Last updated: 10/5/2022
North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state with most of the orchards being located in Western NC. With more than 40 varieties of Apples grown in NC, you'll find plenty of variety and apple farms for you to choose from!
Picking apples in Western NC is fun experience for the whole family, and you can not only pick your apples, but enjoy some fresh cider, baked apple products, games, hay rides and more, especially in the Fall during prime Apple season.
Apple pies, apple fritters, and apple cider donuts are definitely a must when visiting an orchard. North Carolina Apple Orchards are scattered across many locations in North Carolina, but the largest number are located in Western NC, and mainly in the Hendersonville NC area. These mountains are famous for their Apples.
With so many orchards, how do you choose where to visit? Once again, we've got your back! Here are our 11 picks for the Top Apple Orchards in Western North Carolina:
1- Creasman Farms
Located in Hendersonville NC, Creasman Farms offers not only apples, but peaches, blackberries, pears, and summer vegetables. On Sundays, their U-Pick orchard is open from 1 to 5 PM, with a selection from some of their apples.
The entire orchard itself holds 40 different varieties of apples: crimson crisp, honey crisp, gala, and more. If you’re in the mood for it, the farm also has plenty of baked goods for you to enjoy there or take home, as well as apple butter and fresh cider.
2- KT's Orchard and Apiary
Apple picking is always a fun family activity, but how about adding a little more? In Canton, NC, KT’s Orchard and Apiary holds not only apples, but a bee farm as well.
The farm is family-owned, with apples—75 different varieties—peaches, nectarines, and raspberries for you to pick. The apiary offers bee supplies for your own farm, lip balm, beeswax cream, and even some bees to take home if you want to.
3- Holt Orchards
Holt Orchards is located in Flat Rock, NC. The apple orchard is open from mid-August to early November, with choices of gala, golden and red delicious, granny smith, rome, fuji, and more.
If you want to, the orchard can also ship the apples to you and you can order online. They offer honey, apple cider donuts, cider, and more. Tracy’s Fun Finds is a neat little gift shop located at the orchard for you to buy small trinkets, such as candles and more.
4- Grandad's Apples
In Hendersonville, NC, Grandad's Apples holds around 100 acres of land for their farm. You can choose apples that have been picked directly from the trees that day, and during the fall, they have plenty of pumpkins for you to take home and carve. And don't forget to check out the cow train, apple canon, and the corn maze!
Grandad's Barn and Country Store has many different goods for you to take home, and the bakery is definitely a must see! Apple cider slushies, donuts, pies, and more are waiting for you, as well as other neat little knick-knacks.
This is hands-down one of our favorite Orchards to visit!
5- Barber's Orchard
Barber's Orchard is a neat apple orchard, located in Waynesville, NC, with a large variety of apples for you to pick from. Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables are also available, with the entire orchard right in the front.
You have the choice of picking your own, or you can browse through their pre-picked apples in the store.
They have some of the best apple cider, and plenty of apple goods for you to take home: apple fritters, apple cider donuts, apple pies, apple turnovers, and other fruit pies, as well. So come along and check it out, and don't forget that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away!"
We're particularly partial to Barber's, as it's located in our home town of Waynesville NC, and we visit often. The baked apple goods are to die for, especially those hot apple fritters! Mmmmm.
6- Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill
Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill is located down in Morganton, NC. It’s a pick your own orchard that dates back to 1930, with 22 different varieties of apples—gala, honeycrisp, golden delicious, cameo, and more—along with peaches.
Apple Hill also has a Farmhouse Bakery with donuts, cakes, pies, and more. And, of course, the Farm Market is there for you to purchase from, holding apples, cider, honey, gifts, and other items. The farm dates all the way back to the 1930’s, and they are always welcoming to customers.
7- Justus Orchard
In Hendersonville, NC, Justus Orchard is a family-owned orchard with both U Pick and We Pick options of apples, blackberries, peaches, and pumpkins. As you walk through their farm, you can also take a detour to the pond and watch the ducks. Or you can go and check out the farm animals, too.
Don’t forget to ride the Cow Train through the orchard! The bakery holds their well-known fried apple pies, cider, cider slushies, apple bread, and more. The Apple House also has pre-picked apples for you to choose from, honey, jams, jellies, and other goods.
8- Coston Farm & Apple House
Coston Farm & Apple House is in Hendersonville, NC, is both an apple and pumpkin farm. They also have apple cider, strawberry cider, blackberry cider, peach cider, and more to cover everyone’s favorites! You can pick the apples yourselves, or they can get them for you.
A gift shop and a bakery holds several different goods for you to bring home. You can select from the chocolate chip cookies, fried apple pie, muffins, donuts, apple butter, and more! Other neat little knick-knacks are also sold, such as Christmas decorations and crafts.
9- Sky Top Orchard
Sky Top Orchard has been around since 1967 in Flat Rock, NC. It was founded by Everette and David Butler, and has been family-owned since. Not only can you pick your apples, there are also fun activities for you and your family to partake in, such as the hayride and the bee train.
There’s also an apple canon, too! You can go see the goats, ducks, chickens, and other farm animals, or you can let your kids play on the playground! A beautiful nature walk is waiting for you at the bamboo forest, so feel free to check it out. They sell all sorts of apple goods, and they even have a gem mining area!
10- Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard
In Hendersonville, NC, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard is a pick your own orchard with several different types of apples. In the fall, pumpkins are ready to pick up, and seasonal flowers are spread throughout the land as well. There’s a neat corn maze for you and your family to check out, as well as an apple canon.
If you go on the weekends, then they’re definitely something to try out. A weekend wagon ride has also been prepared, taking you through the orchard with lots of fun. Their Country Market has all sorts of apple goods, and a picnic area is available during your visit!
11- The Historic Orchard at Altapass
In Spruce Pine, NC, the Historic Orchard at Altapass is a pick your own orchard, and one of the top visited places along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Their apple forest is encouraged to walk through, no matter the season, and there's even a place to sit down while you listen to some music.
They have fresh apple pie with ice cream, and plenty of other apple goods for you to enjoy. Hayrides and other events are available during your stay, so feel free to check them out. The orchard is also pet-friendly, and with plenty of walks to go on.
