Grab A Bite

Perry Lowe Orchard in Movarian Falls

For many, the fall season means leaf peeping, festivals, and, of course, apple picking. In fact, Henderson County grows more apples than any other county in the state and ranks among the top 20 apple-growing counties in the United States. Here’s some of our favorite places in WNC that offer a great U-Pick experience.

Perry Lowe Orchard - Movarian Falls
This orchard in Wilkes County encompasses 100 acres and has 40,000 apple trees. The Lowes have been growing apples for six generations and produce more than 30 varieties of the fruit, including customer favorites Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Crimson Crisp. In addition to a brick-and-mortar market nearby, the farm processes its own apple cider blends, tasty slushies, apple cider donuts, and apple cider fritters. This season, the family is introducing sparkling cider and hard apple cider, the latter producing a crisp and bold semi-dry taste. The orchard boasts a bevy of recreational pursuits, including a jump pad, apple cannon, and mega-slide. Their U-Pick operation is Friday-Sunday during September and October. Admission to the orchard is $2, and reservations for date/time slots are required in order to pick your own. 8741 NC-16. perryloweorchards.com

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill - Morganton
This family-operated farm dates back to the 18th century, when the Prewitts’s ancestors loaded up a wagon with apples and drove to the Piedmont to peddle their produce. The family now sells directly to their customers and has diversified the business, adding a commercial cider press and a bakery. These days, the Prewitts produce 22 varieties of apples. Check out their Farm Market for delicious baked goods, goat milk lotion, and much more. Pick-your-own lasts until all the apples are harvested, approximately the second week in November. Open Monday-Saturday for U-Pick, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pick-your-own requires a “picking pass” purchase made online. 2075 Pleasant Avenue. applehillorchard.com 

Sky Top Orchard - Flat Rock
Sky Top Orchard is a family-owned and operated orchard in Henderson County that’s known for scenic views, interactive farm experiences, freshly pressed cider, and hot apple cider donuts. It was established in 1967, with the first trees planted by the Butler family on McAlpine Mountain. Since opening to the public in 1980, Sky Top has prioritized the educational aspect of farming, according to Margaret Butler. Visitors will find an observation bee hive, educational signs, and various farm critters. Here, visitors can shoot an apple cannon over a lake, go gem mining, enjoy a tractor-pulled ride, and frolic on a playground. Customers can pick their own apples, or purchase already-plucked ones. Sky Top is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through early December. 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd. skytoporchard.com

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill in Morganton

Justus Orchard - Hendersonville
Apple farming is a legacy that stretches back nearly 100 years and five generations for the Justus family. In 2006, Justus embraced agritourism and expansion, implementing a bakery, bringing out farm animals to interact with, and building a play area including a huge jumping pillow, and an apple cannon that blasts apples toward Bigfoot and his buddies. Justus Orchard has also switched to more “picker friendly” dwarf trees, and offers 17 varieties of apples from which to choose. New on the farm this year is a hard cider taproom. Pick-your-own lasts through early November. 187 Garren Rd. justusorchard.com

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard - Hendersonville 
This orchard’s origins extend back half a century, its humble beginnings seeing the founder’s wife and daughter selling apples from the trunk of their car. These days, the orchard offers more than 25 varieties grown on 40 acres devoted entirely to pick-your-own. “Our orchard was one of the first in the county to offer pick your own apples,” explains Danielle Stepp McCall.  Additionally, customers can pick their own grapes, pumpkins, and flowers during the fall season. It’s not all work and no play, though. Stepp’s offers apple cannons, a five-acre corn maze, a jump pad, and apple cider donuts, along with other bakery items. Apple picking is available mid-August through the end of October, seven days a week. 170 Stepp Orchard Dr. steppapples.com