Olivia TaylorDid you know that apples were first brought to Canada over 400 years ago but didn’t make it to Ontario until the 16th century? Almost all farmers near Ottawa grew apples in their orchards, and the tradition is still a point of pride for locals in the region.
Despite Canada’s challenging climate for apple cultivation, apple picking remains a beloved activity among Canadians. City dwellers and visitors alike brave the cold to enjoy apple picking season from August to October.
If you’re looking to experience apple picking near Ottawa for the first time, here are our top orchards where you can pick your own across several apple varieties (don’t miss out on the McIntosh, they’re especially popular in Canada).
Pinewood Orchards
– From move100ottawa
Address: 101 Herzberg Road, Kanata, ON K2K 2Y3, Canada
Distance from OT: 17 minutes
Contact Details: +16139924793
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Pinewood Orchards spans across a vast 15-acre expanse and is home to over 800 apple trees, some dating back nearly 75 years. While the orchard offers a variety of fresh produce including vegetables and fruits, it’s renowned primarily for its apples.
Tourists and locals flock to this orchard to take part in its apple-picking services where you can pick as many apples as you want. The picking hours vary based on weather conditions and the seasons wherein various apple varieties bear fruit.
The apple-picking season typically runs from August to October, but you can drop by in between these months to pick specific apple varieties. A few notable varieties of apples they grow here include Melba, Atlas, Lobo, McIntosh, and Cortland.
| Tips: At Pinewood Orchards’ apple farm, there are no designated pathways or paved areas. It’s advisable to leave strollers, carts, and wagons behind and go on foot. If you need to bring your infants with you, it’s best to use a carrier instead. You’ll be charged based on the size of the bag you use, not by the weight of the apples. Small bags are priced at $20, while large ones cost $35, so maximize your fill-up! |
Mountain Orchards
Address: 10175 Clark Rd, Mountain, ON K0E 1S0, Canada
Distance from OT: 30 to 40 minutes
Contact Details: +16139895601
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (only during apple picking season from August to October)
Mountain Orchards was founded in 1973 and has since been run by the same families. The Hobson and Lyall families watched Ottawa grow over the years into the city it is today, and as the city grew bigger, so did their apple orchard.
Today, the orchard boasts over 10,000 apple trees and 11 apple varieties. Every apple-picking season (between August and October), the orchard opens its doors for visitors to pick their own apples by bag and by weight.
Their varieties include Honeycrisp, Spartan, Cortland, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious, Sunrise, Silken, Lobo, McIntosh, Eden, and Empire. Prices start at $27.50 per 11 pounds and $16.25 per 5 pounds of their premium Honeycrisp apples.
| Tips: Aside from apple-picking, Mountain Orchards also has a lot of attractions you can check out for free. There’s no entry fee to visit the farm! Unlike most orchards in Ottawa, Mountain Orchards allow visitors to bring their dogs to the farm. However, dogs need to be leashed and accompanied by their owners at all times to ensure the safety and maintenance of the orchard trees. |
AppleStock Orchard
Address: 1341 Merkley Rd, Winchester, ON K0C 2K0, Canada
Distance from OT: 40 minutes
Contact Details: +16137740594
Operating Hours: Hours vary (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
AppleStock Orchard was once an abandoned orchard in the 1990s before it was purchased by a family in 2013. The orchard is relatively smaller than other orchards on this list, but the apple-picking experience is still top-notch.
The orchard specializes in McIntosh apples, but the management recently planted more varieties that are expected to bloom in a few years. For now, visitors can pick McIntosh apples straight from the trees for as low as $1.50 per pound on end-of-season dates!
You can also pick up a wagon from the front to place all your bags of apples or use it to bring your children through the orchard trees. If you need to occupy your children while you pick apples, there are chickens they can feed by the gate entrance!
| Tips: AppleStock Orchard aims to be as eco-friendly as possible, so they recommend bringing your own reusable bags to the farm when picking apples. They only charge by weight, so you can bring as many reusable bags as you want! Also, they sell baked goods, cider, and candied apples at the orchard store. You can fill up your tummy or refuel your energy there. |
Cannamore Orchard
Address: 1480 County Rd 32, Crysler, ON K0A 1R0, Canada
Distance from OT: 35 minutes
Contact Details: +16134483633
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
Cannamore Orchard is a family-run farm that has been serving locals and tourists with fresh apples since 1982. The founders, Dennis and Claire Taylor, first planted 500 trees in the 80s, and the number has grown to the thousands today.
Apple varieties available during the picking season are Paula Red, Lobo, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, and Spartan apples. Aside from apples, the orchard is also known for growing pumpkins and strawberries that have their own picking seasons for the public.
