QUICK FACTS: APPLE PICKING NEAR THE WHITE MOUNTAINS 2026
| Season | Early September through mid-October, varies by orchard |
| Closest option | Solid Earth Farm, Lisbon, NH |
| Best for families | Windy Ridge Orchard, North Haverhill, NH |
| Only PYO orchard in the Conways | Hatch Orchard, Center Conway, NH |
| What to bring | Cash, your own bags or buckets, comfortable shoes |
| Pairs well with | Fall foliage season, which overlaps almost exactly |
Apple season in New Hampshire runs alongside the start of fall foliage, which means a pick-your-own trip is an easy add-on to a foliage weekend rather than a separate trip. Most orchards in the region open in late August or early September and run through mid-October, though exact dates shift year to year based on the harvest.
THREE ORCHARDS WORTH THE DRIVE
Solid Earth Farm, Lisbon, NH
The closest pick-your-own option to Bretton Woods, Solid Earth Farm, is a certified naturally grown fruit farm open from September 1 through October 15 (PickYourOwn.farm, 2026). You can pick Macintosh, Liberty, Gala, Empire, and Macoun apples depending on when in the season you visit. Because it’s a smaller, organic-focused operation, it has a quieter, more low-key feel than the bigger family destinations further out. A solid choice if you want an easy afternoon without a long drive.
Windy Ridge Orchard, North Haverhill, NH
Windy Ridge is a full family destination rather than just an orchard: pick-your-own apples and blueberries, a petting zoo, playground, nature trails, and a full-service café and winery on site (Windy Ridge Orchard, 2026). It works well if you’re bringing kids who want more to do than just pick fruit, or if you’re turning the trip into a half-day outing rather than a quick stop.
Hatch Orchard, Center Conway, NH
Hatch Orchard is the only pick-your-own orchard in the Conway area, open weekends and holidays from Labor Day through Columbus Day (visitnh.gov, 2026). It’s a small, family-run operation, and it’s dog-friendly if you want to bring the whole crew. Varieties include Macintosh, Cortland, Empire, Northern Spy, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith. Because it’s the farthest of the three from Bretton Woods, it makes the most sense if you’re already spending the day on the North Conway side of the region, maybe combined with a Kancamagus Highway drive.
ORCHARDS COMPARED
| Orchard | Location | Season | Best for |
| Solid Earth Farm | Lisbon, NH | Sept 1 – Oct 15 | Closest option, quieter visit |
| Windy Ridge Orchard | North Haverhill, NH | Mid-August – mid-October | Families, full-day outing with café and winery |
| Hatch Orchard | Center Conway, NH | Weekends/holidays, Labor Day – Columbus Day | Pairing with a Kancamagus Highway day trip |
BEST VARIETIES FOR BAKING VS. EATING FRESH
Not every apple works the same way once you get it home. If you’re picking with a specific use in mind, this breakdown helps:
| Variety | Best for | Notes |
| Macintosh | Fresh eating | Soft, juicy, breaks down fast when baked |
| Cortland | Baking and fresh eating | Holds its shape well in pies, doesn’t brown as fast once cut |
| Empire | Fresh eating, lunchboxes | Crisp, sweet-tart, good all-purpose apple |
| Northern Spy | Baking | A classic pie apple, holds structure under heat |
| Granny Smith | Baking, sauces | Tart enough to balance sugar in a pie or crisp |
| Gala | Fresh eating | Mild and sweet, popular with kids |
| Macoun | Fresh eating | A New England favorite with a short season, grab it if you see it |
If you’re not sure what’s ripe on a given weekend, ask when you call ahead. Orchard staff usually know within a day or two which varieties are at their peak.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Pick-your-own season has a few quirks that catch first-timers off guard:
- Call ahead. Smaller orchards especially can sell out of certain varieties mid-week, and some update an answering machine daily with what’s actually available.
- Bring your own containers. Not every orchard supplies bags or buckets, so check before you go or just bring your own.
- Cash matters. Farm stands and smaller operations are often cash-only or card-optional, especially the smaller family-run spots.
- Weekends get crowded fast during peak season, especially the two or three weekends after Labor Day. If your schedule allows a weekday visit, you’ll have a much easier time.
- Weather changes the crop. A dry, warm September can shift ripening earlier; a wet one can push it later. If you have a specific variety in mind, call ahead to check.
BEYOND THE ORCHARD: CIDER, DONUTS, AND LOCAL TREATS
Apple season in New Hampshire isn’t just about the picking. Most orchards sell fresh cider on site, and a few press it themselves rather than buying it in. Cider donuts are the other local staple, usually made fresh in small batches and best eaten the same day. If you want a bigger meal after a morning of picking, check our dining guide for restaurant recommendations closer to Bretton Woods.
If your trip lands on the third weekend of September, you’re also right in the window for the NH Highland Games & Festival at Loon Mountain, which makes for an easy add-on if you’re already out that way.
PAIRING APPLE PICKING WITH FALL FOLIAGE
Because apple season and the start of foliage season overlap almost exactly, a lot of visitors build both into the same trip. If you’re heading out toward Center Conway for Hatch Orchard, you’re already close to the Kancamagus Highway. If you’re staying closer to Lisbon or Franconia for Solid Earth Farm, you’re within easy reach of the Sugar Hill overlooks. See our 2026 fall foliage guide for scenic drive timing that lines up well with peak apple season.
WHERE TO STAY FOR APPLE SEASON
Because apple picking runs right alongside foliage season, lodging in the same window books up the same way: fast, and often weeks ahead for the best weekends. Staying in a vacation rental rather than a hotel gives you a full kitchen, which matters more than you’d think when you come home with a full bag of apples and want to actually bake something with them the same night.
Bretton Woods Vacations is a family-owned company that has managed 125+ curated properties across the White Mountains since 2017, with homes near Franconia and Sugar Hill putting you close to Solid Earth Farm and the Sugar Hill foliage overlooks in the same trip. Our 24/7 local support team means that if you need a recommendation for the best orchard that week, or just need help with something at the property, someone local actually picks up the phone. It’s a big part of why more than a third of our guests come back year after year.
APPLE PICKING FAQ
When does apple picking season start in New Hampshire in 2026?
Most orchards near the White Mountains open in early September, with some smaller operations opening as early as late August. Exact dates shift with the harvest, so it helps to call ahead.
What’s the closest pick-your-own orchard to Bretton Woods?
Solid Earth Farm in Lisbon, NH is the closest option, open September 1 through October 15.
Are any orchards dog-friendly?
Hatch Orchard in Center Conway allows leashed dogs. Always check with a specific orchard before bringing a pet, since policies vary.
Do I need to bring my own bags or buckets?
Some orchards provide them, others don’t. Calling ahead, or just bringing your own, is the safer bet.
Can I visit an orchard and do a foliage drive on the same day?
Yes. Apple season and the start of fall foliage overlap closely, and most of these orchards sit close to popular scenic drives, including the Kancamagus Highway and the Sugar Hill overlooks.
Do orchards take cards, or is it cash only?
It varies. Smaller, family-run orchards are more likely to be cash-only or card-optional, so bringing cash is the safer bet.
