Orchard you glad? Our Bergen County Farm Apple Picking Guide is Back!
Any way you slice it, a daylong adventure filled with apple picking hayrides, corn mazes, roadside markets, llamas, ponies, moonbouncing, cider sipping – and oh, yeah, picking apples – is going to be a day you’ll long remember.
Where and when to go? From nearby faves to farther flung locales well off the beaten path, we’ve harvested the best picks for the whole family in New Jersey and beyond.
In Bergen County:
Demarest Farms(244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, 201-666-0472) the Bergen County farm is home to more than 14 varieties of pick-your-own apples, spectacular views, and well-manicured trees. Enjoy hay wagon rides, pumpkin picking, farm animal feedings, a corn maze, apple treats, plus their famous cider donuts (yum). ($5 admission, $9/bag of apples, Apple Picking Starts September 6, Pumpkin Picking Starts September 19th, Monday-Friday 3:00-4:30pm, Saturday + Sunday 10:00am-4:30pm)
In Rockland County:
Dr Davies (306 Route 304, Congers, NY, 845-268-7020) set on scenic Lake Deforest, boasts over 4,000 trees on 35 acres- and we got lost meandering in the orchard. The farm also offers trailer rides for pumpkin picking with a beautiful scenic backdrop and has a small roadside market for vegetables and baked goods. Go early, grab a picking pole and bring a camera! (Apple Picking typically starts Labor Day, Open 7 days a week from 10:00am-4:00pm, cash only)
The Orchards of Concklin (Rte 45 & South Mountain Rd, Pomona, NY (845) 354-0369) gently reminds visitors to treat the trees well: no beating, shaking or climbing. In addition to their wide variety of apples available for picking, the farm has a slide, Jurassic Adventure, and a Kids Haunted House and Bounce so your tots can bounce around while you hit the market for their “award winning” apple cider donuts. (Apple Picking starts Sept 20th, Pumpkin picking starts late September. Open Saturday and Sunday only 10am-5pm, $9/bag of apple, pole rental $2, kids under 3 are free)
Day Trip Worthy:
Alstede Farms (1 Chesterfield Dr., Chester, 908-879-7189) a family favorite, harvests fruits on more than 500 acres, so picking is easy- post picking fun includes a dino-themed kids corn maze, a giant corn maze, plus pony rides, a moon bounce, live music, a corn kingdom, wagon train rides, and tons more. Check out the Alstede Farms Calendar for the full schedule of events. (Apple Picking runs through end of October, Pumpkin Picking starts mid September - November, Open 7 days a week, 9:00am-7:00pm, admission prices start at $5 for a base ticket)
Stony Hill Farms (8 State Route 24, Chester, 908-879-2696) offers 19 different varietals of apples, pumpkin picking and strawberry picking when in season plus a corn maze and Fun Park which includes gemstone mining and an arc structure your kids run through until they’re ready for naptime. (Apple Season runs September - mid-October, Pumpkins are available September 27th through October, Open daily from 10:00am - 5:00pm, Apples are $1.99/lb)
Hurds Family Farm (2187 Route 32, Modena, NY, Phone: 845.883.7825)owned by the Hurd family for over 100 years, this 120-acre farm in Modena, NY, specializes in giving visitors a real Fall Harvest experience. Apple picking well into October, Pumpkin Picking, an apple launcher, hayrides, corn mazes, gem mining, critters, a Big Apple Bounce, Picnic Tables, Nature Trails and Paddle Boats, plus a Kiddie Coral make this Upstate New York Farm a go-to spot for all-day seasonal family fun.(Open Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm, Weekends 10:00am - 6:00pm, half a peck is $7, full peck $12)
Silverman’s Farm (451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT, 203-261-3306) If you’re serious about your fall harvest head north up the Merritt Parkway to Silverman’s Farm in Easton, Connecticut. Home to dozens of apple tree varietals, a huge market and pumpkin patches, plus a large animal petting zoo and food trucks, plan to spend at least a few hours. Remember to bring a wagon to tote around the little ones (and pumpkins). Post-picking walks through nearby Westport are a fun way to end the day.(Apples available now through mid-October, Pumpkins available mid-September through November, Open 7 days a week from 9:00am - 5:30pm)
Johnsons Corner Farm (133 Church Rd, Medford, NJ, 609.654.8643) About an hour and a half drive from Bergen County brings you to Johnson’s Corner Farm, where a short hayride up to the apple picking fields guarantees rows of fruitful trees plus live music, a corn maze, moon bounce, Pumpkin Picking hayrides, and food tent. The kiddos will love the Animal Farm and Discovery Barnyard where they can interact with live animals. If you visit the weekend of September 12th check out Johnsons Apple of My Eye festival featuring all of the regular fall festivities plus a classic car show. (Apples available through mid-October, Pumpkins available mid-September through November, Open Monday-Friday 10:00am - 1:00pm and 10:00am - 4:00pm, Weekends, 10:00am - 5:00pm)
How about them apples? Join the rest of the New Jersey citizens enjoying the apple picking season.
