Ultimate Guide to Apple Picking Near Asheville, NC
From U-Pick apples to the best apple cider donuts, we share all!
This guide highlights U-Pick apple orchards near Asheville. Most of the orchards are located south of Asheville, but we also included a gem of an orchard found on the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Hurricane Update: Sky Top Orchard, Jeter Mountain Farm, Grandad’s Apples, Coston Farm and Cresman Farms are open. Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is selling their produce at local farms. Orchard at Altapass and Justus Orchard are closed as of 10/6/2024.
Did you know that there are several orchards near Asheville for picking apples? The area that surrounds Asheville is actually the heart of North Carolina apple country! In fact, North Carolina is a top ten producer of apples in the US.
Needless to say, if you are looking for opportunities to pick apples, come to Asheville! And if you need a nudge in the right direction, this guide to apple picking near Asheville should help.
Map of Apple Orchards Near Asheville, NC
Most of these apple orchards near Asheville are actually in Hendersonville. The closest orchard to downtown Asheville is Grandad’s Apples. It’s about 30 minutes (26 miles) from downtown.
As you’ll see in the map below, there are several clustered around one area. And there’s one in the opposite direction just off the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Apple Orchards Near Asheville, NC
1126 Jeter Mountain Road | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: Jeter Mountain Farm sustained minimal damage and reopened in early October. They plan to be fully functional the weekend of October 10-13, 2024. Follow their Instagram for updates.
Upscale apple orchard with a hard cider flight and permanent BBQ food truck
Jeter Mountain Farm is new-ish to the scene and an absolute standout apple orchard near Asheville. It sits on 400 acres near DuPont State Forest (between Hendersonville and Brevard.)
The farm is set in beautiful surroundings and is the perfect place for fall apple picking. It has an upscale country club feel.
Beyond the traditional U-pick apple orchard, farm market, fresh cider, and apple cider donuts, Jeter Mountain Farm offers a full-service experience. Enjoy their hard cider taproom, BBQ food truck, and coffee house for a complete day of fun and delicious food.
Jeter Mountain is one of the longest drives at over 50 minutes from Asheville, but it’s worth it! Check out our fall weekend in Asheville itinerary for ideas of what to do before and after apple picking.
More About Jeter Mountain Farm
Picking Season: Jeter Mountain opened for the season in July and will stay open through October 27, 2024.
U-Pick Hours: Saturdays & Sundays: 10a – 5p (July 13 through October 27) and Thursdays & Fridays: 10a – 3p (August 29 through October 27.) The last wagon heads to the field at 3:30 on weekends, so plan accordingly!
Apple Varieties: Jeter Mountain Farms produces 20 varieties of apples as well as other fruits. Check out their full harvest calendar.
Farm Stand Offerings: Apple cider donuts, apple cider, apple butter, pickles, flowers, gifts.
Dog Policy: Leashed dogs are allowed at Jeter Mountain, but not on the wagons, in the orchards or in the market shop area.
Other Attractions: Hard Cider Taproom, 1831 Smokehouse BBQ, coffee house, 6,000 square foot covered play area, live bluegrass music on weekends, trailer rides.
1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road | Flat Rock
Hurricane Update: Sky Top Apple Orchard is fully operational after Hurricane Helene.
Apple orchard open daily with apple cannons, a bee train, gem mine, bamboo maze, farm animals and wagon rides. And views!
Sky Top Orchard is an apple-picking oasis in the North Carolina mountains. Located in Flat Rock, NC (about 45 minutes south of Asheville), Sky Top is a fun destination for the entire family.
Starting out as a commercial apple orchard, Sky Top converted to a U-Pick orchard years ago to share the orchard apple-picking experience with the public.
Sky Top Orchard is a great place to spend a few hours picking apples, shopping at their fruit stand and letting the kids play, mine for gems, shoot at the apple cannon and see the farm animals.
They have food available on the weekends, otherwise plan to bring a picnic lunch! And definitely plan to get apple cider donuts– they are our top pick in town!
About Sky Top Orchard
Open Season: August until early December (closed Thanksgiving)
U-Pick Hours: Open daily 9 am to 5 pm until Labor Day and 9 am until 6 pm after.
