Autumn is almost here, Sacramento! One of our favorite things about calling this area home is being just a short drive from some of California’s best fall adventures.

At The Sherri Patterson Team, we’re more than real estate experts. We’re locals who live here, raise our families here, and know all the seasonal favorites worth exploring. So, if you’re looking for the perfect autumn day trip, grab the family and head to one of our all-time favorites: Apple Hill!

What Is Apple Hill? | Website

Apple Hill is a collection of more than 50 family-owned farms, orchards, wineries, bakeries, and cideries tucked into the hills of Camino and Placerville, right along Highway 50 between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. 

It's been a Northern California tradition for generations, and it's easy to see why: rolling orchards, mountain air, and enough apple treats to make your whole car smell like cinnamon on the drive home.

Best of all, it's incredibly close. Apple Hill sits just under an hour east of Sacramento, which makes it an easy weekend outing rather than a whole production. Load up the kids (or the dog, or just yourselves and a thermos of coffee), and you can be wandering an orchard before lunchtime.

Things to Do at Apple Hill

Apple Hill isn't just one farm—it's dozens of them, each with its own personality. Here's a rundown of what you can expect once you arrive.

Apple Picking

September is peak apple-picking season, so if you want to fill a bag straight from the tree, that's your window. Farms like Pine-O-Mine and others in the area offer u-pick apples, and there's something genuinely satisfying about handing your kids a basket and letting them go find "the perfect one." Even outside of peak picking weeks, most farms sell fresh apples by the bag along with homemade applesauce, apple butter, and other treats made right on site. It's a simple activity, but it's the kind of low-key family memory that sticks.

Pumpkin Patches

Once October rolls around, Apple Hill turns into pumpkin central. Several farms set up patches complete with photo backdrops, hay bale mazes, and pumpkins in every size imaginable, from tiny gourds to the giant ones your kids will insist you carry to the car. It's the kind of activity that works for every age—toddlers can toddle around picking out their favorite pumpkin, while older kids love hunting for the "perfect" one for carving. Bring a wagon if you have one; you'll thank yourself later.

Farm Animals & Pony Rides

A handful of farms bring in animals for the season, and there are even dedicated pony rides for the little ones. If your kids light up around goats, chickens, or a friendly farm dog, plan to spend extra time wandering the animal pens. It's a nice reminder of what these places actually are (working farms, not just seasonal pop-ups).

Cider & Wine Tasting

Apple Hill sits right in the El Dorado wine region, and several farms double as wineries or cideries. It's a great excuse for the adults to slow down with a glass of local wine or a hard cider flight while the kids explore. Spots like North Canyon Cider offer free tastings, and many wineries have outdoor seating with gorgeous views of the orchards. It’s perfect for a mid-day break before you tackle the next farm on your list.

Local Treats & Bakeries

Let's be honest, this is the real reason a lot of us make the drive. Warm apple cider donuts, fresh-baked pies, cinnamon rolls, and fudge are a rite of passage at Apple Hill. Nearly every farm has its own bakery or treat stand, so plan to graze your way through the day rather than pick just one stop. Bring cash and an appetite; you're going to want to try a little bit of everything.

Wagon & Train Rides

Several farms offer wagon rides or little train rides that wind through the orchards, giving you a scenic, low-effort way to see the property (and give tired little legs a break). It's a simple touch, but it adds to that classic "day at the farm" feeling and makes for some great photos with the fall foliage as your backdrop.

Special Fall Activities & Events

Fall is genuinely the best time to visit Apple Hill, and the area leans into it. Throughout September, October, and November, you'll find seasonal festivals and events layered on top of the everyday farm activities—think harvest festivals, live music, hayrides, and holiday-ready photo ops. Many farms also start bringing in pies and baked goods for Thanksgiving as the season winds down, so it's worth a return trip in November if you want fewer crowds and a head start on your holiday desserts.

A few tips from us, your local experts: 

• September is your best bet for apple picking before the crowds hit
• October is peak pumpkin season (and peak crowds, so go on a weekday if you can)
• November tends to offer the best weather with a much more relaxed pace 

*If you're chasing donuts and photo-worthy fall colors without the long lines, plan a Tuesday or Wednesday visit instead of a weekend.

Come for the Apples, Stay for the Community

At the end of the day, this is exactly why we love what we do. We don't just help families buy and sell homes in Sacramento: we live here, our kids go to school here, and yes, we make the same drive out to Apple Hill every fall for cider donuts and pumpkin patches. This is our home, too.

If you're thinking about putting down roots in the Sacramento area—whether that's your first home, your forever home, or anything in between—we'd love to help. Nobody knows this region quite like a true local expert.



Ready to talk about your next move? Reach out to The Sherri Patterson Team today. We'd love to show you why we love calling Sacramento home.