Fall in the Hudson Valley comes with a simple question: which orchard gets your Saturday? Picking your own apples is half the fun, and a warm cider doughnut afterward is the other half.
The six farms below stretch from Dutchess County to Orange and Ulster counties, and each one has its own style, from drive-through orchards to petting zoos to chestnut hunts. Save this list, grab a bag, and plan a day trip that ends with sugar on your fingers.
1. Fishkill Farms, Hopewell Junction, NY
Apple nerds, this is your stop. Fishkill Farms grows a remarkable range of apple varieties, and the farm shares detailed descriptions so you can pick with a plan instead of guessing.
The season here goes beyond apples, too. Berry and stone fruit picking come earlier in the year, while fall brings pumpkins, a corn maze and hayrides.
Once your bag is full, head to the farm shop. It stocks farm produce, pies and apple cider doughnuts that pair easily with a cup of fresh apple cider.
The farm sits in Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It closes on Mondays, so plan around that, and note that hours may shift with the season.
2. DuBois Farms, Highland, NY
Some orchards turn into a yearly family habit, and DuBois Farms in Highland is one of them. The Ulster County farm keeps things down-to-earth, with plenty of apple varieties and farm animals that kids tend to visit first.
Golden Delicious and SnapDragon are two apples worth hunting for in the rows. Bags of apples you pick yourself typically run around $50, though prices can change from year to year.
The farm store is where the cider doughnuts live. Expect roughly $20 for a dozen, along with hot and cold apple cider, baked goods, maple syrup and farm stand items.
DuBois Farms is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and dogs are allowed inside. Free parking makes the arrival easy.
3. Lawrence Farms Orchards, Newburgh, NY
Views come free with your apples here. Lawrence Farms Orchards sits on high ground in Newburgh with wide Hudson Valley scenery spreading out past the trees.
Every tree is labeled, which is a big help when the kids keep asking what kind of apple they just grabbed. The farm also offers a large variety of fruits and vegetables to pick throughout the season, plus pumpkins in fall.
Goats and horses share the property, and picnic tables near the goat paddock make a handy doughnut break spot. Speaking of treats, the menu goes past cider doughnuts to include apple-filled donuts, pies, cider slushies, ice cream and big lemonades.
Hours run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. That earlier close is easy to miss, so get moving in the morning.
4. Masker Orchards, Warwick, NY
Here is an orchard where your car does the walking. At Masker Orchards in Warwick, you drive in, take as many bags as you want and park along the lanes right next to the trees you plan to pick.
Payment happens on the way out. Bags are typically around $50 each, filled as full as you can manage, so bring some packing strategy.
Parking is free, and dogs are welcome, which makes this a relaxed pick for the whole household. Family-oriented games add a bit of extra play time.
The country store finishes the trip with baked goods, juices and apple cider doughnuts. A dozen doughnuts and a half gallon of cider is a classic way to head home.
Masker Orchards is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Orange County.
5. Barton Orchards, Poughquag, NY
Night owls get a break at this one. Barton Orchards in Poughquag stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, which is rare for a Hudson Valley orchard.
It is a working orchard with plenty to fill an afternoon. Visitors pick apples, ride tractors and wander a corn maze, and pick-your-own vegetable fields add more variety.
A petting zoo and picnic areas round out the farm side of things. The bakery covers fruit-filled baked goods along with apple cider doughnuts.
Weekday and Sunday hours run 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dogs are allowed, and parking is free, though seasonal schedules may vary.
6. Dressel Farms, New Paltz, NY
Chestnuts are the surprise at Dressel Farms. Along with apple picking, the New Paltz farm has offered a chestnut hunt, which gives the trip a fun twist.
The apples themselves are the main draw. You can pick your own or buy them already gathered, and a big haul can last for weeks at home.
The apple cider here gets serious praise for being fresh and clean, with no sediment settling at the bottom. Cider doughnuts are a natural partner, and they are a big reason people come back.
Find the farm at 271 Route 208, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Paltz has plenty to explore afterward, so I would save this one for a full Ulster County day.
Whichever orchard you choose, the formula stays the same. Pick a bag, grab a dozen doughnuts and enjoy apple season while it lasts.
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