Where to Go Apple Picking Around the Bay Area

By Kari Hulac

Mmmm, it's apple pie time. And there's nothing better than picking your own apples to cook with.

One of the best-known fall day trips among Bay Area families is the appropriately named Apple Hill in El Dorado County, better known as Gold Country.

Apple Hill in Placerville, celebrating 50 years in 2014, is an association of more than 50 ranches, including fruit growers, bake shops, wineries, a micro-brewery, a spa and Christmas tree growers.

There's so much to do there, you'll want to spend a few minutes perusing their website, but if you specifically want to pick your own fruit, click here for a list of properties where you can do that.

Tip: Pick up a shuttle to the ranches at Schnell School or Eight Mile Road, both of which are off of U.S. Highway 50 east.

Other Places to Pick Your Own

This list by San Francisco-based family website Red Tricycle has a round-up of several orchards: Gabriel Farm in Sebastopol, Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma,  Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport and Clearview Orchards in Watsonville.