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6 places to go apple picking near NYC (without a car)

September 17, 2019 Scott Enman
Apple picking season is in full swing. Image via Pexels
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Fall is fast approaching, and you want to whip up a fresh apple crostata or some spiked apple cider — but, like 55 percent of Brooklynites, you don’t have a car to go apple picking. You know what? No car, no problem.

New York is called the Big Apple, but it’s pretty difficult to pick the fruit in the city. Luckily, there are orchards and farms just a short train ride away — like the six listed below.

Fishkill Farms

Photo courtesy of Fishkill Farms

Fishkill Farms is a 270-acre apple orchard and vegetable farm that has been in the Morgenthau family for more than 100 years. In addition to daily apple picking through Oct. 27, the farm offers wagon rides, live music, fresh donuts and a hard cider garden for adults.

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(Can’t make it upstate? Fishkill Farms sells its produce at the Carroll Gardens Greenmarket from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.)

By public transit: About 1 hour and 45 minutes. Take the Metro North Hudson Line to Beacon, and then take a 17-minute taxi ride to the farm.

Apples: Gala, Golden Supreme, McIntosh, Jonamac and Kidd’s Orange Red, Crimson Crisp, Liberty, Pixie Crunch, and Spartan.

9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, N.Y. 12533

Lawrence Farms Orchard

Photo courtesy of Lawrence Farms Orchards

Lawrence Farms Orchards has been offering “Pick Your Own” fruits for more than 30 years, and while it definitely has a wide selection of apples, you’ll want to come here for the “show chickens” and playful goats. Plus, you can indulge on apple cider donuts, pies and hard ice cream.

By public transit: About 1 hour and 45 minutes. Take the Metro North Hudson Line to Beacon, and then take a 17-minute taxi ride to the farm.

Apples: Zestar, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Ozark Gold, Gala, McIntosh, AceyMac, JonaMac, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, JonaGold, Musty, Cameo, Ida Red, Sun Crisp, Fortune, Braeburn, Northern Spy, Rome, Stayman Winesap, Candy Crisp, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith.

306 Frozen Ridge Road, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550

Barton Orchards

Apple cider donuts. Photo courtesy of Barton Orchards

In addition to apple picking, Barton Orchards has a petting zoo, a farm market, hayrides, a haunted house, a corn maze, treetop adventures, and they also brew their own local craft beer and hard cider.

There’s a celebration happening every weekend in September, including Oktoberfest and a Jack O’Lantern Jubilee over the next two weekends respectively.

By public transit: About 2 hours. Take the Metro Harlem Line to Pawling, and then take a 16-minute taxi ride to the orchard.

Apples: Honeycrip, Galas, Cortlands, Ginger Golds, Jona Macs and McIntosh

63 Apple Tree Lane, Poughquag, N.Y. 12570

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard

Photo courtesy of Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard

Unlike some of the other farms on this list that have been passed down from generation to generation, Harvest Moon is operated by first-generation farmers. There’s a fall festival happening every weekend through Oct. 27. Expect hayrides, apple cannons, live music, hard cider, donuts, beer on tap and a whole lot more.

By public transit: About 1 hour and 30 minutes. Take the Metro North Harlem Line to Croton Falls, then take a 7-minute taxi ride to the farm.

Apples: McIntosh

130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem, N.Y. 10560

Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

Photo courtesy of Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

Founded in 1916, Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm boasts 180 acres and more than 40 varieties of apples. In addition to pick-your-own apples, the farm offers fresh cider and has its own winery.

By public transit: About 1 hour and 30 minutes. Take the Metro North Hudson line to Peekskill, and then take a 16-minute taxi ride to the farm.

Apples: Gala, McIntosh, Baldwin, Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Crispin, Empire, Winesap, Fuji, Ida Red.

1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598

Terhune Orchards

Photo courtesy of Terhune Orchards

This 200-acre farm, which also has a vineyard and winery, is run by 10th generation farmers. You can pick apples, and you can also taste wine inside a 150-year-old barn. Terhune Orchard’s website tells you tasting notes on all the apples, when they are in harvest and what to bake them with.

By public transit: About 1 hour 30 minutes. Take New Jersey Transit’s Northeast Corridor line to Princeton Junction, and then take an 18-minute taxi ride.

Apples: Pristine, Ginger Gold, Gala, Crab Apple, Empire, McIntosh, Jonathan, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Crimson Crisp, Crimson Topaz, Stayman Winesap, Granny Smith, Fuhi, Querina, Cameo, Pink Lady.

330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, N.J. 08540

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.


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1 Comment

  1. Sam

    Great article thanks for putting this together! All the years living in NYC and I have to say Apple picking is one of the most fun Fall activities you can do. The leaves, the cider, the fresh air… ahh it’s so nice. One Orchard I didn’t see on this list that I would also recommend is Pennings Orchard in Warwick, NY. It’s tough renting a car so I went there on a Sourced Adventures day trip from NYC and I had a great time https://www.sourcedadventures.com/adventures/apple-picking-nyc/ Hope that is helpful for my fellow apple pickers here!

    October 3, 2019 at 11:45 pm
    Reply