Top 7 Places to Go Apple Picking in Rockland County & Nearby

These are our favorite orchards and farms that offer apple picking in Rockland, Westchester, Orange and New Jersey.

By Alison Leighton September 7, 2021

Get ready: the season for apple picking in Rockland County is upon us! When September rolls around, I get excited about one big thing (no, not back-to-school season…): apple picking season! The fall brings us cozy outfits, leaf peeping season, and pick-your-own apples! And a trip to the farm isn’t complete without a cup of delicious cider, followed by homemade treats (I’m looking at you, cider doughnuts!). If you’re ready to pick your own apples, then check out these farms in Rockland, Westchester, and Orange counties, as well as apple picking in northern NJ. Your family will have a blast picking fresh fruit and checking out the various activities offered at each place, such as petting zoos, corn mazes, or sunflower mazes.

Keep in mind: Apple seasons are approximate as of the writing of this article since crops are based on weather conditions. Check the farm’s website or call ahead to confirm availability and COVID-19 guidelines given the ever-changing conditions. And don’t forget proper footwear as fields can be muddy or have uneven ground.

And be sure to read up on these 10 apple picking tips for a successful outing with your kids.

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Rockland
Westchester
Orange
New Jersey

Apple Picking in Rockland County

1. Orchards of Concklin

2 S. Mountain Road (off Route 45), Pomona (for GPS use 1010 Route 45, Pomona)
845-354-0369
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Hours: Pick-your-own apples projected to start Sept. 11; store: daily, 9am-5pm
Cost: half-peck bag is $13 per person

Not only are you able to come enjoy apple picking, but the orchard also has a farm stand featuring fresh-pressed apple cider and a delicious bakery filled with pies, cookies, and cakes. Retail Store is fully open and curbside pickup is still available. Nursery and Garden Center open daily, 9am-5pm. Check the website for the pick-your-own schedule.

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Apple Picking in Westchester County

1. Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem
914-485-1210
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Hours: Pick-your-own apples available by reservation. Apple picking season begins in September, exact date and hours are TBD. Farm store: Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm (April-December)
Cost: $10 parking, $25 for a peck size bag. Reservations required online, and guests can start to sign up mid- to end of August.

Pick-your-own apples and pears are available in September and October. And that’s just the start of the fun at this farm and orchard! Check out the farm in summertime for blueberry and strawberry picking. You can also buy pasture-raised, hormone-free organic meats and local dairy at the farm store, as well as local maple syrup, seasonal flowers, and veggies. It hosts entertaining seasonal events as well, including a Fall Festival every weekend from Labor Day to Halloween and Hardscrabble Cider Live Music and Pizza nights.

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2. Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm

1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights
914-245-5111
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Hours: Farm is open Wednesday-Monday starting late August through mid-December; pick-your-own is available daily, 10am- 4:30pm when fruit is in season. Apple picking is anticipated to start in early September; check website for updates.
Cost: Prices were not announced as of press time; check website for updates. Note: You will have to pay for a minimum quantity based on your party size to enter the orchard (the minimum is a 1-peck bag of apples for 2 adults, and a ½-bushel bag of apples for 3-4 adults.

Here you’ll find a variety of pick-your-own options, including apples in September and pumpkins in October. Just make sure to call before visiting to confirm the availability of fruit. Picking poles are available to rent to help you reach for the higher apples (there is a rental fee). You can take a hay wagon to that week’s picking orchard, which your children will love! (Note that the wagon ride may not be available due to COVID-19.) Plus, the three (!) markets—the Farm Market, Country Market, and Bakery—are open daily, 10am-5pm. You can take home freshly baked pies, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, and other treats. Adults will love visiting the winery and the tasting room, and your kids will have a blast in the corn maze, which is open all season. Note: Standard COVID-19 protocols are in place at this farm.

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3. Outhouse Orchards

139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem
914-277-3188
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Hours: PYO hours and reservations not available at time of writing. Pick-your-own reservations will be available on the website.
Cost: Pre-pay $30 for a small bag (15 lbs of fruit) or $45 for a large bag (2 lbs of fruit).

Take in the beautiful fall foliage as you stroll through these orchards. September and October will be full of apples for picking—and there are pole pickers to borrow for the hard-to-reach spots. Don’t forget to visit the corn maze (maze tickets are $10 per person; free for children younger than 5 with adult). With the beautiful views surrounding the farm, you’ll love taking the hayride with breathtaking views of the orchards and the surrounding Hudson Valley. And your family will love the farm stand, which sells doughnuts, pies, preserves, honey, flowers, and a variety of farm goods.

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Hand-Picked Family Activities

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Apple Picking in Orange County

1. Ochs Orchard

4 Ochs Lane (off Route 94), Warwick
845-986-1591
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Hours: Store: year-round, daily, 9am-5:30pm. U-pick begins after Labor Day; daily hours change based on availability, call to confirm.
Cost: Apples are sold by the bag and pumpkins by the pound. Parking is always free!

Get ready to visit the “2019 Readers’ Choice Awards Best Apple Orchards in the U.S.!” Before visiting, call the store or visit its Facebook page to confirm what is available. This farm allows picnics (don’t forget to take trash with you), and it sells drinks but encourages you to bring your own water. When you’re done picking, stop by the store for homemade ice cream (all berry and fruit flavors are made using their own farm produce), or take home some cider from its cider mill and indulge in the homemade cider doughnuts and pies (available weekends, June- December). Plus, there is also a small farm, and you can visit their animals.

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Apple Picking in NJ

1. Demarest Farms

244 Werimus Road, Hillsdale
201-666-0472
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Hours: PYO apples begins Sept. 4; Thursday-Monday, 8am-5pm
Cost: $7 ages 2 and older, includes free parking and entrance to orchard; $14 for a bag to hold the apples you pick (bag holds approximately 10-12 lbs.)

This farm has it all—pick your own fruit of all varieties, plus a petting zoo, drive-in movie nights, Halloween lights, and more. When you’re done picking, check out the farm store with a bakery, apple cider, flowers, and fresh produce. All pick-your-own activities require advanced, online reservations this year (this allows the farm to manage proper social distancing and COVID-19 regulations). Visits will be limited to your reservation time frame, so arrive promptly at your scheduled time; late arrivals must still leave at the end of the reservation time frame.

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2. Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
908-879-7189
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Hours: Farm Store: daily, 9am-7pm; PYO: daily, 9am-6pm
Cost: $14.99-$59.99, depending on how much produce you want to pick. Pre-purchased tickets required. Ticket includes access to pick-your-own areas, a container, the cost of the produce to fill said container, scenic hay wagon rides around the farm, and access to the hay pyramid and mazes.

The farm has more than 50 different apple varieties, which allows apple picking season to start earlier here than most farms—you can already find some varieties available and more will be ready later in the season. Call in advance or visit the “What Can I Pick Today” portion of the farm’s website to confirm which varieties are ripe for your trip. Check out the corn maze (opening late summer), evergreen maze, and sunflower trail (included with cost of PYO). For an additional cost, you can also cut your own sunflowers! Kids will love the pony rides and the tractor-pulled wagon ride, and you’ll want to come back for the farm’s live music events. It also offers U-Pick for myriad other fruits and veggies, such as blackberries, peaches, blueberries, tomatoes, and eggplants! And before you leave, indulge in the treats found at the Farm Store with homemade ice cream, fudge, apple cider doughnuts, and other desserts. Check out all the fun events and family activities the farm offers, including visits with its farm animals, by visiting the website. Oh, and if you’re coming from out of town, it offers a free shuttle service between the Gladstone Train Station and Alstede Farms on weekends and holidays (it requires advanced reservation).