Apple Hill

Autumn in Gold Country means clear blue skies, fiery red grapevines, and an invigorating snap in the air. It’s apple season too, with more than 30 orchards and farms dotting the general area east of Placerville known as Apple Hill, about a 2-hour drive east of San Francisco.

Things to Do in Apple Hill

Fresh-air activities that satisfy one’s gatherer instincts—as well as appetite—dominate the list of things to do here. Visit u-pick farms and roadside stands centered around the tiny hamlet of Camino to sample tart Granny Smiths, thin-skinned Galas, and other varieties, many grown by a new generation of farmers. (Find them on this map.) Not to be missed is a local treat—cider doughnuts—that have delighted generations of sweet-toothed visitors to places like Fudge Factory Farm, Rainbow Orchards and Apple Ridge Farms, among many others.

Another apple specialty? Hard apple cider. This longtime staple of the area varies with each of the family-farm producers that make up the Hard Cider Trail. Many of them offer unique brews, each with up to a dozen varieties on tap. North Canyon Cider Mill has been pouring its freshly pressed ciders for nearly four decades (in recent years with the help of a solar-powered cider mill), Hidden Star Camino has 16 craft ciders on tap, and Delfino Farms offers a “vintage cider” that’s a blend of Black and Granny Smith apples, as well as a blackberry version.

Wineries and Places to Stay Near Apple Hill

Other local finds include nearly a dozen wineries such as Boeger, Fenton Herriott, and Lava Cap. Why not make it a weekend with a stay in the apple orchard at Ponderosa Ridge B&B. Or simply spread out a picnic blanket at High Hill Ranch, and nibble on oven-warm apple fritters or spread fresh apple butter on crackers—does autumn get much better than this?

Come back throughout the season and enjoy u-pick pumpkin experiences at farms each October and choose (and possibly cut your own) perfect Christmas tree in December. Though there are plenty of businesses and activities here that are open year-round, apple-picking season lasts from late August to early November. Whenever you make your appearance, the nearby town of Rancho Cordova is a convenient place to make your home base for visiting Apple Hill and the greater Sierra Nevada area.

Things to Do Near Apple Hill

Less than 15 miles to the west is the Gold Rush–era town of Coloma, where visitors can relive one of the most momentous moments in California history—the discovery of gold—at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Visitors can pan for the precious metal and tour the town’s preserved blacksmith shop and other historic buildings. Less than an hour’s drive to the southwest is Sacramento, known for its farm-to-table dining, historic district, and capitol building. For more under-the-radar things to do, check out this local’s favorite haunts and this list of hidden gems of the city.