5 Ellijay Apple Orchards You Need to Visit

When the weather gets cooler, and fall comes in, it’s time to start harvesting apples. Georgia residents are lucky because the North Georgia region is full of apple orchards, many of which have U-Pick options. The epicenter of apple-picking is in Ellijay, which sits near the Georgia/Tennessee border and is just over an hour from Atlanta.

Head on down to Gilmer County to spend the weekend at an Ellijay cabin rental or come to town for a day trip to fill up on all of your apple needs.

Whether you’re in the mood for fresh apples, apple cider, or apple pies, these orchards have you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the top five U-Pick apple orchards in and around Ellijay. So, plan your trip accordingly.

B.J. Reece Orchards

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Kicking things off is this quaint family farm on Ellijay’s eastern edge. Reece Orchards has many apple orchards, and you can find quite a variety of different flavors. So, when you and your family explore the orchard, be sure to sample as many apples as possible. Some of the options include:

• Gala
• Honey Crisp
• Red Delicious
• Golden Delicious
• Candy Crisp
• Granny Smith
• Fuji

You simply pick the bag you want to fill, and you’re off on your own. Admission varies whether you visit during the week or the weekend. The smallest bag holds about 10 to 12 apples, while the largest holds 40 to 50. Once you have your apples, we highly recommend you put them to use with one of these delicious apple recipes.

While fresh apples are a treat by themselves, Reece Orchards also has a country bakery. There, you can sample some world-famous fried pies or apple cider donuts. Be sure to buy extra to take home, as you’ll want some later.

In addition to apple-picking, B.J. Reece Orchards also has pig races, a petting farm, exotic animals, a giant slide, wagon rides, a jumping pillow, and even cow milking. When you visit, plan on spending the whole day.

Hillcrest Orchards

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Hillcrest is a bit further out from Reece Orchards along Highway 52. There are several orchards along this stretch, and Hillcrest is the last of the bunch. This spot is one of the most-popular orchards, and it offers many of the same activities and amenities you can find at B.J. Reece and elsewhere.

The apple-picking season runs from early September to the end of October, and the farm even runs school and senior tours during the week. You can also find many apple products at the farm market, including candied apples, jams and jellies, honey, syrups, and apple butter.

Hillcrest Orchards is a lot of fun, thanks to the abundance of activities and games. You and your kids can participate in:

• Apple Tree Maze - Like a corn maze, but with apples!
• Vortex Tunnel - Feel like you’re walking into another dimension!
• Museums - The farm has an apple, moonshine, and farmhouse museum.
• Mini Golf - Try your luck at some farm-fresh putt-putt!
• Races - You can watch pigs, ducks, and chickens race against each other!
• Music and Dancing - On the weekends, the farm hosts local bands, and you can participate in clog dancing.

Panorama Orchards

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Panorama Orchards doesn’t offer a U-pick apple option, but it does sell over 20 varieties along with other fresh fruits from the orchard. This shop is south of Ellijay along Highway 5.

The retail store sells whatever is fresh and in season. During the spring, check it out for some juicy strawberries. During the summer, you have to try some succulent Georgia peaches. Then, during the fall, it’s apple harvest time.

In each case, Panorama makes various baked goods and treats from the fruit. You can get jams, jellies, preserves, and pastries. When it’s apple season, you should try their fritters, apple brandy cake, or fried pies. Panorama has quite a fried pie collection, including cherry, blackberry, peach, and blueberry.

Finally, you can get some ice cream to go along with your pastries. There are 12 flavors available, which rotate throughout the year based on what’s in season. Overall, bring a sweet tooth and a massive appetite.

Red Apple Barn

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If you’re coming to the North Georgia mountains to pick apples and nothing else, you might want to make your first stop at Red Apple Barn. This place is to the west of Ellijay on Highway 76. Since it’s not part of the “orchard row,” Red Apple has more space to grow tons of apple varieties. When you visit, you can pick from 21 different flavors. The orchard also has a farm market where you can buy preserves, jams, jellies, and your traditional sweet favorites.

Because apple-picking is in the fall, Red Apple Barn also has a pumpkin patch with a hayride. So, you can take care of two things at once and get ready for Halloween while you sample some freshly picked apples.

Another highlight of Red Apple Barn is that it’s a wedding venue. Couples can get the ceremony of their dreams with picturesque views of the orchards and rolling hills in the background.

Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge

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About 20 minutes up Highway 76 is Blue Ridge, which is another idyllic small town. Just outside the city is Mercier Orchards, one of the largest and most-visited apple orchards in the region.

Mercier doesn’t have as many family-friendly activities as Hillcrest or B.J. Reece, but it has some excellent apples and a winery. In addition to handcrafted wines, you can sample some Mercier hard cider to go with your fresh-baked goods. Sweets are also a big part of the farm market, as you can buy handmade peanut brittle, candied nuts, peanut butter cups, and more.

The activities you can do on-site include:

• Wine and Cider Tasting - Flavors rotate throughout the seasons, so check back regularly to see what’s in stock.
• Fishing - There are several ponds on the property, and the owners allow families to catch and release the fish living in them.
• Apple Blossom Tours - As the apple trees come into bloom, you can take a tour of the orchard to marvel at their splendor. These tours happen in the spring, usually in April. The rest of the year, you can take self-guided tours of the orchards.

Overall, apple-picking is a fun activity for all ages. Whether you’re coming for a day or the entire weekend, Ellijay has lots to offer you and your family. Enjoy this and plenty of other great fall activities in North Georgia on your next vacation.

Happy picking!