Another notable feature of Cannamore Orchard is its Acres of Terror, a special event that opens every Halloween. Visitors can join in on a spooky wagon ride, a haunted house tour, an interactive horror-themed street, and a maze.
| Tips: Cannamore Orchard doesn’t allow pets on its premises, but service dogs are welcome inside. In case all the apples from the trees run out, Cannamore Orchard keeps some windfall apples in cold storage for visitors to purchase from the store. If you really want to save on cash, drop by the orchard during October when the apple season starts to close, as they usually give a 50% discount on all remaining apples on trees or on the ground! |
Avonmore Berry Farm
Address: 1480 County Rd 32, Crysler, ON K0A 1R0, Canada
Distance from OT: 45 to 50 minutes
Contact Details: +16134483633
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
Although more known for its strawberries, Avonmore Berry Farm’s apple orchard is worth visiting if you love bringing your children to pick your own apples. The orchard’s apple-picking season lasts from August to September from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The farm leaves the rest of the apple season (the whole of October) for selling pre-picked apples, so if you want dibs on the freshest harvest, it’s best to come by during early August.
Your kids can enjoy playing around sandboxes, haymows, slides, swings, and even tires while you pick your own apples. Moreover, there’s a farm pantry where you can buy other fresh produce and refreshments like ice cream, baked goods, and jams too!
| Tips: Avonmore Berry Farm offers tours led by the orchard owners or by wagon every apple season. The wagon rides, however, are only available on weekends from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In case you want to get more fresh apples from the farm, Avonmore Berry Farm has a roadside stand located along Cornwall Centre Road. |
Hall’s Apple Market
Address: 2930 Concession 2 Rd, Brockville, ON K6V 5T1, Canada
Distance from OT: 50 minutes
Contact Details: +16134483633
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
If you’re after more apple varieties, Hall’s Apple Market is an orchard you should visit. The orchard has around 24 apple varieties available for picking between August and October.
The Hall family, originally from Montreal, Quebec, relocated to Ontario, in the 1940s. They have managed the orchard since then. In 1998, they introduced the “pick-your-own” scheme, which has become a favourite among locals and tourists alike.
Aside from apple picking, there are picnic tables and a playground within the farm for families to enjoy a whole day of picking and playing with their loved ones. Apple products are also sold, ranging from apple butter to apple cider at low prices.
| Tip: Hall’s Apple Market also has a controlled room where they store a variety of apples year-round. They sell these to customers dropping by the farm past apple season or to anyone interested in purchasing specific apple varieties that aren’t currently grown on the trees. |
McGregor’s Orchard
Address: 704 Clifford Sideroad, Renfrew, ON K7V 3Z4, Canada
Distance from OT: 55 minutes
Contact Details: +16134323264
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
McGregor’s Orchard is a little further away from Ottawa, but the farm’s quiet location and friendly owners make it a worthy addition to our list. This farm was first opened in 2016 by Mandy and Cameron who both share a passion for growing organic apples.
Their farm currently offers Paula Red, Lobo, Ruby Red McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Empire, Cortland, Freedom, and Pioneer McIntosh apples in their orchard. There are currently two bag sizes available for the pick-your-own option starting at $15 for regular varieties.
Aside from apples, the farm also sells a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, and eggs in their store. Pre-picked apples are also sold there, but they’re a last resort if your preferred variety isn’t available on trees anymore!
| Tip: McGregor’s Orchard doesn’t allow visitors to bring their own bags, as they sell picking bags in their store. You’ll need to purchase one before entering the orchard. |
Domaine Cleroux
Address: 199 Rte 300 East, Casselman, ON K0A 1M0, Canada
Distance from OT: 40 minutes
Contact Details: +16137645543
Operating Hours: Hours may vary (open only during apple picking season from August to October)
Domaine Cleroux is known for its apple orchard, cidery, and maple syrup. If you’re looking for an apple-picking orchard that also sells uniquely Canadian stuff, this is a place to keep on your travel radar.
The farm has over 800 fruit trees, so it’s a relatively small orchard compared to the others on this list. However, they grow a bunch of varieties including Paula Red, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Spartan, Cortland, Empire, and Lobo apples.
You can buy honey, maple syrup, baked goods, and cider from their shack, or snack on some apple products like apple butter, apple juice, and applesauce as you take a break from picking.
| Tips: Domaine Cleroux is a 40-minute drive from Ottawa, and if you’re not keen on driving back right away after apple picking, the orchard has a bed and breakfast located inside farm grounds for any visitor who wants to stay for a night or two. The farm is also pet-friendly, but you’ll need to keep them on a leash and with you at all times. |
