HELLO FALL! I’M READY. Yes, I did just write that all in caps because I’m that excited. In Southern California, we may not have the chilly brisk mornings or changing leaves, but I’m all about celebrating my favorite season. The first activity of the season? Apple picking in Julian. We’re sharing the full scoop on everything you need to know for your day trip from San Diego.
FAQS for apple picking in Julian
When can you pick apples in Julian?
Apple picking season typically runs mid-September to the end of October. Each orchard opens on a different day depending on when the apples are ready and they will close when they run out of apples. This is why one of my biggest tips is to visit the orchards as soon as they open. If you wait too long, you may miss the season!
Where to go apple picking?
There are about 5-6 u-pick apple orchards around Julian that are tracked on the Visit Julian website. Bookmark this website as each orchard updates their information with hours, opening day, pricing, etc.
About Volcan Valley Apple Farm
We opted to check out the beautiful Volcan Valley Apple Farm. This spot is huge and the added bonus is that there’s plenty of parking and space to spread out.
- Location: 1284 Julian Orchards Dr, Julian, CA 92036
- Hours: Season starts Sept 11th. Friday – Monday 9AM – 4:30 PM
- Admission: $5 for adults, children under 5 free. Each bag is $15 and includes one admission.
Tips for Apple Picking in Julian
- Go early in the season – Once the season starts, the orchards are open until they run out of apples. The best time to go so you get the most pick is at the beginning of the season so you don’t miss out!
- Arrive right when they open – Once you pick a day to visit, arrive right when they open! You’ll avoid the crowds and get better parking.
- Pay attention to the signs at the beginning of each row – There are various apple varieties. We couldn’t figure out why each row had apples of different colors and sizes. On our way out, we noticed that each row had the name of the apple variety.
- TWIST, DON’T PULL THE APPLES OFF THE TREES – Tragically, the owners shared that on the first day of the season lots of wonderful apples were on the ground from people pulling and not twisting the apples. Be gentle with the trees!
- Wear boots – It can get dusty walking around the orchards, so I always opt for a pair of boots (or shoes I don’t mind getting dirty).
- Bring your own basket for the ‘gram – They’ll give you a bucket to fill up, however if you want to get the *aesthetic* bring your own little basket for photos.
Planning to spend the day in Julian? Check out our day trip itinerary here.
