Apple Picking in California

Apple Picking in California: What You Need to Know

Looking for apple picking in California? Below is every location mapped across the state, filterable by city or ZIP code so you can find the one closest to you.

Pacific Coast Apple Country

The Pacific states produce some of the finest apples in the world, with Washington State alone responsible for roughly sixty percent of American commercial apple production. Oregon's Willamette Valley and Hood River, California's high-elevation Sierra Nevada foothills, and even Alaska's sheltered growing sites all contribute to a Pacific apple culture that encompasses everything from industrial-scale commercial orchards to tiny artisan operations growing heirloom varieties for the farmers market trade. The climate along the Pacific coast—particularly in the inland valleys and foothill regions—provides the warm days and cool nights that produce exceptional apple flavor, and the pick-your-own operations that welcome visitors here tend to offer variety selection and quality that is hard to match anywhere else in the country.

Best Time for Apple Picking in California

August through November, with the season varying significantly by elevation—Apple Hill near Placerville peaks in September and October at higher elevation.

Tips for Apple Picking in California

Conditions for apple picking in California can shift quickly with the weather, so it's worth checking a location's current status before making the drive. Bring cash, since smaller family-run spots aren't always set up to take cards.