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Apple season peaks in Metro Detroit: cool air, orchard views, and that first sip of fresh-pressed cider. Whether you’re chasing U-pick varieties, farm vibes, or a classic donut-and-cider stop, these local orchards deliver the fall you’re craving.
Wiard’s Orchards
5565 Merritt Road, Ypsilanti
Wiard’s Orchards has been offering U-pick apples to customers for decades, but has been “bringing the fall family fun for 188 years,” shares Director of Operations Travis Hill. Families can enjoy wagon and fire engine rides, mini golf, petting farms, big slides, playgrounds, and even weekend extras like the apple cannon or paintball. When you’re ready to explore the rows of apple trees, pick up a bag and pick to your heart’s desire, only paying for what you pick. For those not entering the Fair, the Country Store stocks all the fall essentials, like fresh-picked apples, cider, pies, caramel apples, donuts, and more.
Westview Orchards
65075 Van Dyke, Washington
Westview Orchards offers a mix of orchard time and farm play with Straw, Tire, and Rope Mountains, a 40-foot slide, animals throughout, and a big jumping pad. Families can explore themed mazes, take wagon rides, and enjoy barnyard basketball on weekends, while kids scramble across play areas and spend hours outdoors. With over 20 varieties of apples grown throughout the season, there are plenty of options to choose from. The orchard captures the essence of fall on a farm, with fresh air, open space, and plenty of cider and specialty donuts at the end of the day.
Big Red Orchard
4900 32 Mile Road, Washington
Whether you’re a fan of Red Delicious or Gala apples, Big Red Orchard has an abundance of variety to choose from throughout the fall season. Owner Trish Misiewicz shares, “Since taking ownership [in 2022], we have planted over 2,000 new trees, 1,200 more trees on order for next year, renovated the main barn, added the Legacy Bar to highlight farm products, and finished out an abandoned structure on the property and made it into a state-of-the-art industrial meets rustic event venue, highlighting all the beautiful aspects of the farm. Guests who come to our orchard can expect to have a traditional orchard experience with a small-town feel.” The Farm Market is stocked with favorites like caramel apples and locally made products. With the Legacy Bar, adults can grab a beverage while the kids can flock to the play zone. “Big Red Orchard is a place to relive old memories while making new ones.”
Hy’s Cider Mill
6350 37 Mile Road, Romeo
At Hy’s Cider Mill, cider is at the heart of everything. This family-owned spot has been pressing cider for three generations, and U-pick apples are available on weekends with new varieties rolling out throughout the fall, from Ambrosia and Golden Delicious to Fuji and Golden Russet. Each batch of cider is pressed on-site from orchard apples, changing slightly throughout the season (due to apples available) for an overall crisp and naturally sweet flavor. Donuts in plain or cinnamon sugar varieties are the perfect pairing for a bag of freshly picked apples and cider.
Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
Multiple locations in Metro Detroit
Now celebrating its 79th year, Blake’s Farms remains a must-visit destination for families looking to keep traditions alive. Visitors can pick from dozens of apple varieties and enjoy fall extras like pumpkin picking, corn mazes, giant slides, pig races, and haunted attractions. “Experience fall the classic way with wagon rides to the orchard, 40+ apple varieties (including McIntosh, Fuji, and Gala), and a field full of pumpkins ripe for the picking,” shares the Blake’s team. With several locations to choose from, it’s easy to make a day of it with cider, donuts, and special events throughout the season.
Rochester Cider Mill
5125 North Rochester Road, Rochester
Since 1981, the Barkham family has run Rochester Cider Mill, where unpasteurized cider is pressed fresh using the best Michigan apples. Beyond the traditional cider, this mill also creates limited specialty blends by combining apples with fruits like cherries, peaches, grapes, or cranberries. Donuts, caramel apples, and pies fill the bakery case daily, while kids love climbing the straw pyramid and visiting the piglets and turkeys at the petting farm. With locally sourced honey, maple syrup, jams, and seasonal produce, Rochester Cider Mill captures the flavor of autumn in every visit.
Parmenter’s Cider Mill
714 Base Line Road, Northville
Running since 1873, Parmenter’s Cider Mill is a Northville staple tucked within the historic neighborhood known as Cabbage Town. Visitors can watch cider pressing several days a week, then dig into a spread of donuts, apple pie, caramel apples, handmade fudge, roasted almonds, and cider slushies. The outdoor play equipment and riverside walk add to the atmosphere, while adults can stop nearby at the Northville Winery & Brewing Co. for handcrafted hard cider, beer, or wine. It’s a mill where history, family tradition, and modern tastes come together seamlessly.
Whether you’re after a bushel of fresh apples, a glass of cider straight from the press, or simply the warmth of a fall afternoon with family, Metro Detroit’s orchards offer it all. Each visit brings new flavors, local favorites, and plenty of reasons to return year after year.
This article has been updated to include new information. The original article was published on September 5, 2023, and was authored by Katie Goncalves.
