LONG VALLEY, NJ — Apple season has arrived around Long Valley, giving families a good excuse to head into the country, fill a bag or two, and remember that cider doughnuts eaten at an orchard barely count as doughnuts.
Pick-your-own seasons vary by apple variety and weather. But they're in full swing right now, arriving ahead of schedule in many areas due to a warm summer.
U.S. growers are expected to produce about 263 million bushels of apples in the 2026-27 crop year, down 7 percent from last season and 3 percent below the five-year average, according to the U.S. Apple Association.
The outlook varies sharply by region: In Washington, the top apple-producing state by far, the apple crop is forecast to dip just 2 percent, while spring freezes are expected to cut production by 58 percent in Pennsylvania and 48 percent in Virginia. Gala is expected to remain the nation's most widely grown apple, followed by Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Fuji.
Those freezes also affected some farms around Long Valley. Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown is not offering apple picking at all this fall because of crop losses from an April freeze, while Stony Hill Farms in Chester had a limited crop and ended its 2026 apple-picking season early.
Patch rounded up orchards and other family-friendly fall attractions in and around Long Valley. Offerings may include hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, farm animals, cider, doughnuts and enough photo opportunities to document every flannel shirt in the family.
Apple availability can change quickly, especially after a busy weekend. Call ahead or check the orchard's website for picking conditions, hours, admission prices and rules about bringing bags, pets or outside food.
Address: 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Season dates: Apple picking is offered in September; availability depends on the harvest and picking conditions.
Apples available: Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Cortland and other varieties depending on the harvest.
Details: The Long Valley farm has more than five acres of apples. Fall activities include pick-your-own produce, hayrides, pumpkins, a five-acre corn maze, farm animals, children's play areas, monster truck rides, pony rides and a cow train. The farm market sells produce, baked goods, cider and other seasonal items.
Hours: Farm market open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; pick-your-own fields generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., subject to picking conditions.
Cost: Admission varies depending on the day and activities. There is no admission fee to visit the farm animals and children's play area, while full-farm admission applies during pick-your-own festival weekends.
Phone: 908-876-3351
Address: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Season dates: Apple picking continues through the fall; the farm's 2026 group apple-picking season runs through Nov. 15. The farm is currently offering pick-your-own apples.
Apples available: More than 50 traditional, modern and heirloom varieties are grown at Riamede; varieties available for picking change throughout the season.
Details: Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, hay wagon rides on weekends, cider doughnuts, cider slushies, live music, lawn games, seasonal flowers and photo opportunities. Riamede has 68 acres, including old apple trees originally planted in the 1930s. Its Fall Festival runs through Oct. 31.
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Last orchard entry is at 4 p.m., with orchard gates closing at 5 p.m.
Cost: Weekday general admission starts at $3.50. Weekend admission varies, with discounted tickets available online. Ages 3 and older need admission. Apples and other picked items may cost extra depending on the ticket selected.
Phone: 908-879-7762
Address: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Season dates: Apple picking is underway as of Oct. 2, with availability changing as varieties ripen.
Apples available: Alstede grows more than 50 varieties, including Gala, McIntosh, Granny Smith, Winesap and others throughout the season.
Details: Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, scenic hay wagon rides, a giant corn maze, sunflower trail, giant hay pyramid, Evergreen Adventure Maze and tractor tire slide. The farm also has a market, ice cream stand and seasonal food.
Hours: Pick-your-own admission uses timed check-in slots; visitors should check the farm's calendar when booking.
Cost: Prices vary by date and picking-container size. For Oct. 2, tickets started at $28.99 for admission with a five-pound produce box or pumpkin credit, with larger boxes and family passes available. Children 2 and older need their own ticket.
Phone: 908-879-7189
Apple picking isn't the only reason to spend a fall afternoon on a farm. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches around Long Valley are also open for the season.
Address: 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Season dates: Pumpkin season runs September through October.
Details: Pick-your-own pumpkins, tractor-drawn hayrides, a five-acre corn maze, farm animals, children's play structures and additional attractions including monster truck rides, pony rides and a cow train. The corn maze is included with fall admission.
Hours: Farm market open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; pick-your-own fields generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Full-farm admission applies on pick-your-own festival weekends; some attractions cost extra.
Phone: 908-876-3351
Address: 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown
Season dates: Fall Harvest Weekends run Sept. 26 through Oct. 31, with pumpkin picking and the corn maze available during the season.
Details: Pick-your-own pumpkins, a nine-acre corn maze, weekend hayrides, pony visits, food vendors, kettle corn, caramel apples, cider doughnuts, baked goods and other seasonal attractions. Apple picking is not available in 2026 because freezing temperatures in April caused crop losses.
Hours: Farm market and weekday pumpkin activities generally run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall Harvest Weekend activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.
Cost: No general entry fee. The corn maze costs $10 per person, with children 4 and younger free. Hayrides cost $3 per person, with children 4 and younger free. Pumpkins and other activities are priced separately.
Phone: 908-852-9122
Address: 15 North Road, Chester
Season dates: Sept. 5 through Nov. 1.
Details: Stony Hill's 10-acre corn maze celebrates "NJ 250" in 2026, with visitors navigating pathways, bridges and activity stations while learning facts about New Jersey. The farm also offers a pumpkin patch, weekend hayrides, trike rides, a life-size board game, gemstone mining, duck races, children's play areas and concessions.
Hours: Open daily during the fall season; hours vary by date. Pumpkin picking generally runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m.
Cost: Pumpkin-picking admission starts at $7.99 per person online or $10.99 at the gate, plus tax. Maze Fun Park tickets and additional attractions are priced separately.
Phone: 908-879-2908
Address: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Season dates: Fall Festival runs Sept. 20 through Oct. 31; pumpkins are currently available for picking.
Details: Pumpkin patch, apple picking, hay wagon rides, cider doughnuts, cider slushies, live music, an apple slingshot, lawn games, photo opportunities and a seasonal corn trail.
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays.
Cost: Admission varies by weekday and weekend. Weekday admission starts at $3.50, while weekend tickets are cheaper when purchased online.
Phone: 908-879-7762
Address: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Season dates: The corn maze is open during the fall season, typically September through early November.
Details: Giant themed corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, scenic wagon rides, sunflower trail, Evergreen Adventure Maze, giant hay pyramid and other farm attractions. The corn maze is included with pick-your-own admission. Friday and Saturday Harvest Moon Nights also feature nighttime hayrides, a flashlight corn maze, music, seasonal food and campfires.
Hours: Hours and timed admission vary by date.
Cost: Pick-your-own admission varies by date and the produce container selected; advance tickets are recommended.
Phone: 908-879-7189
Did we miss an orchard, pumpkin patch or corn maze near Long Valley? Email your local Patch editor with the name, location and website, and we'll consider adding it to the guide.
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