When the North Georgia mountains start blushing gold in September, there is one tradition that pulls families out of their cabins and into the fresh air: apple picking. From our porch at Blue Creek Cabins in Helen, the orchards of Lakemont, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge are all within an easy drive, and each one offers a slightly different flavor of fall.
We have put together this local guide to apple picking near Helen GA because our guests ask about it every single autumn. Whether you want a quick half-day outing with the kids, a full-blown Apple Pickin’ Jubilee, or a scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains to a legendary bakery, you will find your orchard in this list. Grab a flannel, warm up the truck, and let us show you where the good apples grow.
When Is Apple Picking Season Near Helen, GA?
Apple season in the North Georgia mountains generally runs from mid to late August through late October, with a few hardy varieties like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Arkansas Black hanging on into early November. The sweet spot for U-pick, cooler weather, and full farm activities is mid-September through early October.
Here is a quick variety timeline to help you plan:
- Mid to Late August: Gala, Ginger Gold, Paula Red, Zestar
- Late August to Early September: Jonathan, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, early Honeycrisp
- September: Mutsu, Jonagold, Rome Beauty, Stayman Winesap, peak Honeycrisp
- October: Fuji (around October 10), Granny Smith (around October 15), Yates (around October 20), Braeburn, Pink Lady
- Late October to Early November: Arkansas Black, GoldRush, remaining Granny Smith
Because each orchard staggers plantings differently, always check the farm’s website or social media the week you plan to visit. Weather, crowds, and variety availability change fast in the fall.
The 8 Best Apple Orchards Near Helen, GA
1. Hillside Orchard Farms (Lakemont): Closest to Helen
If you are staying in Helen and want the shortest drive, Hillside Orchard Farms in Lakemont is your best bet. It sits about 40 to 45 minutes east-southeast of downtown Helen, making it an easy half-day trip. Hillside combines a working orchard with a farm market, corn maze, gem mining, apple cannon, and tractor rides. It is a full farm experience without the long haul to Ellijay.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (317 reviews)
- Address: 18 Sorghum Mill Dr, Lakemont, GA 30552
- Phone: (706) 782-2776
- Website: hillsideorchard.com
- Season Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 1 PM to 6 PM
- What to grab: Homemade jams and preserves from the storefront
- View on Google Maps
2. B.J. Reece Orchards (Ellijay): Best for Daily U-Pick and Big Farm Fun
About 90 minutes west of Helen sits the granddaddy of the GA-52 corridor: B.J. Reece Orchards. Operating since the early 1960s across 120 acres, Reece grows more than 20 apple varieties and runs daily U-pick throughout September and October. This is the orchard for families who want ziplining, apple cannons, wagon rides, pig races, cow milking, and pumpkin picking all in one place.
- Rating: 4.4 stars (3,080 reviews)
- Address: 9131 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Phone: (706) 276-3048
- Website: reeceorchards.com
- Season Hours: Open 7 days a week in September and October, Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 1 PM to 6 PM
- What to grab: Fresh cider and the famous apple butter from the farm market
- View on Google Maps
3. Hillcrest Orchards (Ellijay): Best for Festival-Style Fall Fun
Just up the road from Reece on GA-52, Hillcrest Orchards is the home of the beloved Apple Pickin’ Jubilee, which runs for eight weekends across September and October. If you want the full festival experience with live bluegrass, cloggers, swimming pig races, an apple tree maze, a moonshine museum, and dozens of kid attractions, this is your orchard.
- Rating: 4.0 stars (672 reviews)
- Address: 9696 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Phone: (706) 273-3838
- Website: hillcrestorchards.net
- Jubilee Hours: Weekend hours 9 AM to 6 PM during the Jubilee season
- What to grab: Warm apple cider doughnuts made fresh at the bakery
- View on Google Maps
4. R & A Orchards (Ellijay): Local Favorite with a Beloved Cafe
R & A Orchards on GA-52 is the orchard that Ellijay locals send you to when they want you to skip the festival crowds. R & A offers U-pick apples and flowers on weekends throughout September and October from 9 AM to 5 PM, and their farm cafe is legendary for hand-held fried pies, chicken and dumplings, and country comfort food. About 18 pie varieties rotate through the season.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (1,503 reviews)
- Address: 5505 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Phone: (706) 273-3821
- Website: randorchards.com
- U-Pick: Weekends in September and October, 9 AM to 5 PM
- What to grab: A fried apple pie and a jar of local honey
- View on Google Maps
5. Aaron Family Orchards (Ellijay): Best Small, Family-Owned Experience
If a giant orchard is not your speed, Aaron Family Orchards feels like stepping into a friend’s back-forty. It is the smallest orchard on this list, but the personal touch is exactly the point. The owners walk you through unfamiliar apple cultivars, hand you an “ugly” apple to feed the pigs and goats out back, and tell you to fill your bag until it will not tie shut. No per-pound anxiety here.
