Best Pumpkin Patches and Cider Mills in Metro Detroit

It’s apple picking and cider time in Michigan, and Halloween will be here before you know it. To make it easier, Patch has compiled a list of places you and your family can go in southeast Michigan to take part in this classic fall activity.

Many of the locations offer a little bit of everything for fall fun, while other places stick to the basics and provide their customers with you-pick orchards and farms where they can get the freshest produce available.

Be sure to check out each location to find out what type of experience you’re looking for.

Remember to call ahead or check the orchard’s website to clarify hours of operation or to check for availability of apples and other produce.

Apples, of course, aren’t the only fresh fruits in season. During September, you’ll also find other garden bounties. Check Michigan’s crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops, but PickYourOwn.org advises that blueberries and blackberries are ready now in most areas, as are peaches, raspberries, tomatoes and corn.

Here are some places to go for you-pick apples and pumpkins, cider mills and more:

Apple Charlie’s South Huron Orchard, 38035 S. Huron Road, New Boston: You-pick homegrown apples and fruits, cider, pumpkin pies, plus usual and unusual farm animals, including an ostrich, pigmy goat and a baby calves. Weekends feature live music, plus an opportunity to see the sights on the 95-acre farm.

Ashton Orchards Cider Mill, 3925 Seymour Lake, Ortonville: Find a variety of produce, including apples, peaches, plums and sweet corn, but the cider and doughnuts are the stars of the show. Kids can play on the wooden playground. Open through October.

Bird's Big Punk'ns,16750 Hannan, Romulus: Enormous pumpkins are the specialty here, but also you’ll also find you-pick fall red raspberries, other decoratives, including corn stalks, baled straw and honey. Open through October.

Blake Farms,17985 Armada Center Road, Armada: You-pick apples, cider mill and haunted attractions until Oct. 31; you-cut Christmas trees starting around Thanksgiving. Hard cider is available for the adults.

Coleman's Farm and Corn Maze, 12758 Jordan Road, Saline: Apple season is going on now, and later this month through September, you can select a pumpkin. Be sure to bring the kids (big and little) to the 17-acre cornfield, featuring three professionally designed and cut corn mazes which total over five miles of challenging trails, excellent day or night.

Dexter Cider Mill, 3685 Central St., Dexter: Michigan’s oldest continuously operating cider mill offers a chance to see the antique mill turning out cider, fresh doughnuts and apple nut bread daily. Open through October.

Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill, 1479 Ranch Road, Holly: Cider and doughnuts, plus a corn maze, playground and hayrides. The annual Ciderfest to be held Sept. 24-25 includes a craft show and live entertainment. Open through October.

Donahee Farms, 6055 Tower Road. Plymouth: Pick your own pumpkins, plus corn stalks, gourds, Indian corn and other items for fall decorating. The kids will love the corn mze. Open through October.

Erwin Orchards, 61475 Silver Lake Road, South Lyon: You-pick apples and pumpkins, festivals, wagon rides, hay maze, corn maze, cider mill, Halloween events, open through October.

Franklin Cider Mill, 7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills: Known for its non-pasteurized fresh cider, pressed and bottled on site, Franklin Cider Mill is as old as Michigan itself. The season usually lasts through Thanksgiving.

Goodison Cider Mill, 4295 Orion Road, Rochester: The cider is pressed with an old-fashioned, century-old press. Open through Christmas.

Hy’s Cider Mill, 6350 37 Mile Road, Romeo: Cider, donuts, caramel apples, petting farm, jams, jellies, picked and you-pick apples and pumpkins; open weekends through Nov. 3.

Long Family Orchard & Cider Mill, 1540 East Commerce Road, Commerce Township: Apples, hayrides, pumpkins, corn maze, cider mill, farm stand, school tours. Fresh apples and cider mill opening mid-September through Thanksgiving.

Lutz Orchard, 11030 Macon Road, Saline: You-pick orchards offer a large collection of unique apples (Fameuse and Mutsu). Other you-pick fall crops include squash and pumpkins, plus tours to see the milking process from the udder to the bottle. Children can pet calves and the outdoor cats that patrol the barn. Open through Oct. 25.

Middleton Farms Cider Mill, 46462 Dequindre Road, Utica: This family-owned mill offers homemade doughnuts, made fresh daily; old-fashioned pressed cider; and variety of gourds and pumpkins in season. Open now.

Miller's Big Red Barn, 32 Mile Road, Washington: You-pick apples, pumpkins and other fresh produce; fall group tours; bakery with from-scratch pies; country store; cider mill; petting farm; wagon rides; winery.

Obstbaum Orchards, 9252 Curie Road, Salem: “Obstbaum” is German for fruit, and that’s what you’ll get at the family-run orchard, which offers fresh-picked apples, pressed cider and apple cinnamon doughnuts. For adults, the winery’s inventory includes hard cider. You-pick pumpkins and hayrides are also offered. Open until late October.

Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, Oakland Township: If you prefer barbecue, a Coney dog, pizza, and ice cream or doughnuts (or both!) with your cider, this is the place to stop. And it all comes with fabulous views along Paint Creek Trail, including a giant water wheel. Open year-round.

Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill & Winery, 714 Baseline Road, Northville: Another of Michigan’s historic cider mills, this one has been operating since 1873. Fall fare isn’t limited to cider (or — take note adults — to non-alcoholic drinks). Open daily through late November.

Plymouth Orchards, 10260 W. Ann Arbor Road, and Red Shed Market, 10260 W. Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth: You and the kiddos can take a scenic wagon ride through the 100-acre farm, visit a petting zoo and pick your own pumpkins, then finish the trip with cider and cinnamon doughnuts. Hours through late November. Check the website for specifics.

Rochester Cider Mill, 5125 N. Rochester Road, Rochester: This isn’t just a cider mill, but an outdoor agricultural museum with a petting farm and straw pyramid the kids can climb while the adults are perusing the antique farm equipment around the complex and guessing the purposes of the vast array of tools. Open through November.

Stony Creek Orchard and Cider Mill, 2961 W. 32 Mile Road, Romeo: Apples, raspberries, honey from hives on the farm, cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), pre-picked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours. Open daily through Dec. 31.

Verellen Orchards,63260 Van Dyke Road, Washington Township: Picked apples, pies and doughnuts. Open year-round.

Westview Orchards and Adventure Farm, 65075 Van Dyke, Washington Township: This orchard uses integrated pest management practices in growing its apples, cherries, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries. Also, get honey from hives on the farm, fresh apple cider made at on-premise cider mill, farm animals and petting zoo, etc. Open weekends through October.

Yates Cider Mill, 1990 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills: The scenic beauty of the mill property invites a relaxing stroll along the river while enjoying the delicious treats available at the mill, one of the oldest, continually running businesses in Michigan and a destination for generations of Michiganders. Open through October.

Photo by Beth Dalbey/Patch