Fall in Michigan means football, cozy sweatshirts, roaring bonfires, and of course, lots of apples. Michigan is the second-highest-producing apple state in the country, making it your right as a Michigander to get out there and start picking!
Apple picking is a quintessential fall activity, and as someone who has apple trees, my advice is to choose one of the many U-Pick farms in Michigan with extra activities to enjoy.
Exploring the orchard is fun, but it’s even better if you can add on more to your experience, such as wine or beer tasting, donuts, cider mills, a corn maze, or shopping. Oh, and wear closed-toed shoes: The combination of still-lingering warm temperatures and fruit that has fallen off the tree can bring out a lot of stinging insects!
To kick off the ‘ber seasons (arguably, some of the best!) in our state, add these Michigan U-Pick farms to your fall bucket list.
1. Blake’s Farms
- Location: 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada
- Other Activities: Petting zoo, Halloween-themed attractions, cider mill, restaurant, retail
Blake’s Farms in Michigan is a go-to destination for anyone who lives near the Thumb area because it offers all things fall, from pumpkins to cider to all the U-Pick apples you could dream of. Blake’s has two locations in Armada and another farm in South Lyon, but all three offer the full U-Pick apple experience, so you can’t go wrong with whatever location you choose.
All of the farms make apple picking a fun and easy experience, kicking off your visit with a wagon ride to the non-public part of the Honeycrisp orchard, away from the crowds. Then you can fill your bag, and when you’re done, both you and your now-teaming tote of apples will be transported back to the main part of the farm to enjoy the literal fruit of your picking. The fun kicks off in September and runs through most of the month (or until they run out of apples in some locations), so be sure to plan your visit soon.
2. Stony Creek Orchard & Cider Mill
- Location: 2961 W. 32 Mile, Romeo
- Other Activities: Picnic areas, retail, midnight hayrides, donuts, farm stand
Stony Creek Orchard and Cider Mill begins its fall season on September 11, so mark your calendars to pick your own apples, shop for delicious homemade goods like donuts and pies, and explore the farm with picnic areas and antique tractors.
The family-run farm has been in operation since 1939 and features always home-pressed apple cider from its own mill. Along with U-Pick apples, the farm also offers fall varieties of U-Pick raspberries you can pick and take home (or buy pre-picked if you prefer). And if you are looking for even more fall fun, join Stony Creek for one of their nightly weekend moonlight hayrides—the rides are not meant to be scary; they’re just a peaceful trek through the woods to enjoy the fresh night air together. The night ends with a bonfire, a donut, and a fresh glass of apple cider.
3. Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery
- Location: 3142 4 Mile Rd N, Grand Rapids
- Other Activities: Hayrides, nature trail, petting zoo, wine tastings, corn mazes, bakery
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery is another family-owned and operated apple orchard and mill that has been running since the early 1900s. The orchard offers free admission to enjoy the fall scenery, even if you don’t want to pick apples, but if you’re ready to harvest, you can pick apples for only $24/bag every weekend starting in September.
In addition to apples, visitors can pick and enjoy other fruits, including apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, and nectarines on the property that spans 125 acres. The orchard also lists a convenient ripening and timeline guide so you can know when your favorite variety will be ready for picking. Leashed dogs are allowed in the U-Pick orchard. And when you’re done picking for the day, don’t forget to stop into the on-site winery and cider mill, where wines and ciders are made fresh. Many of the spirits are made with Michigan fruit straight from the orchards.
4. Crane Orchards
- Location: 6080 124th Ave, Fennville
- Other Activities: Corn maze, hayrides, train rides, light show
The sixth-generation Crane Orchards is so picturesque and well-managed that it was voted one of the top 10 orchards in the entire country. Visit for the apple picking, and stay for the ambiance. The orchards—which have been around since the 1800s—offer apple and pumpkin picking, as well as cherries and peaches, so if you’re a pie baker, you’re in luck. Peaches and cherries are seasonal in the summer, while the apples and pumpkins are fall produce.
The orchard does not offer child wagons or pre-picked fruit, so if you’re coming, be prepared to haul any children in your own wagon and do all your own picking! (Don’t worry—the fresh varieties make it all worth it.) The corn maze (which is free for ages 5 and under, as a side note), cow train rides, and hay rides all open in September, so there will be plenty to do when you get tired of picking apples. Because the orchard is such a beautiful and popular spot, you can also book a private photography session for a family picking experience.
5. Rennie Orchards
- Address: 11221 Munro Rd., Williamsburg
- Other Activities: Hayrides, hay bale maze, play log cabin and teepee, concessions
Visit Rennie Orchards for U-Pick sour cherries as well as 19 different varieties of apples. If you plan to visit in September, you can pick the famous Honeycrisp apples and also catch the picking season for peaches and pears, while October will usher in squash, gourds, and pumpkins.
For anyone who wants the fun of the farm without the work, Rennie Orchards also has pre-picked cherries and apples to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead if they want a specific variety—not every fruit ripens on the same schedule, so picking options can vary.
