Where To Pick Apples Around Castro Valley: 2025 Guide

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — Fall doesn’t officially start until the autumnal equinox on Monday, Sept. 22, but the season is already underway at Bay Area apple orchards.

There are plenty of activities at these fall attractions to appeal to all ages, especially kids.

Patch has compiled a list of some of the best apple orchards and family-friendly fall attractions in and around the Bay Area. Before you go, be sure to call ahead or check the orchard’s website to clarify hours of operation or to check for the availability of apples.

Chileno Valley Ranch
Address: 5105 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma
Season dates: From August 1 until they run out of apples.
Details: Apple pickers welcome by appointment. Honey, lavender and baked goods will also be available to purchase.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays by appointment.
Cost: $10 entry fee per family. Apples are $2 per pound
Phone: 707-765-6664

EARTHseed Farm
Address: 3175 Sullivan Rd., Sebastopol
Season dates: July to November
Details: Welcomes berry and fruit pickers by appointment on select Saturdays.
Hours: 11 a.m to 4 p.m. on select Saturdays
Cost: $25 entry fee. Fruit and berries paid for by the pound.
Phone: 707-829-0617

Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch
Address: 13128 Occidental Rd., Sebastopol
Season dates: September to November
Details: Apple pickers welcome. Gravenstein, Golden Delicious, and Rome apples available along with homemade apple cider.
Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Thursday and Saturday
Phone: 707-823-0538

Hale’s Apple Farm
Address: 1526 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastopol
Details: Over 30 varieties of heirloom apples along with other fruits and veggies such as pumpkins come October. No apple picking allowed but they do sell them at their farmstand.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
Phone: 707-823-4613

Cloverfield Organic Farm
Address: 501 La Paloma Rd., El Sobrante
Season dates: Open year round but apple season is June through November
Details: The tiny farm grows a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and potted plants. Above the vegetable patch, there’s a meadow that doubles as a picnic area and pasture for Magic Ben, their free-range horse who also moonlights as a therapeutic horse.
Hours: Noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: A large farm basket is $36. A single pint basket of fruits, flowers, vegetables or herbs is $6. Organic potted plants range in price from $7 to $25 each.
Phone: 510-253-8859

Gizdich Ranch
Address: 55 Peckham Rd., Watsonville
Season dates: Opens September 13
Details: Pick-your-own apples. Varieties include Fuji, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. It’s also famous for its homemade fresh fruit pies, apple dumplings and apple slush. Only credit cards are accepted. No cash.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekends only
Phone: 831-722-1056

Lucky You Orchards
Address: 21611 Carrolton Ave., Ripon
Season dates: Opens September 1
Details: Apple pickers welcome. Free tractor rides, cold hard cider and fresh pressed juice available.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weekends only
Cost: $2.99 per pound. No entry fee.
Phone: 209-404-6078

Corn mazes and pumpkin patches are also open or will open soon.

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and A'Mazing Corn Maze
Address: 550 Stony Point Rd., Petaluma
Season dates: Opens September 19
Details: This pumpkin patch is home to a 4-acre A'Mazing Corn Maze with second-story viewing platforms. It also has a little kids' maze and acres of pumpkins. Ages 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult in the maze for the entire experience.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
Cost: Corn maze admission $8; free for ages 6 and under. Friday and Saturday evening Night Maze admission is $12 for all ages.
Phone: 707-781-3132

Westbrae Nursery Mini-Patch
Address: 1272 Gilman St., Berkeley
Season dates: October 1-31
Details: The large pumpkin patch is set up behind the nursery, and 100% of pumpkin sales benefit Cornell Elementary School.
Hours: from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Cost: Pumpkins are $5-$25 depending on pumpkin size. No entry fee.
Phone: 510-526-5517

Wildwood Dads’ Club Pumpkin Patch
Address: 898 Red Rock Rd., Piedmont
Season dates: Sept. 27-Oct. 30.
Details: The WDCPP is a 100% volunteer-led organization, and every pumpkin purchase supports students at Wildwood Elementary School in Piedmont.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Pick of the Patch Pumpkins
Address: 4020 Fremont Hub (corner of Fremont Blvd. at Mowry Ave.), Fremont
Season dates: Opens Saturday, Sept. 13
Details: Attractions include an outdoor inflatable park, paintball and a large pumpkin patch.
Hours: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: ranges from $10 to $40 More details are available here.

Classic Pumpkin Patch
Address: Rowell Ranch Rodeo, 9711 Dublin Canyon Rd., Castro Valley
Season dates: Oct. 5-Oct. 31.
Details: Features include a large pumpkin patch, lots of hay and rides.
Hours: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: not disclosed

Dig Deep Farms Pumpkin Patch
Address: 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Season dates: Oct. 11-Oct. 26
Details: There are many pumpkins to choose from, as well as arts and crafts, games, and family-friendly activities.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Cost: The entrance fee is $5 (12 years or older) and $2 (3-11 years old); free for ages 2 and younger

Speer Family Farms Pumpkin Patch
Address: 2171 Monarch St., Alameda
Season dates: Sept. 26 to Nov. 1
Details: This patch features inflatable slides, a mini-train, a small petting zoo, and plenty of pumpkins.
Hours: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: $22 for children; $12 for adults; free for children under 2 years old

Del’Osso Family Farm
Address: 501 Manthey Rd., Lathrop
Season dates: October 3-31
Details: Attractions at this Central Valley farm include their famous giant corn maze, entry to which is included with general admission.
Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: Monday–Thursday $23.95; Friday, $28.95; Saturday and Sunday, $32.95; children 2 and under free.
Phone: 209-982-0833

Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch
Address: 5157 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa
Season dates: Opens September 27
Details: Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch offers a huge 8-acre corn maze as well as a kiddy corn maze, hay and sunflower mazes. It also has 8 acres of pumpkins. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The Corn Maze closes 45 minutes before the Patch closes. Closed on rainy days.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays
Cost: Ranges from $5 to $30. See website for more details.
Phone: 707-582-3276

G&M Farms
Address: 487 East Airway Blvd., Livermore
Season dates: October 3-31
Details: G&M Farms was featured twice on “Late Night with David Letterman” and has a giant 6-acre corn maze and more.
Hours: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays
Cost: Adults $10, children $9, under 5 free.

Three Nunns Farm
Address: 550 Walnut Blvd., Brentwood
Season dates: Opens September 20
Details: Three Nunns Farm in Brentwood, Contra Costa County, offers not one, but two corn mazes. Test your skills in the challenging 5-acre giant corn maze, or enjoy a more leisurely experience on the "Corn Trail."
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Cost: $15
Phone: 925-550-0870

This should be a good year for apple picking, according to the 2025 forecast from the U.S. Apple Association, which estimates the harvest will be 6 percent higher than in 2024, for a total of 273 million bushels.

That estimate is based on USDA data from the top seven apple-producing states — respectively, Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon and Virginia. When other states are considered, total production could be as much as 290 million bushels, the industry trade group said.