Minnesota's Best Apple Orchards
Minnesota has a long history of apple innovation, thanks in large part to the University of Minnesota’s fruit breeding program. Since 1878, the university has developed 29 apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, SweeTango, and the State Fair hit First Kiss, helping make apples better suited to the state’s cold climate.
Today, Minnesota is home to more than 100 orchards, where visitors can pick their own apples, sip fresh cider, explore corn mazes and enjoy plenty of other fall activities. Use this guide to find an apple orchard near you, and be sure to swing by U of M's AppleHouse if you're ever near the school's Landscape Arboretum or Paisley Park.
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Aamodt’s Apple Farm
Stillwater
This popular spot has pick-your-own apples, or you can purchase bagged varieties inside its shop. There’s a goat farm, playsets and wagon rides, and it’s also home to Thor’s Hard Cider and Saint Croix Vineyards.
Afton Apple Orchard
Hastings
This family-owned and operated orchard spans 250 acres in the St. Croix Valley. Paid admission includes access to the orchard, playground, petting farm, straw mountain, giant swing, hayrides and more.
Applecrest Orchard
Lino Lakes
Enjoy a pick-your-own orchard, children’s craft events, paint-and-sip parties, candle-making classes and more.
Apple Jack Orchards
Delano
This family-friendly spot offers paid admission and season passes to its large farm with a giant corn pit, climbing structures, friendly goats, corn mazes, jumping pillows, a gift shop and more.
Applewood Orchard
Lakeville
There’s no admission fee to pick apples, explore the hedge maze, take a hayride or play in the corn pit at Applewood Orchard. Paid admission is required for the corn maze and jumping pillow.
Brand Farms
Farmington
This pick-your-own apple orchard has more than 2,500 hens that produce farm-fresh eggs for the community year-round and offers pumpkins, hayrides, straw mountains, food trucks and more. The farm also supplies apples to local schools.
Deer Lake Orchard
Buffalo
Find a variety of apples, a jumping pillow, a bounce house, animals, pedal carts, sunflowers, apple cannons, wagon rides, corn mazes and a cider house at Deer Lake Orchard.
Fall Harvest Orchard
Delano
In addition to pre-picked and pick-your-own apples, this spot offers paid activities such as a barn slide, mini golf, apple cannons, wagon rides, and a corn pit.
Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest
Jordan
One of Minnesota’s most popular orchards, Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest in Jordan, has a large pick-your-own orchard, pumpkin patch, corn maze and dozens of activities for kids and adults alike. Don’t miss the gem mining and apple cannons!
Knapton’s
Rockford
In addition to pre-picked and pick-your-own apples, Knapton’s has a cut-your-own flower garden and pumpkins.
LuceLine Orchard
Watertown
This dog-friendly spot offers face painting, swings, farm animals, corn pits, giant spider webs to climb, jumping pillows, corn mazes and live music. Season passes are available.
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
White Bear Lake
Just northeast of the Twin Cities, find a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, a large variety of apples, homemade baked goods, fresh cider, and caramel apples at this White Bear Lake favorite.
Pleasant Valley Orchard
Shafer
This orchard offers pick-your-own apples on weekends. There are also fall treats such as caramel apples, apple turnovers, apple brats and fresh apple cider. Join its 12 Days of Halloween celebration leading up to the holiday with special events, activities and sales for kids of all ages.
Sunnybrook Apple Orchard
Grant
Find pick-your-own apples at this dog-friendly destination, along with squash, pumpkins and fresh cider.
Whistling Well Farm
Hastings
Pick your own apples, visit the farm store, enjoy live music and more at Whistling Well Farm in Hastings. Throw a coin in the whistling well and make a wish to raise funds for the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital.
Woods' Edge Apples
Buffalo
This quaint spot offers pick-your-own and pre-picked varieties all season long. There are also pumpkins, squash, a petting zoo and a small gift shop filled with goods from local artisans.
Greater Minnesota
Apple Creek Orchard
Faribault
Hop on a wagon ride on the weekend or enjoy the corn maze, corn pit, jumping pad, apple slingshot and more at this mainstay with 17,000 trees and more than 20 varieties of apples.
Carlson’s Orchard
Bakery & Restaurant
Winstead
Just 45 minutes from Minneapolis-St. Paul, Carlson’s offers pick-your-own and pre-picked apples. The full restaurant and bakery serve fresh focaccia sandwiches, soups, chili, salads, and pie, of course.
The Crafted Orchard
Brainerd
This pick-your-own farm also offers pumpkins, pre-picked apples and family-friendly activities such as barrel trains, corn mazes, sunflowers and craft classes.
Fairhaven Farm
Fairhaven
This small fruit farm offers First Kiss, Zestar and Gingergold apples, along with Summercrisp pears. It also offers caramel apples made with Abdullah caramels, a pick-your-own flower garden and a pumpkin patch.
Ferguson’s Pepin Heights Store
Lake City
A sister site to Ferguson’s Minnesota Harvest in Jordan, this orchard has 400,000 apple trees along the scenic Mississippi River.
Fireside Orchard & Gardens
Northfield
This family-owned orchard spans more than 50 acres and grows 27 varieties of apples. Sit inside the pavilion to enjoy caramel apples, a picnic or homemade fudge.
Keepsake Cidery
Dundas
This orchard makes natural, spontaneously fermented cider and wine along the Cannon River, and offers live music and special events all season long. Its process
Irish Mountain Orchard
Elysian
This family-owned orchard in the rolling hills of Elysian has thousands of apple and pear trees, as well as other seasonal fruit. It offers pick-your-own apples, fresh cider, pies and family-friendly activities.
Maple Hills Orchard
Frazee
This family-run orchard has apples, pumpkins, squash, tractor rides, lawn games and a gift shop filled with work by local artists, children’s books, home decor and more.
Maple Run Orchard
Finlayson
This small orchard offers several varieties of apples, fresh-pressed cider, honey, maple syrup and more.
Montgomery Orchard
Montgomery
Find apple picking, food trucks, fresh cider, hard cider, award-winning wines and live music at Montgomery Orchard. Come back during the holidays to visit the Christmas tree farm.
Rustic Iron
Vesta
Located in southwest Minnesota just a few miles outside Vesta, this orchard also has a pumpkin patch and country store filled with handmade crafts, caramel apples, home decor and more.
Sekapp Orchard
Rochester
Open for pick-your-own apples on select days, Sekapp also offers pure honey, a corn maze, a straw bale maze and more, just a few miles from downtown Rochester.
Sweetland Orchard
Webster
Open weekends during the fall, Sweetland offers pre-picked apples, fresh cider and cider doughnuts. Join the family fun nights on Saturday evenings for bonfires, s’mores and games in the orchard.
Toad Lake Apple Orchard
Frazee
Located between Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids, this pick-your-own farm offers eight varieties of apples.
Van Lin Orchards
La Crescent
This small, family-run orchard offers pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, along with sunflower and corn mazes.
Find pumpkin patches and more fun things to do in the fall.