Orchards Near Me
Peach Picking Near Denver: What You Need to Know
The peaches Colorado is famous for grow on the Western Slope around Palisade, a solid four-hour drive from Denver, where the high desert sun and cool nights of the Grand Valley concentrate sugar in the fruit unlike almost anywhere else in the country. It's a worthwhile road trip for anyone serious about peach picking, and the Palisade Peach Festival each August draws crowds from across the state.
Mountain West Peach Orchards
Mountain west peach growing concentrates in a handful of well-irrigated valleys where intense high-altitude sun and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings combine to produce remarkably flavorful fruit. Colorado's Palisade peaches, grown on the Western Slope's Grand Valley, are the region's signature crop and the centerpiece of an annual festival each August, while Utah County's orchards along the Wasatch Range and New Mexico's Rio Grande Valley farms each carry on their own smaller but well-loved peach traditions.
Best Time to Go Peach Picking Near Denver
Mid-August through September for the famous Palisade peaches, later than most of the country, with the harvest peak coinciding with the Palisade Peach Festival each August.
Tips for Your Denver Peach Picking Trip
Budget a half-day or more for the drive to Palisade—it's a genuine road trip, not a quick errand—and consider combining it with a stop at one of the Western Slope's wineries. Order ahead during the Palisade Peach Festival in August, when the best orchards sell out fast.