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8 farms where your family can go apple picking

Farms open around the Seattle area for U-pick and other harvest activities

Here are eight farms within three hours of Seattle that allow you to pick your own apples. A couple have a harvest window that lasts only a day or a weekend. Others have a range of varieties that keep them open until October. Some farms are open in late August, while all farms are open by mid-September.

Everyone should try apple picking. An apple fresh from the tree has a crispness and a complexity in flavor that you never find in a supermarket. And many apple orchards offer varieties of fruit that youā€™d seldom encounter in the city. Besides, orchards are beautiful places. Muddy (Wear those rubber boots!) and full of farm smells, but gorgeous all the same. Enjoy picking at any one of these farms.

Bailey Farm

Address: 12968 Springhetti Rd, Snohomish, WA 98296

Phone: 360-568-8826

Website: Facebook

Opening Day for U-Pick Apples: Saturday, September 21. Check for varities offered on the website.

Driving time from Seattle: 35-50 minutes.

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily for an array of veggies.

Bailey’s U-Pick is part of a fifth generation family farm located in the Snohomish Valley. U-pick apples start in late September, check website closer to date. The U-pick garden is open mid-June through October.

 

Swans Trail Farms

Address: 7301 Rivershore Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290

Phone: 425-330-3084

Website: Facebook

Opening Day for U-pick Apple Orchard & Harvest Festival: September 14, 2024

Driving time from Seattle: 45 minutes to 1.25 hours.

For the latest apple-picking information, check the farmā€™s website.

This farmĀ is a well-known hub of family farm fun (including a 12-acre corn maze replicating the map of Washington State). It also has an acre of Jonagold and Honeycrisp apples for picking. TheĀ Fall Harvest Festival and Apple Orchids begin on September 14.

 

Jones Creek Farms

Address: 32260 Burrese Rd, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

Opening Day for U-Pick: August 16, 2024. See the website for the U-pick variety

Driving time from Seattle: 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Mondays, August through roughly the end of October (check to be sure).

This Skagit Valley farm grows more than 80 varieties of apples and pears, some familiar and many that are bound to be new discoveries.

 

Curran Apple Orchard

Address: 3920 Grandview Dr W, University Place, WA 98466

Phone: 253-460-2530

Opening Day for U-Pick: August 25, 2024. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Driving time from Seattle: 50 minutes

The Curran Apple Orchard Park is a 7.33 acre apple orchard in the City of University Place. The Curran Orchard offers an Adopt a Tree program for each harvest year. Tree adopters pay for their trees and take care of them throughout the year, and then, in return, they are entitled to harvest from their trees. The orchard offers public apple picking on their Community Harvest Day on Sunday, August 25th at 10 a.m. (Do not pick from trees that are taped or display a “do not pick” sign).

 

Bellewood Acres

Address: 6140 WA-539 #3, Lynden, WA 98264

Phone: 360-318-7720

Website: For the latest harvest information, go to the farmā€™s Facebook or Instagram.

Opening Day for U-Pick: August 31, 2024. 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Driving time from Seattle: 2 to 2.5 hours

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, September and October

This farm has Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Jonamac, Gala, Jonagold, and many more varieties. Check the website for which apples are available for the U-pick. The farm also offers tractor train rides, a corn maze, apple cider donuts (weekends only), a gift shop, and more.

 

Stutzman Ranch

Address: 2202 Easy St, Wenatchee, WA 98801

Phone: 509-667-1664

Website: For the latest harvest information check the website or their Facebook.

Opening Day for Apple U-Pick: Wednesday, August 28, 2024. 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Driving time from Seattle: 2.35 hours to 2.75 hours

This U-pick orchard in central Washingon has Gala, Fuji, and Golden Delicious apples. This year they will not have cherries or peaches due to the winter frost. Most apple varieties will be ready sometime between August and September. Always double-check hours and availability on the day you want to go. Check the Facebook page or call and listen to their message for current U-pick information.

 

Skipley Farm

Address: 7228 Skipley Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290

Phone: 206-679-6576

Website: Check their Facebook page for updates before arriving

Opening Day for U-Pick: August 15, 2024

Driving time from Seattle: 1 hour

Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Note: Weekends come after 2 p.m. to avoid crowds.

This farm grows more than 300 varieties of apples! Check the website to learn what’s being picked right now, and when you can go. Apple cider press available through the end of August.

 

Smā€™Apples

Address: 1197 Willeys Lake Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248

Phone: 360-318-1776

Opening Day for U-Pick: August 16, 2024

Driving time from Seattle: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Hours: 9 a.m.- Dark, Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

Pick a variety of fall fruits at Smā€™Apples in Ferndale. Current offerings and details on their website. Note, they accept cash or check only; U.S $ only. Different type of apple varieties will be available during different months. Honey crisp and Jonagold will be ready around September 13.

 

And when you get home:

Cooking with kids: apple and peanut butter tarts

3 more great recipes featuring fall’s fresh apples

About the Author

Fiona Cohen