- When is U-Pick season, and when does it usually open?
- The 2026 season opened Sunday, September 6. We are CLOSED Labor Day Monday, September 7. From there we pick on Saturdays, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, running into mid-October for as long as the apples last. We are closed Monday through Friday, and we are closed on Sundays for the rest of the season. The fruit is ripening in stages this season, so we confirm each Saturday a few days ahead rather than promising the whole run — watch the banner at the top of this website and The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
- What are your hours?
- When we are open it is 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Last bags are handed out at 4:30 PM and the gates close at 5:00 PM. We are closed Monday through Friday. For the rest of this season we pick on Saturdays only — we are closed on Sundays. We confirm each Saturday a few days ahead on the banner at the top of this website and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
- Are you open on Sundays?
- <p>No — we are closed on Sundays for the rest of the 2026 season. We pick on Saturdays only, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.</p><p>For most of this season we decided each Sunday after the Saturday before it. That is settled now: Chris has walked the rows and there is not enough fruit to support Sunday picking for the remainder of the season, so we will not be opening on a Sunday again this year. Saturday dates are confirmed on the banner at the top of our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://harvest.volcanvalleyapple.farm/" style="color: rgb(139, 38, 21);">website</a> and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter. Check <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://volcanvalleyapple.farm" style="color: rgb(139, 38, 21);">volcanvalleyapple.farm</a> or sign up for The Cider Press on our homepage to stay informed. If you are looking to pick on a day we are not open, we recommend our friends at Julian Farm & Orchard in Wynola.</p>
- Are you open on weekdays?
- No — we are closed Monday through Friday. For the rest of the 2026 season we pick on Saturdays only, and we are closed on Sundays. Fridays were part of the plan earlier in the season and are not anymore, so please do not plan a Friday visit.
- Are you open Labor Day weekend?
- No — we are CLOSED on Labor Day Monday, September 7. The orchard and the farm stand are both closed that day. We opened Sunday, September 6, and the day brought a much bigger crowd than we expected; essentially all of the ripe fruit was picked. The apples still on the trees need more time. We are sorry for the change. We are open every Saturday for the rest of the season, starting Saturday, September 19, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Do I need a reservation?
- No — we don't take reservations at all, so there is nothing to book and nothing to arrange. Apple picking is first come, first served for everyone, and the rule is the same for a large group as it is for one family. We have come close to our capacity limit, but we have never actually had to turn anyone away, so you are not racing anyone for a spot. Just arrive during our open hours (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM) on a day we are open and pay admission and your bag at the gate.
- Can a large group make a reservation?
- No — we don't take reservations, and that includes every kind of group: school and homeschool classes, scout troops, church and club outings, birthday parties and large families. It is one rule for everybody, so nobody has to ask and nobody gets a different answer. Apple picking is first come, first served. Large groups are genuinely welcome and we see them often — you won't face queuing or crowding if you arrive in the morning during our open hours. Come as you are, pay admission and your bag at the gate, and pick alongside everyone else.
- How long does a visit take?
- Most families spend 1–2 hours picking apples and enjoying the orchard. You are welcome to stay and have a picnic at our tables.
- What time should we arrive to avoid the crowds?
- Arriving right at 9:00 AM gives you a quiet orchard for the first hour before it fills up, and the last couple of hours before closing (3:00 to 4:30 PM) are usually calm as well. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is the peak. We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and closed on Sundays. We can never guarantee it — a perfect autumn day brings everyone up the hill at once.
- When should we visit if we want a quieter experience?
- We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season and closed on Sundays, so the quiet is in the hours rather than the day. The calmest stretches are the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM and the last couple of hours before closing, from about 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is our busiest. A quieter hour also gives you a better chance of catching Chris, our lead farmer, for a short talk and some questions — though we cannot promise her time, since the orchard has a way of making other plans.
- Any tips for making the most of our visit?
- Take it slow — it can be a hot day, and the orchard is a far nicer place at a wander than at a march. Start with the samples at the gate so you know which varieties you actually like before you fill a bag. And do ask a farm hand for picking tips: they know which rows are at their best that morning, and they will happily show you how to take an apple off the tree without bruising it or hurting next year's bud.
- Why were you closed for part of last season?
- Some years the fruit simply is not ready all at once. Our varieties ripen in a stagger, and in a slow year the later ones need more time on the tree — we would rather pause than send people into rows that are not worth picking. That is what happened last season: we picked into mid-September, waited, and opened again for a weekend in early October once the late varieties came on. It is not the usual shape of a season, but it does happen, and it is always the apples deciding rather than us. If we ever do it again we will say so on the website and in The Cider Press, the same way we announce opening day.
- When is the orchard least crowded?
- The last couple of hours before closing (3:00 to 4:30 PM) are usually calm, and arriving right at 9:00 AM gives you a quiet orchard for the first hour before it fills up. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is the peak. We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and closed on Sundays. We can never guarantee it — a perfect autumn day brings everyone up the hill at once.
- Why is the farm closed on weekdays?
- Our staff uses those days to repair the damage from the previous weekend, prune branches that have grown into the rows, and prepare for the following weekend. For the rest of the 2026 season we pick on Saturdays only and are closed on Sundays, and with 10 acres of trees there is always room.
- What is the best day and time for a smaller crowd?
- We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season and closed on Sundays, so the choice is really about the hour rather than the day. The smallest crowds are in the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM, and again after 2:00 PM. On a quiet morning you also stand a better chance of meeting Chris, our apple farmer, if she is not out tending to something urgent.
