Few things feel more like fall in Connecticut than picking apples straight from the tree. Around New Haven, orchards range from simple, scenic spots to fill a bag to full-on fall festivals with cider, doughnuts, wagon rides, live music and lots of family activities.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard
Shelton | 278 Leavenworth Road | Picking on weekends
The Beardsley family has farmed this Shelton property since 1849, and some apple trees planted in the 1920s are apparently still producing fruit. Today’s orchard has more than 13,000 dwarf trees, while the cider mill churns out fresh cider, doughnuts, pies and breads. You can pick your own apples on weekends.
Belinsky Family Farm
Oxford | 124 Moose Hill Road | Call ahead
Belinsky is a small family farm in Oxford with apples and pears in the orchard and pumpkins, gourds and winter squash elsewhere on the property. Call ahead to make your apple picking appointment.
Bishop’s Orchards
Guilford | 480 New England Road | Picking daily
Founded in 1871, Bishop’s planted its first commercial orchard in 1909. Its Main Orchard now grows more than 20 varieties of apples and pears, with wagon rides, live music, a large corn maze and Bishop’s own hard cider and wine served to adults on weekends.
Blue Hills Orchard
Wallingford | 141 Blue Hills Road | Picking on weekends
The Henry family has farmed here since 1904, and about 250 acres are now devoted to apples. On picking weekends, wagons carry visitors out to the rows that are ready for harvest.
Gotta’s Farm
Portland | 661 Glastonbury Turnpike | Call ahead for availability
Established in 1898, Gotta’s is a fifth-generation farm growing apples, pears, peaches, vegetables and other crops. They also have a cider mill and a farm bakery selling pies, breads and cookies.
Hickory Hill Orchard
Cheshire | 351 S. Meriden Road | Picking Thursday through Sunday
Hickory Hill reopened under new ownership last year. The orchard grows more than 20 apple varieties and has a farm market, cider doughnuts and a children’s play village built around the farm’s train.
Hidden Gem Orchard
Southbury | 2500 Purchase Brook Road | Friday through Sunday
Hidden Gem grows 39 apple varieties on just six acres, with a particular focus on heirloom and unusual fruit. Depending on when you go, pickers could find rare Pink Pearl, Cox's Orange Pippin, Esopus Spitzenburg and Hudson Golden Gem alongside the more typical Honeycrisp and Macoun. Weekend visits include a wagon ride to the orchard.
Karabin Farms
Southington | 894 Andrews Street | Picking on weekends
Karabin grows both familiar and harder-to-find apples, including Honeycrisp, Macoun, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Snow Sweet, Gold Rush and Pink Lady. The apples grow on dwarf trees, and visitors are encouraged to sample varieties before deciding what to pick.
Lyman Orchards
Middlefield | 105 South Street | Picking daily
With about 30,000 trees across 100 acres, Lyman grows roughly 30 apple varieties over the course of the season. The larger property also includes pumpkin picking, a corn maze and the nearby Apple Barrel Farm Market.
March Farm
Bethlehem | 160 Munger Lane | Picking on weekends
Picking takes place at March Farm’s hilltop orchard on weekends, with wide views over the surrounding countryside. The 150-acre farm also has wagon rides, a five-acre corn maze, a bakery, farm animals and a large playscape.
Rogers Orchards
Southington | Shuttle Meadow and Sunnymount farms | Friday through Sunday
The Rogers family has farmed in Southington since 1809. Apple picking is offered at two locations—Shuttle Meadow and Sunnymount—and both have farm stores stocked with fruit, cider, cider doughnuts and pies.
Rose Orchards
North Branford | 33 Branford Road | Picking daily when available
The Rose family has farmed along the Branford–North Branford line since the 1600s; today, the 11th generation runs the 50-acre farm. Beyond the orchard, there’s a bakery, frozen custard, farm animals, pumpkins, hayrides and a corn maze.
Scotts’ Connecticut Valley Orchards
Deep River | 274 Kelsey Hill Road | Call ahead
The Deep River orchard was once part of Connecticut Valley Orchard Company, which was among New England’s largest fruit-growing operations in the late 19th century. Today, the Scott family grows apples alongside peaches, nectarines, plums and berries.
Staehly Farm & Winery
East Haddam | 23 Petticoat Lane | Picking on weekends
Staehly grows Honeycrisp, Macoun and Fuji alongside older cooking apples including Northern Spy and Winesap. Next to the orchard, the Yankee Cider Barn pours a rotating lineup of hard ciders inside a restored 19th-century barn.
Written by Daily Nutmeg Staff. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices, payment methods and other details before heading to the orchards.
