Where To Pick Apples Around Somerset County: 2025 Guide

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Fall doesn’t officially start until the autumnal equinox on Monday, Sept. 22, but the season is already underway at Somerset County's 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 Somerset County. 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.

Califon Orchards

• Address: 472 County Road 513, Califon
• Season dates: September into November
• Details: Asian Pears, Gala, Blonee and Honeycrisp are now available for pick-your-own
• Hours: Open daily 9 a.m., last entry at 5 p.m.
• Cost: Entry fee is $3.99 per person weekdays. Weekend entry is $5.99 per person and includes wagon rides to the orchard. Fruit (excluding honeycrisp) are $1.99/ pound when you pick at least 10 pounds, no minimums.
• Phone: 908-832-2905

Oldwick Cider Mill

• Address: 19 King Street, Oldwick
• Season dates: Opens Sept. 6
• Details: Pick your own honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun and gala apples will be available beginning this coming weekend. Hayrides, Hard Cider Tent, and cider donuts.
• Cost: Hayrides included with $5.99 weekend admission. Weekday admission just $3.99 per person. Then just pay for the apples you pick.
• Phone: 908-439-2318

Ripple Hill Farm

• Address: 181 Mountain Rd, Basking Ridge
• Season dates: Sept. 14 - Oct. 19
• Details: We are a small family farm so we only accept cash, no cards. No reservations are necessary but the last entry into the orchard is at 3:40 p.m. Please no pets for the comfort of all our guests. No food or drink in the orchard.
• Hours: 12 to 4 p.m.
• Cost: There is an entry fee of $5 per person (children under 10 are free) which does not include picked fruit. Any fruit you pick is weighed at checkout.
• Email: ripplehillfarm@gmail.com

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

Ripple Hill Farm

• Address: 282 Amwell Road, Hillsborough
• Season dates: Mid September-October
• Details: Get ready for the ultimate fall experience at the farm! Your admission includes a scenic hayride to the pumpkin patch, time to explore our family-friendly corn maze, and full access to the Barnyard Petting Zoo to meet our friendly farm animals.
• What’s Included:
  • Hayride to the Pumpkin Patch – Take a tractor-pulled ride through the farm and soak in the autumn views.
  • Corn Maze – Test your sense of direction and enjoy a seasonal challenge as you make your way through twists and turns.
  • Barnyard Petting Zoo Admission – Visit with goats, sheep, bunnies, and more in our hands-on barnyard.
  • Pumpkins are sold separately by weight—pick the perfect one in the field to purchase and bring home for carving or decorating.
• Cost: $21 per child, $10 per adult.
• Phone: 908-292-0278

Norz Hill Farm

• Address: 120 South Branch Rd, Hillsborough
• Season dates: Sept. 13 to Oct. 31
• Activities:
  • Farm Tours - The tour takes you on a hay wagon ride from our farm stand area to the farm, then you can get off and see all the animals. Some of the animals you will find are cows, miniature donkeys (yep, we have a Dominick the donkey!), horses, alpaca, sheep, chickens, goats, pigs, bunnies, emu's and even a zonkey. Then when you have had a chance to see all the animals, you can catch the next hayride right to our pumpkin patch.
  • The Corn Maze - Each and every year we dedicate our corn maze to either events that happen on our farm or a great local cause. SO while you are here you can be challenged to find your way through our 5 acres of farm fun!
  • Kids' CORNer & Fun Things - Our Kids Croner is a fun area for your children to visit. We have our ever-popular Kids Bale Maze, our Corn Boxes for the young ones to play in and more. We have many picture opportunities for the whole family here at Norz Hill Farm & Market.
  • Café 120 - Food Stand - A little hungry after all this activity at the farm? Stop in at our on-farm food stand "Café 120" We proudly serve charcoal grilled Hot Dogs & our own all-natural Hamburgers. We also have an assortment of drinks and snacks for you to continue your fun family time in the country. ("Café 120" will only be open on weekends and on advertised holidays.)
  • The Pumpkin Patch - After the farm, you will take a scenic ride out to one of our pumpkin patches. We grow over 60 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds & winter squash for you to choose from. In the pumpkin patch you can explore and find many different and interesting color and shaped pumpkins, gourds & winter squash. The colors you can find range from orange, to white to blue to green to even pink. Then after you have found your perfect pumpkins, gourds and squash you will take another hayride back to our farm stand area.
  • The Farm Market - At Norz Hill Farm & Market, we love giving everyone that great country atmosphere, so our market is at our large blue and white tent. At our market you can find many of the items that will make your fall complete. We have many Halloween and Fall crafts, Indian corn, straw bales and even corn stalks for your fall theme. We also have a big variety of jams/jellies, pies, breads and of course cider donuts! Also at our market we sell our own farm raised beef, pork & eggs and a variety of apples and of course apple cider.
  • Scare Farm - Do you think you have what it takes to make it through Scare Farm, our haunted attractions? Scare Farm has 3 haunted attraction, Creepy Hollow & Paranoia which are both walking haunted trails and The Slay Ride, our haunted hayride. Scare Farm is open throughout the month of October on Friday, Saturday & some Sunday nights. For more details on Scare Farm, please check out the Scare Farm website.
• Hours/Cost: Hayrides, Pumpkin Picking & Farm Animal Hours: Noon-5 p.m. Weekdays ($13/person), Weekends 10 AM- 6 PM ($15/person) Under 36" in height, FREE. Admission can be purchased online or at the door.
• Phone: 908-371-COWS

Snyders Farm

• Address: 586 South Middlebush Rd., Somerset
• Season dates: October 4/5, 11/12, 18/19, & 25/26
• Details: Come to Snyder’s Farm and enjoy a well-organized day of family fun! From pumpkin picking and loads of fun activities to all your favorite fall comfort foods, like apple cider, cider donuts & yummy food trucks, we have something that is sure to please everyone.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Cost: $24 per person, adult or child – Children under 2 free. Discounts offered for Seniors and Military (must show Military ID)
• Phone: 732-496-0441

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.