- Should we come early in the season or later?
- <p>Neither is better — they are different, and it comes down to which apples you want. September usually brings Jonathan, Empire and Gala. Gala is sweet and mild and tends to be the children’s favorite; Empire is crisp and juicy; Jonathan is sweet-tart and bold. Fuji and Golden Delicious usually follow from September into October, and Pippin comes last in October — Pippin is our classic pie apple, so if you are baking it is worth coming later for. Good fresh-eating apples turn up across the whole season, so you are not choosing between eating and baking, only between varieties. Whenever you come there is a mix on the ground, because the apples on one tree do not all ripen at once — some are ready at the start and others come on over the following weekends. Two other things worth knowing: the orchard is a full green canopy from mid-September and the leaves do not turn until late October, and the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM is comfortably the quietest part of any day. Exact timing varies with the year and the weather, so check the homepage or The Cider Press newsletter the week before, or email us and we will tell you where we stand.</p>
- How can I know in advance if you'll be open on a particular Saturday?
- <p>We can confirm a Saturday only a few days ahead, typically by the Monday or Tuesday before. Our ability to open depends on how busy the previous weekends were, the rate at which the apples are sizing and ripening, and any weather that might knock fruit off the trees. The best way to stay informed is to check the website the week before your planned visit and again the morning of your trip, and to sign up for The Cider Press newsletter on our website.</p>
- When do you announce if you'll be open on Sunday?
- We are not opening on Sundays for the rest of the 2026 season, so there is no Sunday announcement to wait for. We pick on Saturdays only, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. For most of the season we assessed the orchard after each Saturday and posted a Sunday decision that evening; Chris has now walked the rows and there is not enough fruit left to support Sunday picking for the remainder of the year.
- Will you be open during the holiday season?
- This year we will not be open into the holiday season. However, we are planning something new for next year: several weeks after our harvest season closes, we will have our inaugural Volcan Valley Winter Market. It will be a large event with dozens of vendor booths and several food trucks, similar to a moderately sized Oktoberfest but with a Backcountry Christmas theme.
- When will the orchard be open in October?
- We were open Saturday, October 3. We are closed Saturday, October 10. We plan to open Saturday, October 17, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, but that day is not confirmed yet — we will post the final word on Wednesday, October 14. It is rare that we are open the fourth Saturday in October. The best way to stay informed is to check the banner at the top of our website at volcanvalleyapple.farm and sign up for The Cider Press newsletter.
- Will you be open in November?
- It is unlikely we will be open for any u-pick weekends in November. In the past we have had the occasional season where we were open for the third or fourth weekend in October, but that is rare.
- When will the season end?
- The season typically closes by mid-October. This year we plan to open Saturday, October 17, the third Saturday in October, but that day is not confirmed yet — we will post the final word on Wednesday, October 14. It is rare that we remain open beyond that. The best way to stay informed about the exact end date is to check the banner at the top of our website at volcanvalleyapple.farm and sign up for The Cider Press newsletter at volcanvalleyapple.farm/cider-press.
- When will you announce if you're open on a particular Saturday?
- We confirm each Saturday as close to the date as possible—as early as the preceding Sunday, or by Wednesday. If apples are not available, we post notice on the website at volcanvalleyapple.farm. If we do open on a day when apples are light on the trees, we make that known so visitors understand what to expect for the orchard experience and vendor accessibility.
- Are you open the weekend of September 12 and 13?
- We were closed that weekend — Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. Opening weekend brought a much bigger crowd than we expected and the fruit that was ready went home with it. What was left on the trees needed more days to size up and to build its sugars. We were back open on Saturday, September 19. We confirm each Saturday a few days ahead on the banner at the top of this website and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
- Are you open Sunday, September 20?
- No — we are closed Sunday, September 20. Saturday, September 19 was even busier than opening day, and the fruit that was ready to pick went home with our visitors. There is not enough left on the trees to open again on Sunday. There are a lot of small apples still sizing up and building their sugars, and they need the days.
- Are you open Saturday, September 26?
- No — we are closed Saturday, September 26. We are open again Saturday, October 3, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Chris and the farm hands spent this morning walking every row, checking how the apples are sizing and how their sugars are coming on. The fruit is on its way, but it is not ready, and there is no way to hurry it. Two full weeks of rest means better picking for everyone who comes on the days we are open, and it lets the season run as far into October as the trees will support — so more people get their turn in the rows.
- Are you open Sunday, September 27?
- No — we are closed Sunday, September 27. We are closed both days that weekend, Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, and we are open again Saturday, October 3, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
We are giving the trees two full weeks of rest so the apples still out there can put on size and sweetness. That makes the picking better on the days we are open, and it lets the season run as far into October as the trees will support.
- Are you open Saturday, October 10?
- No — we are closed Saturday, October 10. We plan to open Saturday, October 17, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, but that day is not confirmed yet. We will post the final word on Wednesday, October 14, on the banner at the top of our website and in The Cider Press newsletter. We are also closed every Sunday for the rest of the season.
- Are you open Saturday, October 17?
- We plan to open Saturday, October 17, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, but that day is not confirmed yet. We will post the final word on Wednesday, October 14, on the banner at the top of our website and in The Cider Press newsletter, so please check before you drive. We are closed Saturday, October 10, and every Sunday for the rest of the season.