The summer went by WAY too quickly for my liking, but fortunately that means fall is just around the corner – and I love fall. Already the leaves on the trees are showing signs of changing, and apple picking season has arrived! I love taking my kids out to the apple orchards to pick our own. I try to go multiple times if we have the opportunity, especially because the different types of apples are ripe at varying times throughout September and into October.

I’ve put together a list of a few of my favourite apple orchards in the Ottawa area, as well as a few I have yet to try , but am hoping to visit soon.

Mountain Orchards

Mountain Orchards is a well run operation about 45 minutes south of Ottawa. It offers a number of different varieties of apples. You can pick your own, or buy some pre-picked apples. On weekends there is a bbq, bakery, and wagon rides. Mountain Orchards has a ton for kids to do – a corn maze, hay bale jumping, and a playground.

The first time I went on a weekend with the family and it was SUPER busy, but that didn’t stop us from having a ton of fun, picking some great apples and sampling some apple goodies from the bakery.

The next time I visited Mountain Orchards we went on a weekday, and it was not busy. I stayed for a good part of the day, just letting the kids enjoy everything the orchard has to offer.

For more on operating hours and apple varieties check out the Mountain Orchards website.

Log Cabin Orchard

I really love this little apple orchard gem. The first time I visited with the kids, we went on a week day and I loved how quiet and laid back it was. Log Cabin is a family run orchard located in Osgoode, about 30 minutes from Ottawa. On the weekends there are wagon rides, candy apples, churros and mexican tacos. During the week you can walk around, visit the small petting zoo, and enjoy picking some delicious apples.

For more information on operating hours and directions visit The Log Cabin website.

Cannamore Orchard

This is one I really want to check out…and soon! Cannamore is located around 35 minutes east of Ottawa, and it sounds like a ton of fun. There’s a petting zoo, cow train, wagon rides, a pedal car track, several mazes, and play structures. An on-site chip wagon offers poutine, burgers and fries, while cotton candy and drinks are available at the canteen.  There are also frozen baked goods, jams, cider, honey, and fudge for sale.

Unlike Mountain Orchard, and Log Cabin, you do have to pay an admission fee to take part in these family activities, and they don’t all operate on week days, so it sounds like the weekend is the time to go to take part in all there is to offer.

For more information check out the Cannamore Orchard website.

Avonmore Berry Farm

Avonmore is located around an hour outside of Ottawa, near Casselman. In addition to picking your own apples, the family can enjoy free wagon rides in the afternoon on weekends, as well as a children’s play area. There is also a farm bakery well known for creating wonderful homemade fruit pies, biscuits,muffins and jams. They are available hot out of the oven, or unbaked & frozen.

For more information check out the Avonmore website.

Orleans Fruit Farm

Orleans Fruit Farm is appealing because it does not require a long drive, like some of the other orchards. The fruit farm is an enormous apple orchard perched on a hill with spectacular views across the Ottawa River and more than 1,000 apple trees. Kids can climb on a play structure or an old tractor, jump in the straw or have a snack at the picnic tables.

For more information check out the Orleans Fruit Farm website. 

Pinewood Orchard

Another close by orchard, this one is located off March Road in Kanata. Pinewood Orchard is all about the apples. There are no activities here — nothing to do except pick apples from the more than 800 50-year-old trees  A variety of seasonal produce and vegetables, grown at the orchard or from local farms, is for sale on site as well.

For more information check out the Pinewood Orchards website.

I would love to hear your reviews and what your favourite apple orchards are to visit. Happy picking!