Oak Glen Apple Loop
Five family orchards along a single mountain road at 5,000 feet — Southern California's only apple-picking destination, 90 minutes from Los Angeles.
What's ripe, month by month
- September — Early apple varieties arrive — Galas, Fujis, and early heirlooms. The crowds are lighter than October and the weather is ideal at elevation.
- October — Peak season: full apple selection, pumpkins at Riley's Farm, and the mountain fall color beginning on the ridge. The loop's busiest and most festive month.
- November — Late-keeping varieties and cider apples linger, and the crowds drop sharply after Halloween. The quietest way to experience the loop.
The stops, in drive order
A suggested order — every stop is minutes from the next, so reshuffle freely around what's ripe and what's open the day you go.
- 1Season: Sep–Nov
The valley's historic anchor farm — 35-plus apple varieties on a property that dates to the 1800s, with a pumpkin patch and berries rounding out the season.
ApplesPumpkinsMixed Berries - 2Season: Oct–Nov
A century-old family orchard where visitors can pick heirloom apples and press their own cider on a traditional hand press — one of the most tactile stops on the loop.
ApplesMixed Berries - 3Season: Aug–Sep
Family-run winery and cidery with u-pick raspberries in season — the loop's most versatile stop, pairing farm-made hard cider and wine with berry picking.
Mixed BerriesRaspberries - 4Stone Soup Farm & Heritage OrchardPickable nowSeason: Jun–OctReservation requiredCertified organic
A regenerative micro-farm with a 130-year-old heritage orchard — the oldest trees on the loop and a quietly different experience from the larger commercial farms.
ApplesMixed BerriesLavender - 5Riley's FarmPickable nowSeason: Apr–NovReservation required
The loop's broadest crop mix: apples, berries, stone fruit, and pumpkins, with living-history and educational programming layered on top of the u-pick season.
ApplesMixed BerriesStrawberriesCherriesPeachesPears
Mixed Berries
Raspberries
PeachesA suggested day
- 9:30 AMStart at Los Rios Rancho at opening — the valley's largest and most historic farm. Pick from 35-plus apple varieties before the parking lot fills.
- 11:00 AMWalk or drive to Willowbrook Apple Farm and hand-press your own cider from the apples you just picked. The process takes about 20 minutes and is worth every one of them.
- 12:30 PMLunch at Snow Line Orchard — grab food on-site and pair it with a flight of farm-made hard cider or wine in the tasting room.
- 2:00 PMVisit Stone Soup Farm Heritage Orchard for the 130-year-old trees and regenerative growing story, then finish at Riley's Farm for pumpkins and a broader fall harvest sweep.
Before you go
- ✓Oak Glen sits at 5,000 feet — bring a jacket even in September. Morning temperatures in October can be in the low 40s.
- ✓October weekends fill the parking lots by 11 AM. Arrive at opening or go on a weekday for a dramatically quieter experience.
- ✓The loop road is narrow in spots. If you're driving a large vehicle or towing, check current road conditions before heading up.
- ✓Most farms have on-site food — between Snow Line Orchard's tasting room and Willowbrook's cider press, you can eat and drink entirely within the loop.
- ✓Oak Glen is 90 minutes from Los Angeles and 30 minutes from the Palm Springs area — a good half-day trip when paired with a morning hike at Big Bear or Idyllwild.
Frequently asked
- When is apple season at Oak Glen?
- Apple season runs September through early November, with the broadest variety selection in October. A few farms open as early as late August for early varieties.
- How far is Oak Glen from Los Angeles?
- About 80 miles east of downtown Los Angeles — roughly 90 minutes via I-10 and Highway 38. From San Diego it's about two hours, and from Palm Springs about 30–40 minutes.
- Is Oak Glen good for kids?
- Yes — Riley's Farm has the most kid-focused programming with living-history experiences alongside the u-pick, and Willowbrook's hand-press cider demo is a hit with all ages.
- Do any farms require reservations?
- Most stops are walk-in. Call ahead for Stone Soup Farm Heritage Orchard, which is a smaller operation and may have limited capacity on busy weekends.