Located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Apple Hill comprises of multiple orchards, farms, and ranches in the town of Placerville, California. It’s 135 northeast of San Francisco and 50 miles east of Sacramento. With the number of places to visit, it was so hard to choose where to stop because each place has their own unique reason to visit. I did most of my research by checking out their web site (https://applehill.com/), which has great information. We ended up visiting three locations and felt like we got the Apple Hill experience in just a day. I was particularly interested in visiting this time of year because I wanted to experience the fall vibes in full force. Most of the farms are dog-friendly, so it was a nice opportunity to take our pup on her first trip. There is still so much more to see and hope to come back again soon.
Know before you go
Recommended time to go: September for the fall harvest and fun activities gearing up for Halloween.
What to pack: In the fall, temperatures can range from high 30’s at night to mid-60’s in the day time, so pack your warm and cozy outfits. Bring the appropriate footwear as you will be doing some walking, mostly on grass and dirt.
Transportation: Apple Hill is in a much more secluded area and will require the use of your own personal or rented vehicle to get around. It’s not a pedestrian-friendly area since there are no sidewalks and most places are not in close proximity. Roads are windy, and it takes several minutes to drive from place to place. There are no street lights, so it is dark when driving at night. Be extra careful about deer crossing into the road. It is pretty common in the area.
Where to stay: There are a couple of Bed and Breakfasts and campgrounds in the area. One of the closest hotels is Best Western Placerville Inn. You can find a list of recommended lodging here.
Rainbow Orchards
Our first stop was at Rainbow Orchards because I couldn’t wait to try their famous fresh apple cider donuts. We were not disappointed. It comes out warm and fresh from the kitchen with enough hint of apple flavor along with the cinnamon sugar coating. I bought the half dozen order and have no regrets. They definitely support the plaques they earned for Readers’ Choice “Best Donuts” for 2018 and 2020 from the Mountain Democrat that lined the wall.
My haul also consisted of hard apple cider, fresh pressed apple cider, a bag of Fuji apples, and an apple crisp a la mode to share. They have a great selection of fruits like pears, pumpkins, persimmons and a variety of different apples. Apple butter, fruit jams, syrups and Rainbow Orchard merchandise filled the shelves. The kitchen sold a variety of fruit pies (slices and whole), cobblers, and apple cream cheese tarts, in addition to corn dogs and hot dogs for a quick bite for lunch.
We were able to enjoy wine tasting in their large picnic area with a great view of their orchards. There were plenty of picnic tables and all spaced for social distancing. Our flight had 8 different sips to try, including mulled wine. In addition, we got hard cider and sangria. I’m a huge sangria fan and loved it. It was super refreshing.
- Known for their: Apple Cider Donuts and Apple Pie
- Personal favorites: Apple Cider Donuts, Sangria, Picnic Area
- Web site: https://rainboworchards.net/
- Address: 2569 Larsen Drive, Camino, CA 95709
Apple Ridge Farm
Apple Ridge Farm had a bit more than Rainbow Orchards with vendor stalls and activities. There were handcrafted items and homemade goods for sale, like jerky, jewelry, and bath bombs. We picked up a couple bags of flavored almonds and cashews from one vendor. It was around lunchtime, and we were ready to grab a bite. We ordered a cheeseburger, BBQ brisket sandwich, and chicken pot pie with fries and potato salad for sides. Their BBQ sauce is very tasty and worth trying.
After our group shared a slice of the Dutch apple pie from the bakeshop, it confirmed our decision to bring home one of their pies for Thanksgiving dinner. We picked up a frozen Dutch apple pie from the Country Store, where they also sell homemade fudge, caramels, jellies and jams. Back at the bakeshop, pastries special to Apple Ridge are apple dumplings and apple blossoms, which also comes in a berry option. They also sell caramel apples, pies, cinnamon rolls, turnovers, strudels and donuts.
There is a variety of activities for the kids such as gemstone mining, hay maze, a flower walking trail, and face hole cutouts for photo opportunities. It is also a great time of year to visit because their shops have a great selection of Thanksgiving and Christmas decor.
- Known for: Dutch Apple Pie, Kettle Corn, Apple Cider, Apple Dumpling
- Personal favorites: BBQ sauce, Dutch Apple Pie
- Web site: https://appleridgefarms.com/
- Address: 1800 Larsen Drive, Camino, CA 95709
High Hill Ranch
High Hill Ranch is a larger location than Rainbow Orchards and Apple Ridge Farm. This location didn’t have as much of a farm-like feel like our previous stops and had a more livelier energy with a bigger crowd. It’s a good place to visit if you’re looking for something to eat other than apple desserts because they have more variety of food from food trucks, shops, stalls, and restaurants.
We tried apple beer and picked up a few chocolates from the dessert shop, including my fiance’s favorite: tiger butter. They also have a great selection of decorated candy apples. A fun perk for the kids are the pony rides. Walking along the route we spotted a cute little pond visitors gathered around to sit and picnic.
You’ll find locations that sell varieties of large pies and apple donuts. If you’re in the mood to shop, there are plenty of craft stalls that range from art, home decor, plants, and more to browse.
- Known for: arts & crafts, caramel apple crunch pie, caramel apples, apple cider shake, fritters
- Personal favorites: Food selection and pond. I wish I tried the fritters and apple cider shake!
- Web site: https://www.highhillranch.com/
- Address: 2901 High Hill Road, Placerville, CA 95667
Honorable Mentions (other locations I considered visiting)
- North Canyon Cider Co – 3541 North Canyon Rd., Camino, CA 95709
- Delfino Farms – 3205 North Canyon Rd., Camino, CA 95709
- Boa Vista – 2952 Carson Rd., Placerville, CA 95667
- Lava Cap Winery – 2221 Fruitridge Rd., Placerville, CA 95667
- Boeger Winery – 1709 Carson Rd., Placerville, CA 95667
- Starfield – 2750 Jacquier Rd., Placerville, CA 95667
We all had a good time and would definitely come back. We felt safe the whole time being outdoors with enough room for social distancing and loved the opportunity to really experience the fall weather with food, scenery, and all. Apple Hill is open year-round, so please visit https://applehill.com/ to learn about the latest events and other farms in the area. You can also check out their Harvest Calendar so you know the best time to visit and pick up your favorite fruits. I highly recommend the visit if you’re an apple-holic or want a quick getaway suitable for the whole family.