6. Country Mill Farm
- Location: 4648 Otto Road, Charlotte
- Other Activities: Wagon rides, corn maze, winery, farm market
Country Mill Farm spans 213 acres, growing farm-fresh produce including apples, blueberries, peaches, and pumpkins, as well as homemade items like donuts, pies, cider, apple butter, and vinegar. They also have an on-site winery and cider mill, so a trip to the farm can be the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon.
If you’re looking for organic apples, rest assured that the farm is the only certified organic apple farm in the Lansing and Battle Creek area. You are welcome to pick your own apples in the provided tote bag and divide them with your friends or family after picking to share the wealth. Pre-picked and frozen apples ready for pie-baking are also for sale in the farm market.
7. Spicer Orchards
- Location: 10411 Clyde Rd., Fenton
- Other Activities: Donuts, cider mill
Spicer Orchards has plenty of fall fun and produce all season long, with U-Pick apple varieties of Sweet Maia, Blondee, Mollies Delicious, and MacIntosh. The farm also offers a convenient $5 wristband admission that gives visitors access to many attractions on the property, including a wagon ride to the U-Pick field, play structures, farm animals, games, a playground, a tractor museum, and barn slides. You then pay for any fruit that you pick, so it’s convenient if you want to do other things during your visit.
Gluten-free customers and those with allergies will also appreciate that Spicers offers gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, and dairy-free donuts in delicious flavors like cinnamon sugar and pumpkin spice.
8. Jacob’s Farm
- Location: 7100 E Traverse Hwy., Traverse City
- Other Activities: Corn maze, kids’ playground
Jacob’s Farm, in beautiful Traverse City, operates on a self-serve trust system, so after you pick your produce, you can leave your money in the boxes by the parking lot. Visitors can expect to enjoy premier Zestar and Honey Crisp from Michigan’s wine country, plus fun on the farm, including the corn maze, a children’s playground, and an adult “playground” with a bar and donuts for sale.
We’re also big fans of Jacob’s Farm for its full-service indoor/outdoor restaurant that seats 400, so if you work up an appetite with all that apple picking, you know exactly where to go. Try their farm-fresh pizza—you can design your own pie—gyros, subs, or salads, and enjoy the live music from the pavilion to round off your evening.
9. Westview Orchards
- Location: 65075 Van Dyke, Washington
- Other Activities: Farm market, winery, cider mill, playground, animals
Westview Orchards in the Metro Detroit area offers U-Pick apples as well as seasonal strawberries, peaches, blackberries, cherries, and pumpkins. September and October will be ripe for the picking with apples, pumpkins, and some late-summer raspberries, but the farm encourages you to call ahead of time if there is something specific you are looking for.
September typically has McIntosh and Gala apples ready for U-Pick, every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. The farm also has a unique history as Macomb’s only bicentennial farm, and it just so happens to be run by the sixth generation of sister farmers.
10. The Property Farms and McCallums Orchard and Cider Mill
- Location: 5697 Harris Road in Jeddo
- Other Activities: Food trucks, jumping pillow, concessions
The Property Farms and McCallums Orchard and Cider Mill has U-pick apples, grapes, nectarines, and peaches. You can bring the whole family out for a fun fall day of picking apples, enjoying the family- and kid-friendly play zone (just check out that jumping pillow!), petting zoo, and seasonal treats, including fresh-pressed cider and homemade donuts.
The farm is also a historical spot in Michigan and has been operating for over 90 years, so many locals find it a nostalgic spot to visit and snap a picture on the beautiful grounds.
11. The Orchards at Red Barn
- Location: 3550 Alden Nash Ave NE, Lowell
- Other Activities: Petting farm, tractor tire mountain, jumping pad, games, corn maze, pumpkin patch, pizza, hard cider
The Orchards at Red Barn is a fifth-generation centennial farm and apple orchard in West Michigan that offers U-Pick apples as well as other seasonal fall fun. Visitors are required to pay “Beyond the Barn” admission to gain access to the picking orchards, and then pay a fee of $20/bag of picked fruit. The orchards are bursting with 23 varieties of apples for snacking, baking, and preserving.
Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome, and admission includes access to the petting farm, corn maze, pumpkin picking (when the pumpkins are ready), and kids’ play area. The Orchards also offers a full menu with pizza, sandwiches, hard cider, shareables, and an ice cream parlor.
12. Knaebe’s Apple Farm
- Location: 2621 S. Karsten Rd., Rogers City
- Other Activities: Corn maze, farm animals, horse-drawn wagon rides, donuts, pizza
Knaebe’s Apple Farm has 13 acres of Michigan-fresh apples to enjoy, as well as other fall fun. The orchard’s roots go back to the 80s, when Michigan dentist Ed “Doc” Knaebe traded in his dentist drill for farm equipment.
The farm has passed hands since then, expanding the orchards with more offerings, including a wood-fired pizza oven, donuts, and a tasting room with hard cider and microbrews. Today, it is rated one of the best apple orchards in the country by USA Today, so the trip up north will be well worth it. Stop in now through November 8 to pick up your apples.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: How a West Michigan corn maze became a Dolly Parton memorial