Apple Varieties: Over 25 varieties of apples!
Dog Policy: Leashed dogs are allowed at Sky Top Orchard but not in the fruit stand (except passing through.)
Farm Stand Offerings: Kettle corn, apple cider doughnuts, hand-pies, caramel apples, fudge, fresh apple cider, apple cider slushies, hard apple cider, apple butter, jams, jellies, honey.
Other Attractions: Gem mine, playground, farm animals, apple cannon, bee train, hayride, bamboo forest, picnic tables
170 Stepp Orchard Drive | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is closed due to damages sustained during Hurricane Helene. They are selling their apples and pumpkins at various farms in North Carolina and South Carolina. Check their Instagram for additional details.
U-Pick orchard with a 5-acre corn maze
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is Henderson County’s first U-Pick apple orchard. They grow 26 apple varieties on a 38-acre orchard.
It’s a 4th generation farm and a great place to visit, pick and play. If you are up for a challenge, check out their 5-acre corn maze.
They have U-Pick apples, grapes, pumpkins and flowers seasonally. They also have a jump pad, apple cannon and offer wagon rides on the weekends.
Make sure to stop by their farm shop for donuts! They have apple cider donuts and pumpkin donuts. Both types are worth a try!
About Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Open Season: Open daily through October, but many of the activities (jump pad, wagon rides and the apple cannon) are on Saturdays and Sundays only.
Hours: Friday & Saturday 9am-6pm // Sunday 10am-6pm // Monday thru Thursday 9am-5:30pm
Apple Varieties: Check out the ripening schedule for Stepp’s 21 different varieties.
Dog Policy: Leashed dogs are allowed everywhere on the farm except in the Apple House and on the wagon rides.
Farm Stand Offerings: Apple cider and pumpkin donuts, slushies, gifts
Other Attractions: 5-acre corn maze, U-Pick grapes and pumpkins, covered picnic area, dirt pile (seriously) and a ‘hayground’ playground. Weekends only (not including Fridays): apple cannon, jump pad, wagon rides.
187 Garren Road | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: No updates have been provided by Justus Orchard as of 10/6/2024.
Hendersonville orchard with a new taproom
With over 100 years of apple-growing tradition, Justus Orchard was one of the first U-Pick orchards in the Asheville area and is still one of the most popular. They produce 19 apple varieties on the farm as well as blackberries and pumpkins.
In addition to picking apples, they have a great market and bakery as well as activities including a huge jumping pillow, picnic area and playground to keep the kids entertained.
They opened a taproom in 2024 and offer hard fruit ciders, craft beer and wine. You can enjoy your beverages indoors, at the bar, in the covered patio area or in the picnic area.
About Justus Orchard
Open Season: Open for blackberry picking in July with the bakery open on Saturdays and Sundays. Open for apple picking in August.
U-Pick Hours: In July you can go blackberry picking on Saturdays and Sundays. Apple picking starts in August and goes through October. They are open daily 9am to 6pm during apple season.
Apple Varieties: Justus Farms produces 19 varieties of apples as well as blackberries and pumpkins. Check out their list with ripening dates here!
Farm Stand Offerings: Apple cider, pies, donuts, candy & caramel apples, Good to the Bone BBQ on weekends beginning labor day
Other Attractions: apple cannon, jumping pillow, playground picnic area, pond, farm animals, cow train.
Blue Ridge Parkway | Spruce Pine
Hurricane Update: Orchard at Altapass is only accessible via the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is closed due to damages sustained during Hurricane Helene.
The Orchard at Altapass is a 280-acre orchard run by the nonprofit Altapass Foundation to preserve the land, wildlife and Blue Ridge Parkway views.
This is the lone U-Pick orchard in the Asheville area that is not located in Henderson County. It’s located in Spruce Pine, NC (about 1 hour northeast of Asheville.) It’s actually a stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway!
From tractor-wagon rides to live music on the weekends, there is plenty of fun to be had at the Orchard at Altapass.
The views are gorgeous and they have heirloom apples available.
