The best orchard around Ottawa to go apple picking
9 Minute Read
Summary
- Ottawa-area orchards combine apple picking with farm markets, baked goods and family fun.
- Visitors can explore orchards across eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
- Different apple varieties become available from mid-August through early October.
The sweet scent of fresh cider donuts and the crunch of an apple picked straight from the tree are sure signs that apple-picking season has arrived. The days are still warm and sunny, but the evening air is starting to get crisp; It's the ideal weather to spend time in an orchard experiencing farm activities. Grab your boots and bring the family together for a fun day making memories.
Typically, apple picking around Ottawa takes place from mid-to-late August to early October. Still, the season depends on Mother Nature, so be sure to check orchard websites for updates. Here are orchards you can visit near Ottawa to enjoy the annual tradition of gathering some fresh fruit.
Apple orchards south of Ottawa
Head to small towns like Winchester, Richmond and Brockville just south of Ottawa to pick fresh apples and enjoy farm activities.
AppleStock Orchard
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Address: 1341 Merkley Rd., Winchester, ON
Grab a wooden wagon on your way into the orchard and navigate the rows of trees to pick McIntosh apples primarily, and some surprise varieties as they become available. Treat yourself with fresh cider, candy apples, and local honey during your visit. Apples are sold by weight, allowing you to buy just the amount you need. Bring your own cloth bags for a waste-free experience. Cash and debit payments are accepted.
Shouldice Berry Farms - Richmond Village Kiosk & Orchard
Address: 6494 Franktown Rd., Richmond, ON
Bring water and comfortable shoes for a weekend day of apple picking. Ambrosia, Cortland, Empire, and Honeycrisp are some of the varieties you can expect to pick as you fill either a small bag that fits about eight pounds or a large bag that holds roughly 18 pounds of fruit. There is a play structure for your little ones plus other produce and preserves for sale. The farm does not typically get overcrowded, so you’ll enjoy space to pick at your own pace, and the parking lot is close to the orchard, making it fairly accessible if you have a durable stroller or wheelchair.
Mountain Orchards
Address: 10175 Clark Rd., Mountain, ON
A key highlight of this orchard is the freshly made apple cider donuts – don't let the long line deter you; it moves quickly, and they’re worth the wait. You can also buy hot BBQ meals, apple cider, butter tarts, pie kits, and other treats. There are many activities for the kids to enjoy, including the straw jump, playground, and corn maze.
Depending on the crop, there are between 10 and 12 varieties of apples available, including Golden Delicious, Lobo, Empire and Honeycrisp. Take a wagon ride to the orchard to select your favourites; apples are priced by bag size, so keep picking until it's full.
Avonmore Berry Farm
Address: 16365 Fourth Rd., Avonmore, ON
Enjoy a weekend wagon ride out to an orchard where you can pick varieties including Lobo, McIntosh, Empire and other apples. Some pre-picked apples are also available, such as Honeycrisp. Bring the little ones to the play area to crawl in sandboxes, climb over tires and bales of hay and enjoy the swings. The Pantry offers snacks, drinks, and a variety of treats to bring home. The farm provides a bag for picking that holds about 10 pounds of apples.
Hall’s Apple Market
Address: 2930 Concession 2 Rd., Brockville, ON
As late summer turns into fall, pick from more than 40 varieties of fresh apples, such as Honeycrisp, Cortland, McIntosh, Russets and more. The fresh apple cider donuts are a customer favourite, and you can also find sweets like old-fashioned pies, cinnamon buns, strudel, butter tarts, quiche, and cookies in the bakery, as well as apple cider. Much more than apples, browse their country boutique for preserves, gifts, and many Ontario-made goods. The children’s play area will be open, with train and wagon rides available. Special events are hosted throughout the season, including the Summer Craft Market on August 22, 2026.
Waddell Apples
Address: 1345 Washburn Rd., Kingston, ON
On the banks of the historic Rideau Canal, spend time picking apple varieties including McIntosh, Cortland, and Empire. Buy a picking bag and fill it up to your heart’s content. The farm store is nestled in an authentic 1830s cabin where you can buy preserves, snacks, apple cider, honey and treats like chocolate brittle and butter tarts. The orchard is located near Gananoque, so you can make a fun day trip out of the visit.
Apple orchards east of Ottawa
Scenic orchards offer convenient pick-your-own apple experiences for residents of Orléans, Clarence-Rockland, Embrun and surrounding areas.
Orléans Fruit Farm
Address: 1399 St Joseph Blvd., Orléans, ON
There are about 12 apple varieties grown at this East-end fruit farm, with Lobo, McIntosh, Cortland, and Empire being the primary for picking. Visit on weekends to harvest fruit from the trees, enjoy mini apple cider donuts, and browse other fresh market goodies. Pricing is per bag, and two bag sizes are available: medium (holds up to 10 pounds) and large (approximately 20 pounds).
