Does anything perfectly capture the start of fall better than picking an apple straight from the tree? Break out your favorite pie recipes and stock up on those warm spices, because we have some beautiful family-owned orchards in York County for you to enjoy while you get the best fruits of the season.
Mt. Airy Orchards
Go for the apples, stay for the fun! Not only does Mt. Airy Orchards have pick-your-own apples from Labor Day until the end of October, they also have a huge play area with lots of fun for the young and young-at-heart. Take a relaxing walk out to the orchards where you can choose from more than 25 varieties of apples. Make sure to check the website to find out when your favorite apples will be ready for the picking before you go. The orchard is open for picking seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays.
After you’ve loaded up on apples, the kids can climb, slide, bounce, dig, and roll the rest of the day away in the PlayLand. Or, get your steps in making your way through the corn maze, which in 2024 celebrates the 75th anniversary of Peanuts! Now that is a great way to spend a fall day. The Fall Fun Area is open Saturdays and Sundays through November 3.
Flinchbaugh’s Orchards
This fourth-generation family-run farm is located on the eastern side of York County in Hellam Township. Pick-Your-Own Apple season runs mid September to mid-October and features crowd-favorite varieties such as Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Cameo. In addition to apples, you can also pick your own pumpkins and sunflowers.
Before you leave, make sure to get lost in the five-acre corn maze. The 2024 corn maze celebrates York County's 275th anniversary.
Orchard Valley Farm
Orchard Valley is a 98-acre pick-your-own farm that will provide an unforgettable experience for your family and friends. They offer PYO fruits from May through November, with apples ripe for the picking starting in late summer. They offer many varieties of apples at their farm stand, but PYO has primarily been Honeycrisp. Keep an eye on their social media and website for updates!
Other PYO fruits they offer include strawberries, cherries, black and red raspberries, peaches, and pumpkins. You can also enjoy a wagon ride for the whole family! School groups and coach buses are welcome.
Shaw Orchards
At Shaw Orchards, they take apples very seriously. They have been grown here for more than 100 years, and though all the original trees are gone, they still pride themselves in offering the highest quality apples around. The owners are members of many apple organizations, including International Dwarf Fruit Tree, the Knouse Growers Cooperative, and State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania (SHAP). They scour all of these sources and more for the best new varieties and growing methods and know you'll appreciate the attention to detail! Shaw Orchards offers PYO apples on Saturdays each week from September through about the end of October, as the supply lasts. Different varieties are picked only as they are in season; the website is updated weekly and is the best way to stay informed of the season. Gala, and Golden Delicious will start the season, followed by Cameo, Nittany, Pink Lady, Mutsu, and York Imperial. Great picking and a fun wagon trip will combine to make a wonderful memory and an annual family event.
For more ideas on what to do this fall, check out our Calendar of Events page!