Move over pumpkin spice—for some of us, fall means it’s time for apple everything. Apple cider donuts, caramel apple pies, apple cider, apple butter—you get the point. And as much as we love all the delicious apple treats this time of year, it’s also prime time for picking your own apples (and other fruits) at several orchards in Wisconsin.
Heading out to the orchards is more than just picking fruit—it’s a chance to wave summer goodbye and welcome the cool and crisp (although sometimes too short) fall season together. These nine orchards are proudly locally owned and operated and have a little something for everyone to enjoy. Of course, picking your own apples isn’t for everyone, so we also included orchards with pre-picked apples, baked goods, and even one orchard that offers pick-your-own grapes!
1. Ski-Hi Fruit Farm
Where: E11219A Ski Hi Rd, Baraboo
When: Open daily at 8 a.m.
Admission: Free
Looking for an apple-picking experience at a Wisconsin orchard that’s been around for over a century? Ski-Hi Fruit Farms in Baraboo is the place to be.
The U-pick apple season typically runs for seven weekends (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) beginning September 12 and 13. The farm offers 30 varieties of apples to take home (all ripe and ready at various times, so be sure to check the website to see what’s available), but apple-picking isn’t the only fall fun you’ll find at the orchard. During your visit, also enjoy a wagon ride, the petting farm, and the market where you’ll find tons of apple treats like fresh cider, pies, donuts, and more.
2. Sutter’s Ridge Farm
Where: 2074 Sutter Dr, Mt Horeb
When: Open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last day Saturday, 10/31)
Admission: Starting at $8 per person (depending on what activities you partake in)
Sutter’s Ridge Farm is celebrating impending autumn with all the apple (and fun fall) things. Throughout the season, you can find 28 different kinds of apples—if you know what kind you’re hoping to take home, check out the apple variety availability chart to plan your visit.
While the farm has a fantastic apple season, the pumpkin patch and corn maze are also absolutely worth visiting. For more family fun, check out the interactive activity area that has a pedal go-cart track, tire park, and an Apple Sling Shot.
3. Barthel Fruit Farm
Where: 12246 N Farmdale Rd, Mequon
When: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through 10/31)
Admission: Free to enter; one peck starts at $20
Barthel Fruit Farm has been growing high-quality fruit since 1839. Featuring a classic autumn apple experience, the farm offers pick-your-own apples, pre-picked apples, and tasty apple-everything bakery items you don’t want to miss.
Celebrating the farm’s German roots, the farm hosts a free Oktoberfest event (this year, September 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), complete with polka music, brats, beer, and more.
4. Apple Barn Orchard Winery
Where: W6384 Sugar Creek Rd, Elkhorn
When: Open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Throughout September, the Apple Barn Orchard and Winery in Elkhorn is kicking off all things apple with a calendar full of fun fall weekends, including Wonderful Wisconsin Weekend (September 19 and 20) and its 38th annual Apple Fest (September 26 and 27).
While you’re there picking apples (or picking up a few pre-picked varieties), be sure to visit the Country Store & Bakery and Winery. All the fruit wines (made from non-grape fruits and berries) are distinctly delightful.
5. Apple Holler
Where: 5006 South Sylvania Ave, Sturtevant
When: Open Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Starting at $26 per person for apple picking
Apple Holler is southeastern Wisconsin’s one-stop shop for apple orchards, fall fun, and even an on-site sit-down restaurant. Admission to the orchard to pick your own apples (starting at $26 per person) includes the picking fee and all-day access to the family-fun park (which costs $10 without apple picking).
If you’re more in the mood to grab apples to go, you’ll have more time to check out farm-fresh baked goods, honey and syrups, cider, and tons of other small-batch treats. As someone who has frequented the farm over the last couple of decades, the Red Barn restaurant menu is incredible. If you’re craving a sweet treat, try the apple cider donut sundae.
6. Peck & Bushel
Where: 5454 County Road Q, Colgate
When: Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: Starting at $12 per person
One of the most well-known, certified organic apple orchards in Wisconsin, Peck & Bushel offers a traditional apple-picking experience. You can pick a quarter peck for $12 or a whole peck (about 10 pounds of apples) for $34 (allowing up to five people to enter the orchard).
After time in the orchard, refresh with apple goods from the apple barn or grab lunch (with a few perfectly themed apple menu items) from The Cidery.
7. Appleland Farm Market
Where: 4177 Highway 57, Fredonia
When: Open daily, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Appleland Farm Market’s U-pick apple season kicked off in August and will run through October (or until the first hard freeze—and in Wisconsin, there’s no telling exactly when that will be). Start your apple-picking experience by stopping at the market to buy your bag (half a peck, a whole peck, or half a bushel), then head to the orchard.
Throughout September and October, you can stroll through the corn maze to enjoy all the fall fun at the Farm Market. Better yet, if you happen to stop by between September 26 and 27, you can enjoy the Fall Festival and Pumpkins event at the orchard—in addition to apple picking, there will also be wagon rides, music, food, and more.
8. Sunrise Orchards
Where: 48340 WI-171, Gays Mills and 16602 US Hwy 61 & Hwy 171, Gays Mills
When: Open daily at 9 a.m. (until 5 p.m. through October and 4 p.m. through December)
Admission: Free
While Sunrise Orchards is one of two orchards on this list in Wisconsin that don’t offer pick-your-own apples, there are still plenty of delicious apple products and other autumn-themed treats to enjoy (and, of course, plenty of apples to take home). Did you know that Sunrise Orchards has two locations for double the fun?
A few of the free fall events visitors can enjoy include the Orchards’ 67th Apple Festival, Cheesecurd Weekend (so very Wisconsin), Caramel Apple Weekend, and many, many more—take a look here for a full list.
9. Oak Wood Fruit Farm
Where: 31128 Apple Ridge Road, Richland Center
When: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning November)
Admission: Free
Another must-visit fruit orchard is Oak Wood Farm. The orchard’s unique location in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area offers gorgeous scenery on the drive, really putting visitors in a festive fall mood.
The property has apple orchards that visitors can walk through, but aren’t part of the pick-your-own experience. Of course, you can take bunches and bushels of apples home from the retail store and bakery, but if you’re in the mood for a pick-your-own experience while you’re there, you can pick grapes.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: 7 fall festivals to check out in Wisconsin this year, from Door County to the Dells
