celebrates the centuries-old community tradition of making apple butter.
Another festival participant, Los Rios Rancho, is Southern California’s oldest and largest apple farm, with more than 10,000 trees. You could spend the entire day exploring this farm’s U-Pick orchards, farm-animal interaction area, and nature trails. The new Wilshire’s Apple Shed serves fresh-brewed coffee and wood-fired sourdough pizza.
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After a fun day picking apples in the farms around San Luis Obispo, venture downtown for the boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Photo courtesy Visit San Luis Obispo
Just off Highway 101 and near a particularly scenic stretch of Highway 1 on the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo’s lively downtown is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. But if it’s fresh apples you seek, venture to the nearby valleys and foothills. You’ll find lots of fall goodness just a few miles away in See Canyon.
Bring a picnic and relax in the hammocks at SLO Creek Farms, a family-run, certified organic farm near Avila Beach. During October, U-Pick options might include several apple varieties (such as Braeburn, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and Sundowners) and flowers (perhaps sunflowers, dahlias, or cosmos).
The farm provides baskets for apple-picking, and scissors and wrap for U-Pick flowers. They also make their own hard cider and apple brandy.
Apples are ripe for the picking at several SLO orchards. Photo by Hedgehog94/ stock.adobe.com
Generations of the Smith family run sister properties Avila Valley Barn and Gopher Glen Apple Farm. Their farm stands sell apples, fresh-pressed cider, pumpkins, squashes, and gourds. Avila Valley Barn is a larger, bustling place with farm animals, local produce for sale, the Smoke House & Chicken Shack (perfect for lunch), and a bakery with house-made whole-fruit pies.
Gopher Glen’s smaller farm stand usually has several varieties of fresh-picked, certified-organic apples available each day during harvest (60 varieties throughout the season). You’ll also find Gopher Glen Cider Company’s hard cider, plus everything you’d need for a charcuterie board: Cal Poly cheese, meats, garlic dill pickles, pickled carrots, raw local honey, salsas, artisan crackers, and dipping sauces.
To enjoy more hard cider and apple wine blends, stop by Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, where wild peacocks roam near the outdoor tasting area.
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Situated in the mountains between the Central Valley and the Mojave Desert, Tehachapi achieved town status in 1876 when the Southern Pacific Railroad built a depot here. Until the 1960s, local apple and pear farmers used the railroad to export their produce to bigger markets.
Today, a handful of orchards continue to produce apples. “The Land of Four Seasons” beckons with its cool temperatures, a newly designated viticultural area, museums, outdoor activities, downtown restaurants, and an event calendar filled with festivals, carnivals, car shows, and rodeos.
At Pulford Appletree Orchard, pick up apples and enjoy a hay maze and fun photo ops. Photo courtesy Pulford Apple Tree Orchard
Start at Pulford Appletree Orchard, where 19 varieties of apples grow on 10 acres. You’ll find all the usual suspects, plus heirloom varieties like Winesap and Little Lady. Stop by to select a box of just-picked apples, and then explore the hay maze, pose for photos with the scarecrows, and enjoy fresh-baked apple pie on select weekends.
Rail fans can get up-close views of passing freight trains from the original 1876 Tehachapi railroad depot, which has an on-site museum. Photo courtesy Nick Smirnoff
Costumed docents share railroad lore at the Railroad Depot Museum, a restored building on the site of the original 1876 depot. Check out the exhibits, see a dozen refurbished railroad signals in the outdoor Signal Garden, and get an up-close view of passing freight trains.
Don’t miss the live-cam footage of the 3,800-foot Tehachapi Loop, an engineering marvel designed by William Hood and built by Chinese laborers in the mid-1870s. The Loop made it possible for trains to traverse the 77-foot incline that connects the Central Valley to Southern California.
To see the Loop in person, drive 20 minutes from the museum to the viewing platform, where you can watch the next train loop over itself as it travels the spiral track. The Loop is closed for maintenance on Mondays. On Friday, trains typically run every hour. Other days, trains run every 45 minutes to 2 hours.
In downtown Tehachapi, Kohnen’s Country Bakery serves hearty sandwiches on house-made breads (such as German rye), as well as salads and sweets—perfect for a picnic at the Loop. For nearly 20 years, owner-baker Thomas Kohnen has tempted locals and visitors with his twist on German breakfast rolls, pretzels, and apple strudel.
At nearby Dorner Family Vineyard, visitors can enjoy live music and an introduction to the Tehachapi Mountains American Viticultural Area, accredited in 2020.
The Tehachapi Apple Festival, held October 14-15, offers lots of apple-themed activities for kids. Photo courtesy The Tehachapi Apple Festival
The Tehachapi Apple Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary this year on October 14 and 15. This homegrown event takes over 3 downtown blocks and attracts thousands of visitors with its 100 vendor booths and lively atmosphere. Come for the apple-themed food and drinks, fresh-picked produce, and arts and crafts, plus games and activities for kids.
