The orchard experience: Where to go for fall apple picking

Autumn is less than a month away, and with it comes a favorite fall activity — apple picking.

And from what we’re hearing, apple lovers should have their pick of fruit at area orchards.

“Our apple crop is looking great this year,” said Sarah Bell, owner and manager of Royal Oak Orchard in Harvard. “The apples are sizing well and looking to be right on schedule with ripening.

“We have stayed clear of any major storm or frost damage this year, which has been a blessing. Apple picking should be strong from the end of August through the end of October.”

Sam Haywood of Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park is looking forward to the season.

“We have a brand-new entrance to our U-Pic Apple Orchard and some new events coming to the farm this fall,” she said. “Our Apple crop is looking great, and we have plenty of fruit. We’ve had a good amount of rainfall this summer, which means fruit is getting to good size.”

The weather hasn’t posed too many challenges this year so far, she added.

“We faced a freeze night in April, but were able to manage the cold temperatures and only experienced a little damage to a few varieties. We also had some hail damage in June, so some apples have a bit of scarring from that. Overall, there’s plenty of fruit for our season and things are looking great.”

Here are some top spots for apple picking.

Royal Oak Farm Orchard

15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, (815) 648-4141, royaloak.farm/

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Check the website or Facebook for updates on hours.

Admission: Free, but fees for apple picking (includes a quarter-peck bag), maze ($8) and train rides ($4 each).

The 160-acre farm features four orchards, more than 22,000 apple trees and 34 varieties of apples, with new varieties planted each spring.

Amaze ’N Apples, billed as the country's first apple tree maze, offers 1.5 miles of trails, nine varieties of apples to pick, a central climbing tower and games. Plus, pumpkins, fall mums, outdoor decor and more will be for sale.

New this year is a nine-hole mini golf course. Other attractions include a bakery and country kitchen (open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends), apple barn, harvest barn, gift shop, playground and petting zoo, a 19th-century replica train, carousel and orchard tour rides.

Kuipers Family Farm

1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park, (815) 827-5200, YouPickFun.com

Hours: Through Nov. 2: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday (open at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 and Oct. 13), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19-Oct. 24; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Oct. 24. Closed Tuesdays until Sept. 13, when it will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 28. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

Admission: $11.99 weekdays at the gate. Weekend and holiday tickets are $14.99, early season passport is $29.99. Free for kids 2 and younger; does not include bag.

Forty varieties of apples are sold by the quarter peck in the you-pick orchard or by the half-peck or peck (about 10 pounds) in the Orchard Shop. Prices vary by supply and variety. You-pick orchard admission includes a quarter-peck bag of apples.

The 230-acre farm and store opened Aug. 23 with apple picking and the Sunflower Festival. On weekends, the Farmview Railway takes guests on a scenic ride around the orchard and the Sunflower Fest goes full-bloom with music and food trucks.

Kid-friendly activities include more than 20 farm-themed activities at the Pumpkin Farm, which is open Sept. 19 through Nov. 2.

Specialty foods, unique gifts, fresh-baked pies, caramel apples, kettle corn, fudge, apple cider pressed on-site and apple cider doughnuts are available at the Orchard Shop.

Homestead Orchard

11802 Charles Road, Woodstock, (815) 338-7443, homesteadorchard.net

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Admission: Family with children, one-peck minimum; more than four adults, two-peck minimum (a one-peck tied bag is 10 pounds). A one-peck bag is $20. Overweight bags will be $2 extra per pound.

The owners of Homestead Orchard describe it as a quiet place in the country to pick 15 varieties of apples and pears. Visitors can sit under one of the oldest and largest maple trees in McHenry County. Inside the store, in an 1880s horse barn, visitors will find handcrafted items, glassware and maybe some antique furniture for sale. Homestead also sells honey and beeswax candles produced from hives on the property.

All Seasons Orchard

14510 Route 176, Woodstock, (815) 338-5637, allseasonsorchard.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Columbus Day; Aug. 30 through Oct. 26. The market is open until 7 p.m. on weekends.

Admission: $9 weekdays; $17 weekends and holidays; $19 combo pass (attractions, hayride and apple picking), $49 all-season pass; free for kids 2 and younger. Apple picking starts at $12 for a quarter-peck bag, you-pick experience and orchard wagon ride.

The 129-acre orchard, one of the largest for you-pick in Illinois, has 12 apple varieties among 16,000 apple trees in two orchards. It is especially popular for its many Honeycrisp trees.

New this year is a Sesame Street-themed sunflower maze. Other attractions include a pumpkin patch, a barnyard play area with more than 30 attractions, and a 6-acre corn maze. Activities include wagon rides, pig races, magic shows, a ropes course, Jumbo Jumper air pillows, zip lines, an indoor corn box, barnyard ball zone, an apple and pumpkin train, petting farm, bakery, cider mill, farm market store, gift shop and Country Kitchen.

As with most orchards and farms, there’s no fee to enter the farm market, where you can purchase bags of pre-picked apples, caramel apples, pies, apple cider doughnuts and more.

Keller’s Farmstand

2500 Johnson Road, Oswego, (630) 219-8194, kellersfarmstand.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 through Oct. 26

Admission: $13.95-$15.95 per person for the fall-themed activities; free for kids 4 and younger. Apples are $10 for a small bag (¼ peck), $20 for a medium (½ peck) and $40 for a large (1 peck). There is no fee to enter the orchard, but participants 5 and older must purchase a bag.

“Our apple crop this fall is looking strong,” owner Frank Keller said. “Despite the continued heat this summer, the apple varieties seem to be right on schedule for ripening.”

Keller’s offers apple picking, with up to 31 varieties throughout the season, and fall activities at its Oswego farmstand. Activities include a 12-acre bat-themed corn maze, pedal vehicles, playhouse with slide, giant checkers game, tire stack for climbing, antique tractors for photo ops, kids’ play area, wagon rides, face painting, farm animals and more. Pick pumpkins in the 16-acre U-pick pumpkin patch or choose prepicked pumpkin. Concession stands sell treats including apple cider slushies, hot dogs, kettle corn, fudge and apple cider doughnuts. A second farmstand at 516 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville, sells pre-picked apples and other fall favorites.

Stade’s Farm & Market

3709 Miller Road, McHenry, (815) 675-6396, stadesfarmandmarket.com

Shades of Autumn hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, as well as Labor Day and Columbus Day. Festival runs Aug. 30 through Oct. 26; farm market opens at 9 a.m.

Admission: September: $16 for ages 3-59 on Friday, $20 on Saturday and Sunday; October: $20 for ages 3-59 on Fridays and $24 on Saturdays and Sundays; half price for ages 60 and older; free for kids 2 and younger; $55 for a season pass. Apples are $8 for a quarter-peck bag, $16 for a half-peck, $25 for a peck and $40 for a half-bushel.

The popular destination includes a you-pick apple orchard with many varieties and about 30 acres of you-pick pumpkins. You-pick options also include strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, peppers and more. There is no admission fee to pick apples, but each person must make a minimum $8 purchase to enter the orchard.

The Shades of Autumn Fall Festival is a harvesttime favorite, with more than 40 farm-related attractions including a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hayrides and more.