One of the outdoor adventures on my fall bucket list this year was apple picking. I was somewhat surprised to discover that not too many of my friends in Los Angeles have been, either – perhaps because the best spot to do so is in Oak Glen, which is about two hours away.
But I knew my boys were troopers and could survive the drive, so this weekend we headed out to one of the many orchards in Oak Glen, Riley’s at Los Rios Rancho. Why there? I read this post from my friend Michele at Fun Orange County Parks last week and was sold. (I love my blogger buddies!)
All I can say is our adventure was well worth the drive.
For $15, we purchased a big enough bag for our family of four to spend about an hour picking apples. Available for picking were the rome apples (which we will use to bake an apple pie later this week) and the double red delicious, the big explorer’s favorite.
After the apple picking, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in a beautiful, woodsy setting amid a gallery of gorgeous trees. This place had my name written all over it.
Then we took a short stroll along a nature trail that runs right past the double red delicious apple grove (courtesy of Oak Glen’s Wildlands Conservancy).
Trail highlights included the California Tree Trail and a floating dock overlooking a very serene pond. Before heading home, we each picked an apple treat for the ride back.
The season is by no means over in Oak Glen. Los Rios Rancho anticipates having U-Pick apples and pumpkins throughout October and possibly into November. I highly recommend you check it out.
Tips for Visiting With Kids
- Know the terrain. The bumpy orchard grounds are not stroller friendly, so plan on a baby carrier, sling or backpack for smaller kids.
- Discuss the picking rules before you start. You pick, you buy, so make sure your kids know how to tell the good apples from the bad. Remember: Avoid apples with wormholes!
- Give little kids a boost. We discovered that many of the apples were too high in the tree for even the big explorer to reach. And the little explorer definitely needed dad’s boosts.
- Avoid the crowds with a picnic lunch. There are plenty of picnic tables to go around, even with the crowds. Best part? No lines!
- Indulge in some fresh apple-y goodness. Each of us picked one “treat” – dad opted for cider, the big explorer picked a caramel-sprinkled apple, and the little explorer and I split a piece of apple pie.
Planning Essentials
- U-Pick is open Wed. – Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine
- Be prepared for crowds
- Cost depends on the size of the bag or box you choose; we opted for a large bag for $15 which we stuffed with some 25 plus small & medium sized apples
- Free parking
- Plenty of open, grassy space and picnic tables
- In addition to the orchard, there is a corn maze, U-Pick pumpkins, country store, BBQ, bakery and nature trails
- Weekend activities (for a fee) include horse-drawn carriage rides, U-press apple cider and a petting zoo
- Flush toilets can be found near the store and near the start of the nature trail; portable toilets only in the orchard
More Helpful Resources
- The Oak Glen Apple Grower’s Association provides info about Oak Glen’s numerous farms and orchards, historical points of interest, restaurants and bakeries, and more
- Here’s a pdf map of Oak Glen
- My friend Michele over at Fun Orange County Parks wrote an extremely helpful post about apple picking at Los Rios Rancho, as well as another about the Children’s Nature Trail
Los Rios Rancho is located at:
39611 Oak Glen Rd. #13
Oak Glen, California, 92399
Directions to Los Rios Rancho
@Crystal: I'd love to read of your apple picking adventures! 🙂
Apple picking is just such a quintessential autumn activity…it's something I look forward to every fall! It sounds like ykou & your family had a wonderful day. This is what memories are made of!
@Marc: Sounds like your family had a wonderful time picking apples & pumpkins. I love your idea of adding a nature walk or haunted house visit to the mix. Not too much longer …<br /><br />@Mel: Yep, crowds are a way of life here in SoCal. I can't imagine picking apples off my neighbor's tree. Lucky you!
Sounds like you have crowds everywhere 😉 Looks like a wonderful day! Apple picking has become an important part of our fall traditions. We just pick at a neighbor's, but then spend days making enough applesauce to last the year (which is a lot for my boys!).
We took our boys apple picking a few weeks ago when we were visiting the grandparents back in Ohio, they had a blast. We also picked out some pumpkins to decorate and leave at grandma and grandpas, and they loved that too. I think going to an orchard and picking apples is a great fall tradition. Even better if you can come home with some fresh cider! The only thing that could make it better would
@TheNatureCoach: I envy you getting to enjoy Oak Glen more often than once a year. Sounds like I should check it out next summer!<br /><br />@Michele: Thanks for all your fantastic info, too!<br /><br />@Anna: Time in nature + me & my fam = pure bliss! 🙂
Looks like a great day and thanks for sharing your tips. Those apples look delicious! Great to spend time outdoors with the kids.
What a perfect write-up and so glad you had some dry weather! I was thinking about you on Saturday. Your photos are GREAT!
What a wonderful day! We go to Oak Glen quite frequently, it is a favorite day or 1/2 day trip for us, especially in the summer (we go there to cool off) and the fall, my little one just loves it! The scenery is beautiful and wildlife/nature abounds… You shared a great write-up about the apple picking fun to be had 🙂