CHESTER, NJ — Apple season has arrived around Chester, 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.
Chester is particularly well positioned for fall farm trips, with several pick-your-own orchards in town and additional options just a short drive away in Long Valley and Califon.
Patch rounded up orchards and other family-friendly fall attractions in and around Chester. Offerings 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: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Season dates: Apple picking opened Aug. 22; the farm offers pick-your-own apples Wednesdays through Mondays during the fall season.
Apples available: Varieties change throughout the season; visitors should check the farm's current picking schedule before heading out.
Details: One of Chester's longtime apple-picking destinations, Riamede offers access to its orchard along with fall photo opportunities and lawn games. Weekend visits in September and October include hay wagon rides and live music. Pumpkins opened for picking Sept. 19. The farm also advertises cider and cider doughnuts as part of its fall offerings.
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Last orchard entry is around 4 to 4:30 p.m., with orchard gates closing at 5 p.m.
Cost: General admission is required for visitors age 3 and older. Weekday admission is listed at $3.50. Weekend prices vary, with discounted advance online tickets available. Apples and other picked crops cost extra.
Phone: 908-879-7762
Address: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Season dates: Pick-your-own operations continue through the fall, with apple and pumpkin picking underway in October.
Apples available: Varieties change as different apples ripen; Alstede recommends checking its daily picking report before visiting. The farm grows dozens of apple varieties.
Details: Pick-your-own admission includes access to the orchards and fields, scenic tractor-drawn wagon rides, the corn maze, giant hay pyramid, Evergreen Adventure Maze and other attractions. The farm also has animals, a farm store, fresh-pressed cider, doughnuts, ice cream, and other food. Pumpkins are available as part of the fall pick-your-own season.
Hours: Pick-your-own is open daily; hours vary by day and ticket time. Advance reservations are recommended.
Cost: Prices vary by date and container size. For example, Oct. 4 tickets were listed at $32.99 with admission and a 5-pound produce box and $39.99 with a 10-pound box. Wednesday specials include admission with the purchase of a qualifying container, starting at $9.99 for a 5-pound box.
Phone: 908-879-7189
Address: 472 County Road 513, Califon
Season dates: Open July through early November; apple season is expected to continue through October.
Apples available: Recent picking included Honeycrisp, Macoun, Ambrosia, Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Empire, Cortland and Gala, though availability changes as varieties are picked out.
Details: The sprawling Califon orchard offers pick-your-own apples, weekend tractor wagon rides, a free corn maze, farm animals, a tractor-tire playground and picnic tables. Its farm stand sells fresh produce, baked goods and the farm's own cider.
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; last orchard entry at 5 p.m.
Cost: Recent admission was listed at $4.99 per person on weekdays and $6.99 on weekends, with weekend tractor wagon rides included. Picked apples are charged by the pound.
Phone: 908-832-2905
Address: 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Season dates: Pick-your-own apples are offered in September, while pumpkin picking continues through October. Visitors heading out in October should check with the farm first to see whether apples remain.
Apples available: The farm grows several varieties, including Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold and Cortland.
Details: Ort Farms has more than five acres of apples and turns its attention to pumpkins and its fall attractions as the season progresses. Visitors can also find farm animals, children's play areas, a five-acre corn maze, hayrides, pony rides, monster truck rides and the farm's popular cow train.
Hours: Farm market, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; pick-your-own fields generally 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., conditions permitting.
Cost: There is no admission fee to visit the farm animals and children's play area. Full-farm admission applies on pick-your-own festival weekends. Picked produce from restricted picking areas is listed at $4.99 per pound.
Phone: 908-876-3351
Apple picking isn't the only reason to spend a fall afternoon on a farm. Corn mazes and pumpkin patches around Chester are also open for the season.
Address: 15 North Road, Chester
Season dates: Sept. 5 through Nov. 1.
Details: Stony Hill's centerpiece is a 10-acre corn maze, with a smaller one-acre maze for younger visitors. The 2026 theme is "NJ 250," with New Jersey trivia and activity stations incorporated into the maze. Other attractions include pick-your-own pumpkins, a Noah's Ark playground, trike racing, rope maze, life-sized board game, gemstone mining and concessions featuring cider doughnuts, hot cider, roasted corn and other food. Weekend hayrides are also available.
Apple picking is normally part of Stony Hill's fall season, but the farm said an April hard freeze severely limited its 2026 crop and that it expected to be picked out before October. Visitors specifically looking for apples should check availability before making the trip.
Hours: Generally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall Fun Park season, with extended corn-maze hours until 9 p.m. on select Saturdays in October.
Cost: Gate prices listed by the farm include $15.99 plus tax for general farm entry and $21.99 plus tax for the Maze Master package, which includes the giant and mini corn mazes, rope maze and trike racing. Online discounts are available. Children 2 and younger are free.
Phone: 908-879-2908
Address: 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Season dates: Pumpkin picking runs September through October.
Details: Visitors can take a tractor-pulled hayride to the pumpkin patch, tackle the farm's five-acre corn maze and check out additional attractions including monster truck rides, pony rides, the cow train, farm animals and children's play areas. Apple cider and other fall food are also available.
Hours: Farm market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; pick-your-own fields generally operate from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., subject to conditions.
Cost: Full-farm admission applies during pick-your-own festival weekends. Some activities cost extra.
Phone: 908-876-3351
Address: 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Season dates: Fall activities run throughout the apple and pumpkin harvest season.
Details: Alstede's fall pick-your-own experience includes its corn maze, pumpkin patch, scenic wagon rides, giant hay pyramid, Evergreen Adventure Maze and access to the farm's orchards and picking fields. Pumpkins are priced by weight. The farm also offers children's activities, animals, cider, doughnuts, ice cream and a large farm market.
Hours: Pick-your-own operates daily with timed check-in periods; hours vary by date.
Cost: Admission varies by date and the size of the produce container selected. Pumpkins are listed at 89 cents per pound, with some ticket options including a $9.99 pumpkin credit.
Phone: 908-879-7189
Address: 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Season dates: Pumpkins opened Sept. 19 and continue as part of the farm's fall season.
Details: Riamede's Pumpkin Days combine the pumpkin patch with the farm's apple orchards and other fall activities. Weekend offerings include hay wagon rides, live music, lawn games and photo opportunities.
Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Orchard gates close at 5 p.m.
Cost: General admission is required for visitors age 3 and older. Weekday admission starts at $3.50, while weekend pricing varies and advance online tickets are cheaper than gate admission. Pumpkins and other picked crops are additional.
Phone: 908-879-7762
Did we miss an orchard, pumpkin patch or corn maze near Chester? Email Patch with the name, location and website, and we'll consider adding it to the guide.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Mendham Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.