When it comes to orchards, there are no bad apples in Upstate New York.
But with so many world-class apple orchards gracing the Empire State, picking a fall favorite is no easy task.
Is the top orchard the beloved 113-year-old Central New York farm that has been voted America’s best apple orchard five times? Or does the crown belong to an orchard that fries up the most beloved cider doughnuts in the Capital Region?
There are 600 commercial apple growers in New York, making it the nation’s second-largest apple-producing state, according to the New York Apple Association. Many of the farms are U-pick orchards where visitors can pluck the apples that catch their eye fresh from trees.
To help map out our yearly apple-picking adventure, we dove into a bushel of Yelp and Google reviews from across New York’s six major growing regions, which stretch from the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York to the edge of Upstate in the idyllic Hudson Valley.
We crunched the numbers, giving extra weight to orchards with thousands of ratings (because the more bites, the better the taste test), and came away with a crisp list of orchards worth branching out for this fall.
An in-cider note: This ranking only includes farms that offer visitors a chance to pick their own apples.
Here is our ranking of the 15 best apple orchards in Upstate New York:
#15: Riverview Orchards
Capital Region
Address: 660 Riverview Road, Rexford
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Riverview Orchards: “Awesome fall place. Great apple picking and very cute store. One of the better apple picking places because there’s no entry fee, you only pay for the apples you pick. Baked goods, honey, cider, pies, local foods and more! Must stop!!!”
#14: Saratoga Apple
Capital Region
Address: 1174 Route 29, Schuylerville
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Saratoga Apple: “Incredibly fun spot that is also surprisingly diverse–particularly during Apple season, of course. But even off-season, you can shop year round at their farm market and/or enjoy their very cool taproom (cider-forward, natch, but some solid local beers as well)….They work hard to make visiting here a destination, particularly on weekends, with live music for adults and other events, and of course apple picking, mazes and other fun kid-friendly activities.”
#13: Rose Hill Farm
Hudson Valley
Address: 19 Rose Hill, Red Hook
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Rose Hill Farm: “The combination of great drinks, amazing scenery, and delicious food really made for a memorable experience. I absolutely loved the atmosphere up here and can’t wait to come back again. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick visit or planning to spend the day, Rose Hill Farms offers a little something for everyone. Highly recommend!”
#12: Hicks Orchard
Adirondacks
Address: 18 Hicks Road, Granville
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Hicks Orchard: “Hicks is such a family friendly orchard with so many choices of experiences… you can pick your own or they have countless bags ready for you to choose from. You want to taste cider(hard or not) they have that as well. The shops are full of great merch, sweets, beverages and more. You can really sense the pride of this family owned orchard. The holidays are coming up so stop by and stock up on everything Apple!!!”
#11: Indian Creek Farm
Finger Lakes
Address: 1408 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Indian Creek Farm: “It was Amazing !!! Their apple cider was really good and their donuts. Apple picking was the best. They handed out maps and it was really easy to find the apples we wanted pick.”
#10: Navarino Orchard
Central New York
Address: 3655 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Onondaga
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Navarino Orchard: “Another authentic farm we visited on our Fall fun frenzy. We ventured around the patches to find the perfect pumpkins…They have apples, squash, and gourds galore. A small general store packed with fall goodies and apple pies, fritters, fudge, apple cider, and more available.”
#9: Twin Star Orchards
Hudson Valley
Address: 155 N. Ohioville Road, New Paltz
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Twin Star Orchards: “We live nearby and always enjoy our visits. The grounds are peaceful, super kid friendly and the food is actually delicious. I can’t get pizza like this anywhere else upstate. The BBQ is great, too. We love the bone dry cider as well. Highly recommended spot!”
#8: Greig Farm
Hudson Valley
Address: 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Greig Farm: “Really awesome example of a pick-your-own farm done right. Greig has their fields, a cafe/food store, some artisan shopping, and some goats all on site. There’s a nice patio in the back where you eat and have some hard cider overlooking the fields. As others have said, it is rarely if ever crowded unlike other farms.”
#7: Rulfs Orchard
Adirondacks
Address: 531 Bear Swamp Road, Peru
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Rulfs Orchard: “Definitely a well-run establishment. The endless acres of orchards with the Adirondack Mountains in the background is picturesque. The selection in their store is superb and they offer breakfast and lunch options as well. There is a well kept petting zoo and playground area for children.”
#6: Kelder’s Farm
Hudson Valley
Address: 5755 US Route 209, Kerhonkson
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Kelder’s Farm: “My kids grew up here. It warms my heart to now bring my grandkids to the same farm.Times change, we have to pay to enjoy it now, but I understand & obviously all the out of towners do too. This is a great family friendly place with something for everyone, and I do mean everyone (there’s wine & beer).”
#5: Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard
Central New York
Address: 2708 Lords Hill Road (Route 80), LaFayette
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Beak & Skiff: “Beak & Skiff is amazing! This orchard transformed from a tiny general store and orchard to an awesome destination whenever I visit the area. They still have great apples and picking, but there are various food and drink options (e.g. hard cider) as well as activities for kids and considerably more retail. Highly recommend spending an afternoon here during the Fall season.”
#4: DuBois Farms
Hudson Valley
Address: 209 Perkinsville Road, Highland
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about DuBois Farms: “You can easily spend an entire day here since they have so many things to do – apple picking, playground area, restaurant, pumpkin patch, animals, hayrides. Our daughter especially enjoyed the goats. For picking, they offer bags and then you pay by the pound. They have a shop and a restaurant. The pizza was better than expected and we bought a case of donuts to take home. A visit here is a nice way to spend a day, especially with kids!”
#3: Wickham Farms
Western New York
Address: 1315 Sweets Corners Road, Penfield
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Wickham Farms: “From the moment you walk in, you can smell the cider, donuts, and kettle corn. As you pass through to the back of the barn, there are plenty of activities for kids and adults. They have slides, a train, inflatable jumping, maize maze, mini golf, feeding goats, pumpkin and apple picking! You could truly spend the entire day here with your little ones.”
#2: Schutt’s Apple Mill
Western New York
Address: 1063 Plank Road, Webster
Here’s what one reviewer on Yelp said about Schutt’s Apple Mill: “A regular stop and fall tradition for our family. A festive, fall environment with samples of cider, a huge selection of apples, baked goods, gift items and delicious fry cakes! Watch out for the bees on warmer days but otherwise a great family experience.”
#1: Indian Ladder Farms
Capital Region
Address: 287 Altamont Road, Altamont
Here’s what one reviewer on Google said about Indian Ladder Farms: “Indian Ladder has gone from the cute orchard we used to go pick apples at as kids to a legit food and beer/cider destination that I really enjoy and appreciate as an adult. And still pyo and a little petting zoo for the kids! Defazzios is such a phenomenal addition with the pizza garden.”