See who has the best apple picking near Asheville, NC, including our favorite Hendersonville apple orchards for cider donuts, teeny tiny pumpkins, hard cider flights, BBQ, and challenging corn mazes.
Tom and I need a cider donut in October like we need air. And, if we don’t get lost in a corn maze, did we even participate in fall? The answer is no. So, if you are headed to Western North Carolina this autumn, where can you go apple picking near Asheville?
We love the apple orchards in Hendersonville, known as “Apple Alley,” and highly recommend Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, Skytop Orchard, and Jeter Mountain Farm. Along with apples, think stunning sunflower fields, unique bamboo forests, huge playgrounds, pumpkin patches, and farm animals. Stock up on seasonal decor, hop on a bee train, take a hayride, and blast apples. Get the details and insider tips here. All photos are our own; we are Asheville locals, after all. 💜 Christine
Plan your fall in Asheville with even more of our local guides:
🍴 Where We Suggest You Eat In Asheville
🎟️ Area Attractions For First-Time Visitors
🥁 Local Guide Of Special Things To Do
🥾 Fall Hikes You Cannot Miss
Best Orchards For Apple Picking Near Asheville (And Why!)
The apple orchards around Asheville typically open from mid-July to early November. Weather-dependent, apples are ready for harvest from early August through October. I suggest picking mid-September to October. October promises cooler temperatures and vibrant fall leaves. August is hit or miss with what has ripened.
My favorite early-season apples are Jonagold, Gala, and Honey Crisp (apple crisp time!). Rome, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious come later in the season.
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard – Best Corn Maze
Quick Highlights
More About Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Stepp’s Hillcrest is a 70-acre working and family-owned farm in business for over 50 years. Along with great U-Pick options, find an educational nature trail and over 21 varieties of apples, including Gala, Fuji, Crimson Crisp, Jona, Red and Golden Delicious, and Ginger Gold.
Why We Visit Stepp’s Every Year
With 5 acres of corn stalks, Stepp’s has the most challenging corn maze; we’ve gotten pretty lost in it (and beware, it gets a little steamy on warmer days). Find cute apple picking baskets, and talk about friendly volunteer staff. Grab bagged apples along with apple cider donuts and slushies in their apple house. Think teeny tiny pumpkins, which adorn my home office every year.
Sky Top Orchard – Best Donuts
Quick Highlights
More About Sky Top Orchard
Sky Top Orchard is a family-owned and operated farm, in business since 1967. For family-friendly things to do, Sky Top has it all. Find a playground with wooden pumpkin and gourd playhouses, and ride on the tractor or bee train. Feed the farm animals, and Tom has a blast with their apple cannon. Apples include Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Rome, and Pink Lady.
Why We Love Sky Top
While Sky Top gets packed with locals and tourists, we like the Flat Rock area for panoramic fall mountain views and acres upon acres of the best Asheville apple picking. We most enjoy sitting at their picnic tables to devour our treats paired with hard cider, especially their apple cider donuts, which they make in front of you and serve piping hot. Out of all the apple orchards near Asheville, Sky Top has the most to do.
Extra Sky Top Tip
Have cash handy for your visit. Spotty Wi-Fi occasionally affects their credit card machines. There is an on-site ATM. Dogs are not allowed in the store.
Jeter Mountain Farm – Best Hard Cider & Luxury Orchard
Quick Highlights
More About Jeter Mountain Farm
Whether you want to get married or are looking for the best apple picking near Asheville, Jeter Mountain has it all, including a massive indoor playground and warted pumpkins. This is a family-owned and operated U-Pick orchard since 2014. When in season, choose from 10 different varieties of flowers in their sunflower field that grow up to 9 feet tall. Find Gale Gala, RubyMac, Honey Crisp, McIntosh, Grimes Golden, Red Delicious, Mutsu, Enterprise, Smokehouse, and more.
