Where To Go Apple Picking in Ottawa: How to Visit Apple Orchards in (and Around) Ottawa, Ontario

For Ontario apple pickers, there’s plenty of apple orchards in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Here are the best Apple picking destinations in Ottawa.

As cool nights come around and the fall slowly creeps its way closer and closer, ideas of hot apple cider and warm apple pie might come to mind.

If you’re searching for where to go apple picking in Ottawa, or at least near Ottawa, then you’ve come to the right place.

There are many apple trees in Ottawa and the surrounding areas. Several farms in the southeastern part of the province are home to Ontario orchards. These farms in Ontario are steeped in rows upon rows of apple trees.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic Ontario getaway, or something to do during an autumn Ontario staycation, apple picking can be a lot of fun.

Below is a great list of places to find apple orchards in Ottawa and in the nearby surrounding regions. Before we get into specifics, let’s first talk about how you should plan for your trip to these Ontario orchards.

What to Bring When You Visit Ottawa’s Apple Orchards

There are a few essential things you’ll want to bring with you before heading out on your trip, apple picking in Ottawa.

• Large bags or baskets. Depending on the farm, they will provide you with one, but you may prefer to pack your own if they’re reusable and for easier transport home. Whatever you bring, just make sure you’re following the rules.
  
• Close-toed shoes or boots. Nobody likes to step on a squishy, rotten apple with soft or open shoes on. If an apple accidentally falls, it’s also better to have close-toed shoes.
  
• Sunscreen or a hat. The days may be getting shorter, but that sun is still very strong, so prepare accordingly. You may also recognize the same tip from our article on seeing Ontario’s giant sunflower fields. We’re all about that sun safety!
  
• Snacks, or consider packing a picnic. An apple orchard makes for a great place to enjoy a snack or short meal after you’ve earned your keep. If you’re planning on heading out on a longer day while apple picking in Ottawa, consider bringing a picnic blanket as well.
  
• Face masks and hand sanitizer. This is important to keep you and the people around you safe.

5 Tips for Apple Picking in Ontario Orchards

Here are some tips to keep in mind before, during and after your visit while you’re apple picking in Ottawa and nearby.

1. Call the Ontario orchard ahead of time. You want to make sure that there are still a lot of apples available for picking. Depending on how busy orchards are, the apples can go pretty quickly! Also, make sure you ask which types of apples are best for picking at the time you go.
   
2. Visit the orchard earlier in the morning. Orchards aren’t as busy in the mornings. This means you’ll have more space for you and your family members or close friends. You’ll also find more options of what’s available to you for picking your own.
   
3. Pick the apples carefully, and don’t shake the branches. The proper way to pick an apple is to roll and twist the apple gently from the branch. If it’s ripe, it should snap off relatively easily. Do not shake the branches. This can lead to unnecessary apples falling and bruising, which is wasteful and unwanted by the farmers.
   
4. Pick starting from the outside of the tree first. Take a look at the tree and see what’s available before you start reaching. The most ready-to-eat apples will first be found on the outer edges of the tree.
   
5. Gently place your apples in the bag or basket. Never toss. If you bruise your apple by tossing it into the bag, it will rot much more quickly, and rot the others as well.

Want to Go Apple Picking in the Ottawa Region? Here’s a List of Apple Orchards in the Ottawa Area!

Here is the list you’ve been waiting for! This list of Ontario orchards has apple trees in Ottawa and around the region. Some are closer to Downtown Ottawa, while others are a bit of a further drive away.

A fun surprise should be that some of these orchards offer not only apple picking, but apple and pumpkin picking. So if you’re looking for both an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch near Ottawa, this list has some of these options too. Look for the phrase “apple and pumpkin picking” to find these spots on the list.

It doesn’t matter what distance you’ll travel to find your apples. Your “Apple Picking Ottawa” dreams will come true after a look through this list.

Pinewood Orchards – Kanata

Just 10 minutes west of Downtown Ottawa, Pinewood Orchards is a great place to go apple picking this fall. This apple orchard in Ottawa is a mature one. They have more than 800 trees, all of which are over 50 years old.

Pinewood prides themselves on their commitment to freshness. In addition to their pick-your-own orchards, they have a variety of fruits and vegetables that they grow on site too.

