Trying to decide where to pick apples, find the perfect pumpkin, grab a cider doughnut and make a fall day of it.
There are plenty of signs that fall has arrived in Northern Michigan. The mornings get cooler. The maples seem to change overnight. Cider starts sounding better than iced coffee. And suddenly, spending an afternoon wandering through an orchard feels like exactly where you should be.
One of the things I love most about fall here is that our pumpkin patches and apple orchards are not simply seasonal attractions. Many are working family farms that have been part of their communities for generations. Some are perfect for a quick cider and doughnut stop. Others can easily turn into an entire afternoon. These are the weekends we have been waiting for.
If you are looking for somewhere to take the kids, meet up with friends or simply enjoy one of those beautiful September and October days, these are a few of my favorite Northern Michigan stops. Map included.
Jacob’s Farm | Traverse City
If you want the full fall experience without driving far from Traverse City, Jacob’s Farm is an easy place to start.
Located just west of town along M 72, Jacob’s combines U Pick produce, pumpkins, a corn maze, children’s play areas, wagon rides, walking trails, dining and seasonal events in one place. It is the kind of destination where you can plan on stopping for an hour and somehow find yourself staying much longer.
Pick your pumpkins, tackle the corn maze, let the kids burn off some energy and grab something to eat before heading home.
Best for: Making an afternoon of it, families with kids and groups of friends.
Gallagher’s Farm Market | Traverse City
Gallagher’s is one of those classic Northern Michigan fall stops that does not need a complicated itinerary.
The Gallagher family has been welcoming people to the farm since 1972, and their market remains open through October. Along with seasonal produce, the farm market and bakery make this a great place to grab fall treats, visit the animals and pick up pumpkins before heading farther into Leelanau County.
It is particularly easy to pair Gallagher’s with a fall color drive toward Empire, Glen Arbor or Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Best for: A relaxed fall stop, younger kids, bakery treats and picking up pumpkins on your way to somewhere else.
Pahl’s Pumpkin Patch & Country Store | Buckley
If your idea of fall involves an actual pumpkin patch, put Pahl’s on the list.
Located south of Traverse City in Buckley, Pahl’s offers its pumpkin patch along with farm animals, corn mazes and a smaller straw maze for little ones. You will know you have arrived when you spot what Pahl’s calls the biggest goat walk in Northern Michigan.
This one has a wonderfully simple, nostalgic farm feel. It is an easy choice when you want to get outside with the kids, choose pumpkins and enjoy a few hours of fall without needing an entire daylong itinerary.
Best for: Pumpkin picking, younger kids, corn mazes, farm animals and a laid back family outing.
Rennie Orchards | Williamsburg
For an apple focused outing close to Traverse City, Rennie Orchards is worth knowing.
Located in Williamsburg between Traverse City and Elk Rapids, Rennie grows 19 varieties of apples, including Honeycrisp. During fall, the orchard also offers scenic hay wagon rides, a children’s hay bale maze, a log cabin and other family activities.
There is something wonderfully simple about this one. Walk through the trees, fill a bag with apples and enjoy being outside during one of the prettiest times of year in Northern Michigan.
Best for: Apple picking, younger families and anyone looking for more orchard than festival.
King Orchards | Central Lake
I have to include King Orchards because this is where I get my Honeycrisp apples.
Located in Central Lake near the north end of Torch Lake, King Orchards is one of my favorite places to stock up once apple season arrives. Their M 88 Home Farm offers U Pick apples, and Honeycrisp is among the varieties currently listed for picking. They also have U Pick pumpkins available during the fall season.
The farm has walkable orchards, baked goods, fresh produce, a playground and a hard cider and wine garden, so there is plenty of reason to stay once your apple bag is full.
And if you are asking me where to go specifically for Honeycrisp?
This is my pick. It is where I get mine.
Pair the trip with a drive around Torch Lake, Central Lake or Bellaire and you have a pretty perfect Northern Michigan fall afternoon.
Best for: Honeycrisp apples, U Pick, families and a Torch Lake area fall drive.
Nugent Orchards | Benzonia
For my Benzie County friends, Nugent Orchards absolutely belongs on the list.
This family owned farm just south of Benzonia has been operating since 1918 and is now in its fifth generation. Its fall U Pick market brings together apples, pumpkins, fresh baked doughnuts, wagon rides and other seasonal activities on its 100 acre farm.
The location also gives you an excellent excuse to keep driving. Pair your orchard stop with Benzonia, Beulah, Frankfort or a trip toward Sleeping Bear and you have an entire fall day planned without trying very hard.
Best for: Benzie County day trips, apples and pumpkins in one stop and the classic family orchard experience.
Pond Hill Farm | Harbor Springs
If you are heading north toward Harbor Springs, Pond Hill Farm deserves to be the destination rather than simply another stop.
Fall Fest weekends bring together a pumpkin patch, giant corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin smashing, cider and doughnuts, live music and plenty of activities for kids. The adults are not forgotten either. Pond Hill also has brick oven pizza, craft beer, hard cider and wine.
And the drive is half the fun.
Pond Hill sits just north of downtown Harbor Springs along M 119, which means you can easily combine it with Harbor Springs, Good Hart or a drive through the Tunnel of Trees.
Best for: A full Northern Michigan fall day, pumpkins, families, couples and anyone who believes a pumpkin patch is improved by pizza and hard cider.
The Outlier Worth the Drive
Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm | Rogers City
Yes, I know Rogers City is on the east side.
I am breaking my own rules for this one.
I grew up just two miles from Knaebe’s, so this recommendation comes with a little history behind it. I can also personally verify that they have some of the best pumpkin and cider doughnuts in Northern Michigan.
Knaebe’s is tucked into the hills just west of Rogers City and has more than 50 varieties of apple trees along with apples, pumpkins, fresh pressed cider and plenty of bakery treats. Twisted Roots, located at the farm, adds wood fired pizza and hard cider to the equation.
There are outdoor play areas for the kids, farm animals, a corn maze and additional seasonal activities on weekends. That means you can arrive for apples and doughnuts, order a wood fired pizza, have a regular or hard cider and let the kids keep playing outside.
Yes, it is a drive from the west side.
It is worth it.
Best for: Pumpkin and cider doughnuts, wood fired pizza, regular and hard cider, families with kids and a fall road trip when you are ready to venture east.
A Few Tips Before You Go
Apple varieties ripen at different times, pumpkin availability changes as October moves along and Northern Michigan weather has a way of altering everyone’s plans. Check the farm’s website or social media before leaving, particularly if U Pick is the main reason for your trip.
I also recommend going earlier in the day on October weekends. You will have a little more room to wander, better light for photos and, perhaps most importantly, a better chance of getting the fresh doughnuts you came for.
One of the best parts about this list is that almost every stop can become the beginning of a larger Northern Michigan day. And bring boots...An orchard after an October rain is still an orchard after an October rain.
Save The Map
I put all eight farms into one Google Maps route so you can save the locations and use it when planning your fall adventures:
