There’s nothing to get you in the autumn spirit quite like picking apples. Whether it’s a fun way to spend a Saturday with your kids, an excuse to hang out with your friends or the key to making that perfect apple pie, going to an orchard to pick your own apples is a beloved tradition. Apple picking season typically starts in late August and extends into late October.
Here are some picks in and around Frederick County.
Catoctin Mountain Orchard
15036 North Franklinville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788
Catoctin Mountain Orchard is one of the largest orchards in Frederick County offering pick-your-own produce. The orchard is home to more than 20 varieties of apples sure to satisfy all palettes, from apples that are best used in baked goods to ones that can be eaten fresh off the tree. It also has pick-your-own flowers, with a wide range of flowers available throughout the summer and fall season.
While you’re there, be sure to check out the farm market and sample some of the seasonal snacks and desserts available. Apple cider donuts are always a must, and if you visit during the fall, you can even try the Catoctins Special Apple Cider Donut Ice Cream.
Gaver Farm
5501 Detrick Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Gaver Farm has plenty of fun things to do and see, even outside of apple picking. Of course, apple picking is the star of the show during the fall. Gaver Farm’s apple orchard is made up of trellised trees, so apples can be picked without having to use ladders. Even younger kids can have fun picking their own! On weekends and certain weekdays during the fall, visitors can take a free hayride down to the orchard.
The farm’s annual Fall Fun Fest coincides with apple-picking season and features a 7-acre corn maze, friendly farm animals to meet and feed and fun attractions like zip lines, moon bounces and games. There’s also a special Fall Farm Market featuring plenty of apple and pumpkin products.
Gardenhour Orchards
22511 Gardenhour Road, Smithsburg, MD 21783
Gardenhour Orchards’ history dates back to the late 1800s, and it’s still a popular spot for locals to buy produce and pick their own. Different fruits are available for picking throughout the summer and fall, with strawberries available starting in late May, blueberries in late June and apples in mid-September. There are several different varieties available as well. Gardenhour Orchards offers a no-frills pick-your-own experience, perfect for anyone who wants to spend time in nature and really feel like they’re a part of the apple harvesting process.
Baugher’s Orchards and Farms
1015 Baugher Road, Westminster, MD 21158
Baugher’s has two locations, and families may be more familiar with its farm stand, which has a bakery and restaurant. But the orchards themselves have pick-your-own apples in the fall, with more than 30 varieties available. Pumpkins and sunflowers are also available for picking on weekends during September, October and the first weekend of November.
If you or your child loves animals, stop by the farm’s free petting zoo before you go. It’s a large area with animals like goats, ducks, rabbits and peacocks, as well as some attractions for children like the hillside slide and a play area. For a small additional cost, visitors can buy bags of food to feed the animals.
Larriland Farm
2415 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797
About half an hour away from Frederick, Larriland Farm is an especially popular locale for apple picking. There are 27 varieties available, with different apples ready for harvest at different times during the season. There are also several other kinds of fruits and vegetables available during the fall, including Asian pears, pumpkins, beets, broccoli, turnips and fall squash.
The farm also has several other activities for visitors. Hayride tours are available during the fall, with special Pumpkin Hayrides in October letting visitors select a pumpkin of their own to take home. There’s also a straw maze and the “Boo Barn,” a not-too-scary haunted house for younger children.