Why We Love Heading Here
Jeter Mountain Farm is an experience, and we lovingly call it the “luxury, 4-star hotel” of all the apple orchards in Hendersonville. It’s a gorgeous property with a delicious coffee shop serving my favorite fall flavors and selling the best fall-scented candles – think pumpkin spice, maple brown sugar, and caramel. Tom and I appreciate their on-site BBQ eats, and I always need a cider flight. Tom enjoys building a cider 4-pack in their country store. Jeter Mountain is also an Uncorked Asheville readers’ favorite pick.
Why Not Book A Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure, Too?
👻 Take a spooky ghost tour
🚋 We love Gray Line Trolley Tours of the city
🥾 Take a guided Blue Ridge Parkway waterfall tour
Quick Country Store & Apple Orchard Stops On The Run
From country stores selling apples to chiller apple orchards near Asheville, these are two more notable mentions.
Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such – Best Home-Like Feel
We enjoy the cozy feel and peaceful ambiance of Grandad’s Apples. While they do not usually offer U-Pick – just pre-packaged apples and special occasion picking – their corn maze is a blast. We highly recommend pulling up a rocking chair with cider and looking out at those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountain views. Grab local jellies and honey in their country store along with slushies and donuts.
Mountain Fresh Orchards – Country Store With Treats
Mountain Fresh Orchards is your go-to if you are looking for a country store – no U-Pick – filled with festive fall decor and delicious treats. We head here for seasonal home decorating.
More unique to the Hendersonville apple orchards, Mountain Fresh Orchards features a variety of ciders and juices, including apple, cherry apple, peach, muscadine, blueberry, scuppernong, and blackberry cider. Or, grab a cup of mulled hot cider or coffee.
Coston Farm And Apple House – Best Kept U-Pick Secret To Avoid Crowds
One of the smaller and most budget-friendly U-Pick apple orchards in Hendersonville (less walking!), Coston Farm is a 4th-generation, family-owned farm. They have the sweetest farm store that sells baked goods. Head outside for the children’s playground or grab an apple picker for those harder-to-reach apples. For apple varietals, find Cameo, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Granny Smith, Fuji, Stayman, Cortland, and Arkansas Black.
Top Tips For Apple Picking In Asheville
As former New Englanders gone Asheville natives, we are pros at picking apples and go every year. These are just a few of our top tips:
- If apples aren’t ready for U-Pick, many of the orchards will sell pre-picked apples in their markets.
- Many of the apple orchards near Asheville are open daily in peak season and offer special events on the weekends. Some are open only on weekends.
- Always visit orchards early in the day. Weekdays are best to avoid crowds. The weekends in the fall are frightening. Some of the orchards will even hire parking attendants to direct traffic. If you have to go when it’s busy, just do it. Think Disney at Christmas and prepare accordingly. We’ve been there.
- Pack plenty of sunscreen and environment-friendly bug spray. Wear layers and closed-toed shoes for the mud and insects. Fall in the mountains can be unusually warm and then chilly, especially in the evenings.
Special Event: The North Carolina Apple Festival
One of the most popular fall events around Hendersonville, be sure to check out the NC Apple Festival on Labor Day Weekend. The festival runs from Friday to Monday in Downtown Hendersonville. There’s a street fair filled with local vendors and bands. Explore rides, flyovers, races, food, and all of the Hendersonville shops and museums. It will be ballz to the wallz busy, though.
Before You Go, Plan Your Day: Fun Things To Do Around These Apple Orchards
1. Wine taste at the Hendersonville wineries
2. Visit the prettiest waterfalls – I suggest nearby DuPont State Forest
3. Eat, shop, and play in Downtown Hendersonville
Wow. Asheville and Hendersonville sounds like the most perfect fall vacation. I think I really need to see it in the fall. Maybe that will be a 2021 goal? I have to get lost in a corn maze. That looks so fun!! And what is a cow train? Are we talking real cows?
And you cracked me up about the humping goats. What a sight to see!
Loved this post! I have to spend at least a week to do all the hiking, all the apple picking, and touring the wineries. And chill in some laid back breweries. It would be an awesome trip! And maybe I’ll realize it should be my home.
That would be an awesome fall 2021 goal! Corn mazes are my favorite!
Haha, no real cows — although that would be *something.* Just barrels painted as cows.
You’ve love Asheville! Cannot wait until you visit one day! There is so much to do.