About The Orchard at Altapass
Open Season: Open through October 2024
U-Pick Hours: They are open Wednesday through Sunday, with U-Pick Tours at the top of the hour from 10 am to 4 pm.
Apple Varieties: Over 20 apple varieties are available (note: not all varieties are available for U-Pick)
Dog Policy: Leashed dogs (and cats!) are allowed at the Orchard at Altapass. There are no restrictions where they are allowed, but pet owners must clean up after their pets.
General Store Offerings: Jams, jellies, honey, pickled veggies, salsas, fudge, ice cream, gifts
Other Attractions: walking trails, trailer rides, butterfly garden, The Apple Core Grill, live music on weekends, general store, and model train.
3748 Chimney Rock Road | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: Beginning Monday, October 7th – Coston Farm will return to regular business hours! Monday – Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm. The Pick Your Own orchard will close at at 5pm. Cash is preferred.
U-Pick apples, fried apple pie and apple butter!
Coston Farm and Apple House is a family-owned and operated U-Pick apple orchard in Hendersonville. It’s a great place to pick your own apples and fun for the entire family.
They are known for their delicious apple-baked goods ranging from fried apple pie to apple bread. They also make their own fresh apple cider and apple butter. Try the cider slushy on if you’re picking on a warm day!
Their gift shop is full of other apple tools, decorations, sauces, honey and yummy treats. If you happen to miss peak apple season, check out their pumpkin patch for your fall pumpkin needs!
About Coston Farm
Open Season: Open August 10 through November 2024 (until all apples are picked.)
U-Pick Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (the Apple House stays open until 5:30 pm.)
Apple Varieties: The farm grows over 20 apple varieties in its orchard.
Farm Stand Offerings: Baked goods, apple cider, cider slushies, jams, jellies, preserves, sauces, candy, honey, and gifts.
Other Attractions: small playground and covered picnic area
2951 Chimney Rock Road | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: Grandad’s Apples is open daily from 9 to 4pm selling apples and donuts. They are cash only.
Closest apple orchard to Asheville
Grandad’s Apples is a fourth-generation apple farm in Hendersonville, NC. It’s one of the closest orchards to Asheville and is popular for locals and tourists.
They have several apple varieties available pre-picked and also allow U-pick for some varieties. Check their apple calendar for details. You’ll find a great pumpkin patch in late September with pumpkins and jack-o’lanterns in all sizes.
Grandad’s has a corn maze, cow train, apple cannon (open after Labor Day) and a kid zone with photo props. One thing to note is that some of these activities (like the cow train & apple cannons) are only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
280 Bent Arrow Lane | Hendersonville
Hurricane Update: Cresman Farms opened 10/6/2024 after closing due to Hurricane Helene. They will operate on Sundays for U Pick apples from 1 to 5pm. No restrooms available and it is cash only.
Creasman Farms is a fifth-generation farm located in the rolling valley land between the Dana and Edneyville communities.
It’s a hidden gem in Hendersonville, attracting less attention from visitors than some of the more well-known orchards in the area.
They are only open for U Pick apples on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Beyond apples, the farm produces peaches, berries, and vegetables, which you can find at local farmers markets around Asheville.
About Creasman Farms
Open Season: U-pick is available from Labor Day through the end of October
U-Pick Hours: Sundays only from 1 to 5 pm
Apple Varieties: The farm grows over 40 varieties of apples with 16 varieties you can pick
Other Attractions: Creasman Farms keeps it simple with Sunday afternoon apple picking. You can also find them selling their delicious fresh produce at Farmers Markets around town.
FAQs about apple picking near Asheville
Apples are grown in Western North Carolina primarily in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Hendersonville County, just south of Asheville is North Carolina’s biggest apple-producing county with just over 3,500 acres of apple orchards.
If you are planning a trip to the Asheville area you may be asking yourself, what is the best month to go apple picking? Luckily, the apple harvest is from mid-August through October as temperatures begin to cool off for fall.
And if you are wondering what is the best week for apple picking, that will depend on the location of the orchard, apple variety and weather during the growing season. Typically the middle of September is the best time to go, though!
The primary varieties of apples grown in Western North Carolina are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Galas, though there are dozens more specialty varieties produced as well.