Cannamore Orchard
Address: 1480 County Rd. 32, Crysler, ON
Home to the spooky Acres of Terror attraction that starts in September; come by for an annual tradition of apple picking, starting in mid-August. The orchard grows different varieties throughout the season, such as Lobo, McIntosh, and Empire. Visit with your little ones during Family Activity Weekends, and with an all-inclusive bracelet, you can ride the cow train, dig in a sandy play area, navigate hedge mazes, use pedal cars and more. Browse jams, fudge, cider and other goodies at the country store, where you’ll also find the apple bags.
Les Vergers Villeneuve
Address: 1341 Rollin Rd., Clarence-Rockland, ON
The hunt is on. Bring your favourite people out to the orchard to pick from 18 different varieties of apples, including Spartan and Honeycrisp. Pick two varieties of pears to enjoy even more fresh fruit, all of which are totally pesticide-free. Featuring their own wine made from farm fruit, you can have a snack and tasting experience in a rustic barn atmosphere, with wine or sangria, cheese and other accompaniments (pre-booking required). There are some toys near the tree-covered patio for kids to use. Browse the market for locally made artisan products.
Domaine Cleroux
Address: 199 Rte. 300 E, Casselman, ON
Pick fresh apples from a modest orchard, browse maple products from the sugar shack and bite baked goods on a patio. Discover multiple apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, Lobo and McIntosh. Visit Domaine Cleroux on a weekend to pick your own, with apples priced by the pound, and fuel up with a hot dog as a reward. One afternoon each weekend there will be live music on the patio; the events are posted on Facebook.
Ferme Dagenais et Le Tournesol
Address: 1155 Stevens Rd., Embrun, ON
The farm’s health food store is open year-round, and come mid-August, you can visit the orchard to pick your own apples from varieties like Bright Gold, Nova Mac and Liberty. All of them are 100% organic! Bring your own bag for picking to reduce waste. You can shop for grass-fed meats, eggs and raw honey while at the farm. You’ll likely spot some farm animals during your visit.
Ottawa west end apple orchards
Pick your own apples within the city of Ottawa at Pinewood Orchards or pick both fruit and colourful flowers in the Ottawa Valley at McGregor’s Orchard.
Pinewood Orchards
Address: 101 Herzberg Rd., Kanata, ON
Experience apple picking at a mature orchard found right within the city of Ottawa. The trees, many of which are about 75 years old, carry multiple varieties of fresh apples including Lobo, McIntosh, and Cortland. Priced by bag, choose between two sizes, 10-pound or 20-pound, and fill it to the brim. There is apple cider, apple pies and other produce for sale, including pumpkins, later in the season. Bring cash or debit to pay.
McGregor’s Orchard
Address: 704 Clifford Siderd., Renfrew, ON
Pick different varieties of apples throughout the season, from McIntosh and Empire to Lobo and the coveted Honeycrisp. Grab an apple bag from the farm store, where you can also browse floral products handmade from lavender grown nearby on the farm. Apples aren’t the only thing you can pick, as this family orchard has a U-pick flower patch of colourful zinnias. After picking apples, take photos with the sunflowers, meander along the walking trail, and sip lavender lemonade in the sitting area.
Québec apple orchards
There are scenic orchards across the Ottawa River worth a visit to go apple picking, eat freshly baked treats, sip sweet cider and let the kids play.
Potager Eardley
Address: 398 Eardley Rd., Gatineau, QC
A day of apple picking, farm fun activities, and a full culinary experience awaits. Take a tractor ride out to an orchard of easy-to-reach semi-dwarf trees, meet friendly farm animals, let the kids explore the playground area, then indulge in farm-to-table treats in the picnic area. Passion Kombucha is made on site, so sip on that, slushies, coffee or apple cider as you indulge in treats from freshly baked quiches or apple pie nachos to croissants, butter tarts and homemade gelato. Purchase a U-pick apple bag from the farm store, then fill it up with different varieties throughout the season such as Silken, Honeycrisp, Gala and Red Delicious, among others.
Verger Croque Pomme
Address: 20 Mnt. Berndt, Thurso, QC
Head across the river for a fun fall day at an orchard with 3000 trees and more than 25 different apple varieties (like Honeycrisp, Cortland, Silken, Lobo and McIntosh), all of which are certified organic. Sold by weight, you can bring your own bag to fill with your pickings. Tractor rides are offered on weekends, and the kids will also love climbing on the playground and wandering a maze. Enjoy a cider tasting, sip apple slushies, grab a hot dog from the canteen, and pick up other apple products and produce from the shop. Check online for the live concerts to be hosted this fall.
Verger Merleau
Address: 72 Chem. Paul, Bouchette, QC
This humble orchard in Québec is known for its friendly staff and variety of ciders. Pick from more than 15 varieties throughout the season, such as Black Mac, Cortland and Honeycrisp. Bring home some family-friendly 100% natural apple juice and browse the different flavours of hard cider they produce. After picking apples, you can also shop for products like apple butter and handmade fabric items such as aprons. Apples are priced per pound.
Get ready for your trip to a local orchard
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