Six Picture Perfect Apple Orchards in South Carolina

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It’s finally beginning to feel like fall in the Palmetto State and as the temperatures drop and leaves scatter on the ground, nothing sounds better than cozying up with a glass of hot cider. The only thing that would make it better is picking the apples ourselves. Too bad we don’t live in New England? Turns out there are plenty of picture perfect apple orchards right here in South Carolina.

1. Blue Haven Orchards, Long Creek

Blue Haven Orchards grow, pick, and sell 30 acres of some of the best apples around. The season starts in July with eight dazzling varieties of apples including red & golden delicious, Stayman Winesap, Cameo, Granny Smith, Fuji, Romes, Arkansas Blacks and Yates (sometimes called a Christmas apple). he fruit stand is open seven days a week and all these flavors are available at an affordable cost with a “half-pick” selection at $7 and a complete bushel for $30. For more than 85 years the full-service packing house has sold fresh, raw cider, local honey, jellies and jams, baked goods, and vegetables. There’s also a homemade slushie machine on premise, as if you need another reason to make the trip.

2. Bryson’s Apple Orchard, Mountain Rest

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by Lakes Keowee, Jocassee,and Hartwell, along with over twenty waterfalls, and many marked hiking trails, Bryson’s Apple Orchard is the perfect setting for apple picking, tasting and sampling. Plan on spending a full day wandering the orchard. The u-pick apple season is in the fall, but apples and peaches are available year-round. Bryson’s has fresh pressed cider, a wide selection of jams and jellies, canned good, honey, sorghum syrup and local vegetables for sampling and purchase!

3. Chattooga Belle Farm, Long Creek

This delightful 198 acre farm in the upstate offers U-pick apples, farm tours and lunch at Belle’s Bistro.

sit and stare at the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains and the gorgeous orchard. Once the largest apple producing area east of the Mississippi River, Chattooga Belle is a working farm, distillery and event barn that grows several varieties of fruit, adding more each year. The award winning distillery makes award winning spirits and is always open for tours and tastings. In addition to apples, you can look forward to peaches, muscadines, scuppernongs, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, persimmons, paw paws, Asian pears and figs.

4. Hollifield’s Orchard, Long Creek

Like many of the orchards and farms in South Carolina, Hollifield’s is family orchard that has been run for more than four generations. It is located off of Hwy. 76 in Long Creek, SC where the largest amount of apples and apple products in the state are produced. Apples, peaches, honey, pasteurized cider, fresh cider, jelly and apple cider vinegar are available Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm.

5. Perdeaux Fruit Farm, Travelers Rest

Peaches, blueberries, blackberries, corn, melons, muscadines, pears and plums are a few of the fruits this farm grows year-round. In the fall, it is all about the apples in their orchard. Products like apple cider and jellies are made from the freshly picked apples. There are 12 varieties of preserves and sauces to choose from. They are open from June through November, Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm, and Sunday from 12:30pm to 6pm. Perdeaux Fruit Farm is a South Carolina Certified Roadside Market and you can check out their Facebook page for daily changes and offerings.

6. Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill, York

This family owned and operated boutique apple orchard and Hard Cider producer located in the upstate is the picture perfect fall day. The owners grew up on apple cider in New England before they brought their passion and a wooden apple cider press to South Carolina. Their specialty is hot cider doughnuts. The award-winning orchard and cider mill is open from mid-August until Christmas. Pick your own apples, indulge in apple cider and enjoy other fresh made apple products. The 2018 season will see events such as Friday night fire pits, hard cider tastings at The Cider Bar, live music and hayrides.