If there’s one thing that has set this New England summer apart from others, it’s the weather. Between uncharacteristic rainfall and inconsistent temperatures, it’s been an odd few months, and as we head into autumn, we’re crossing our fingers that we’ll be able to enjoy some more of the beautiful weather we got over Labor Day weekend.

Of our beloved fall tradition of apple and pumpkin picking, some farms were luckier than others this year. The late spring frost put some orchards out of business, yet there are still a few that are opening to the public for pick-your-own fruit this fall.

For the best apple and pumpkin picking in the Upper Valley, check out our top five recommendations this year!

Riverview Farm – Plainfield, New Hampshire

An autumn lover’s delight, Riverview Farm is a great local spot to satisfy all your harvest season cravings, be it apple picking, choosing the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin, strolling through a corn maze, or sipping on cider and enjoying other homemade goodies from the barn store.

Located at 141 River Road in Plainfield, Riverview Farm is open through October Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. While the pick-your-own apple crop won’t be open this year due to the late frost in May, there will still be pumpkins, raspberries, elderberries, and flowers to pick, and some apples will be available for purchase in the barn store.

The corn maze costs $6 per person and is free for ages four and under. In the barn store, you can find prepicked apples and pumpkins for sale, dried flowers, and ornamental corn arrangements, along with local jams, honey, maple syrup, and smoked cheese. 

VTC Apple Orchard – Randolph, Vermont

Open for pick-your-own on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting September 15 (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Vermont State University Orchard is a fun apple-picking spot for local families.

Apple varieties include McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, Liberty, Macoun, and Northern Spy. Pricing for pick-your-own starts at $15 per half-bushel and $10 for a peck. Pricing for VTSU employees and students is $12 per half-bushel and $8 a peck. Prepicked apples are available for $18 for a half-bushel and $12 per pack.

You’ll find the VTC apple orchard on South Randolph Road, southeast of the Randolph campus (map on website). 

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center – East Thetford, Vermont

Located at 225 Pavillion Road in East Thetford, Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center is a family-friendly farm bustling with activities and color!

From pick-your-own berries, flowers, apples, and pumpkins to farmstand and greenhouse goodies, a café, and more, you’ll have plenty to do during a visit to Cedar Circle Farm this fall.

From August to October, pick-your-own apples are 99 cents per pound with 20 varieties to choose from (mostly cooking and juicing quality). In October, pick-your-own pumpkins are available for 75 cents per pound from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Patch Orchards – Lebanon, New Hampshire

In Lebanon, Patch Orchards is one of the best places for pick-your-own apples, with plenty of familiar and tasty varieties to choose from, like Honeycrisp, Fuji, McIntosh, Cortlands, and Empires.

From August to mid-to-late October, pick-your-own apples are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Along with apples, you can also select a prepicked pumpkin or two at the farmstand to take home.

This fall, you can also enjoy Patch Orchards’ corn maze from September through November ($7 per person, free for ages six and under), and a fall farmstand featuring seasonal goodies such as hard cider, cider doughnuts, maple soft serve, apple products, maple products, and other local produce.

Whitman Brook Orchard – Quechee, Vermont

Quechee’s Whitman Brook Orchard opens for apple picking on September 9 and will continue on weekends through early November (Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

With more than 140 varieties of apples, a beautiful landscape, and a quaint fall atmosphere, your pick-your-own experience at Patch Orchards is sure to be memorable!

Orchard parking is located a half-mile up Wheelock Road in Quechee on the right, and detailed driving directions can be found on their website.