Log Cabin Orchard – Osgoode

This apple orchard has a uniquely historical flare, making it a great place to go apple picking near Ottawa. It takes its name from the original log cabin on their property. It was built in 1840, and settled in by Irish immigrants.

The orchard boasts 33 acres of apple trees. This means that you’ll have a lot of apple trees near Ottawa to choose from when you pick your own apples.

Orleans Fruit Farm – Orleans

Taking about a 15 minute drive east of Ottawa will bring you to Orleans Fruit Farm. They offer pick your own apple options, or you can buy them pre-picked and ready to go.

Orleans has a lot more than just apples for you to enjoy. They grow and sell a vast variety of fruits and vegetables. Depending on the season, they’ll have several options for other things to buy during your visit.

AppleStock Orchard – Winchester

Located just south of downtown Ottawa in North Dundas, AppleStock Orchard is an impressive one. If you’re looking to try your hand at apple picking near Ottawa, it makes for a great option.

AppleStock is a family-owned business. They’ve been growing apples for nearly 30 years on their orchard. They’re open 7 days a week, from 9am to 5pm during picking season for you to visit their Ontario orchard.

Mountain Orchards – Kemptville

A trip to Mountain Orchards makes for a great day trip outside of Ottawa. This apple orchard near Ottawa can be driven to in under an hour.

Mountain Orchards has been in business for 50 years. They offer a vast variety of apples, depending on the time of season you go picking. Make sure you visit their website to learn about which types of apples will be ripe for picking during your visit.

Domaine Cleroux – Casselman

This is one of the younger Ontario orchards on this list. When you plan your “Apple Picking Ottawa” trip, this will make for a good day trip. It takes about 45 minutes to drive here from Downtown Ottawa.

At Domaine Cleroux, they have a variety of apples for you to pick. They also have a few different apple products you can buy, like homemade apple sauce and apple butter.

They also have a traditional sugar shack and maple operation on site. You can taste and buy a variety of delicious maple products on your visit.

Verger Croque-Pomme – Thurso (QC)
(Apple and Pumpkin Picking)

A trip to this apple orchard from Ottawa will take you about 40 minutes into southern Quebec. They offer pick-your-own apple and pumpkin picking here. It makes for a great option if you’re looking for a pumpkin patch near Ottawa, too.

Verger Croque-Pomme will provide you with bags or boxes when you arrive to pick. After you finish picking, you can also browse the products they have available in their shop.

Pine Hill Orchard – Bourget

About a 45-minute drive east from Downtown Ottawa, this is another great “Apple Picking Ottawa” day or half-day trip. At Pine Hill, they offer 20 varieties of apples and they also make their own apple cider.

Artisan Farm – Prescott-Russell
(Apple and Pumpkin Picking)

Artisan Farm is another one of these Ontario orchards that makes for a great day or half-day trip. It’s a 45 minute drive east of Downtown Ottawa.

At Artisan, you can find pick your own apple and pumpkin picking. They have 8 varieties of apples available at their orchard. If you don’t feel like picking your own, you can also find pre-picked apples in their shop, along with their famous homemade apple cider.

Cannamore Orchard – Crysler
(Apple and Pumpkin Picking)

It takes 40 minutes to drive from Downtown Ottawa to the last of our Ontario orchards on this list. At Cannamore, you can try your hand at both apple and pumpkin picking.

Cannamore has been a family owned and run orchard since 1982. They have a variety of apples available for you to pick during your visit.

They are also one of the farms in Ontario offering a lot of different types of activities during your visit as well, like their “Acres of Terror” wagon rides. This is a great place to go for the whole family.

Apple (and Pumpkin) Picking at Apple Orchards Near Ottawa

We hope you’ve found this article helpful. With so many apple orchards in Ottawa and less than an hour outside of the city, there are some great options to choose from here. By the way, if you live near Ottawa, and you’ve really got a sweet tooth, you may want to check out our article on the Lanark chocolate trail!

If you have a favourite type of apple, remember to check with the orchards not only to see if they have them, but that you’re going to be visiting at a time when those apples are in season.

Some apples are ripe for the picking in late August and early September, where other varieties aren’t ready until mid- to late-September.

Whichever types of apples you pick, or wherever you go, we hope this article helps you make the most of your Ontario apple picking adventures!