- Rating: 4.8 stars (158 reviews)
- Address: 8350 GA-52, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Phone: (706) 273-3180
- Website: aaronfamilyorchards.com
- What to grab: A plate-sized apple fritter with caramelized sugar on the edges
- View on Google Maps
6. Red Apple Barn (Ellijay): Best for Toddlers and a Relaxed Pace
Red Apple Barn on Tails Creek Road runs a quieter weekend operation than the GA-52 giants, and that is exactly why families with little kids love it. A hayride carries you out to the orchard, complimentary apple cider and cider doughnuts are included with U-pick, and the play areas, rock painting, and yard games keep small ones happy while grown-ups relax.
- Rating: 4.6 stars (867 reviews)
- Address: 3379 Tails Creek Rd, Ellijay, GA 30540
- Phone: (706) 635-5898
- Website: redapplebarn.com
- U-Pick: Weekends in September, October, and early November while apples last
- What to grab: Included cider doughnuts and a caramel apple from the market
- View on Google Maps
7. Panorama Farm Market (Ellijay): Best Farm Market Stop
Panorama Farm Market on Talona Mountain Road is more of a farm market and bakery than a full U-pick destination, but it earns a spot on this list for one reason: the produce, baked goods, and local honey are outstanding. Even on days you cannot U-pick, this is the stop where you fill the truck with peaches, apples, blueberry loaf, and jars of jam to take back to the cabin.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (1,710 reviews)
- Address: 63 Talona Mountain Rd, Ellijay, GA 30536
- Phone: (706) 276-3813
- Website: panoramaorchards.com
- What to grab: Fresh-baked blueberry loaf and a bag of soft peppermint sticks
- View on Google Maps
8. Mercier Orchards (Blue Ridge): Best Destination Orchard
Ninety minutes northwest of Helen, Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge is the largest and most iconic apple destination in North Georgia. Family-owned and veteran-operated since 1943, Mercier runs periodic U-pick events (dates vary each year, so check the schedule) alongside a massive farm store, a tasting room with hard cider and wine, tractor tours, and a bakery whose fried pies have their own fan club.
- Rating: 4.7 stars (9,273 reviews)
- Address: 8660 Blue Ridge Dr, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
- Phone: (706) 632-3411
- Website: mercier-orchards.com
- Season Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday to Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM
- What to grab: A fresh fried apple pie and a bottle of hard cider from the tasting room
- View on Google Maps
Planning Your Apple Picking Day Trip From Helen
A few tips from our years of hosting fall guests here at Blue Creek:
- Leave early. Peak weekends in late September and early October fill parking lots by 10 AM. If you want a quieter picking experience, aim to be at the orchard by 9 AM.
- Bring cash. Some smaller orchards and roadside stands still prefer cash for U-pick sessions and hand-pie counters.
- Dress for mud. Mornings can be brisk in the mountains, and orchard rows may be soft after rain. Closed-toe shoes and layers are your friends.
- Pack a cooler. Fresh cider, caramel apples, and hand pies do not travel well on a hot afternoon drive. A small cooler in the truck keeps everything cabin-ready.
- Combine two orchards. Reece and R & A are less than 4 miles apart on GA-52. Hillcrest and Aaron are also on the same stretch. Pair one big farm with one small local pick for the best of both worlds.
- Check crop reports. Weather can move variety windows by a week or two. Follow each orchard on social media or call ahead the day before.
Book Your Fall Cabin in Helen
North Georgia apple season only comes once a year, and the best cabins for peak leaf and apple weekends book up early. Whether you want a cozy porch to peel apples on, a fire pit for evening cider, or a private pond to fish while the pies cool, we have a cabin waiting for you.
Browse our Helen, GA cabin rentals and start planning your fall mountain escape today. From all of us at Blue Creek Cabins, welcome to the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to go apple picking near Helen, GA?
Mid-September through early October is the sweet spot. Weather is cool, most varieties are in season, and every orchard is running its full slate of activities. Late-season varieties like Granny Smith, Fuji, and Arkansas Black are ready in October and early November.
What is the closest apple orchard to Helen, GA?
Hillside Orchard Farms in Lakemont is the closest major orchard, about 40 to 45 minutes east-southeast of downtown Helen. For a bigger U-pick experience, the Ellijay orchards (Reece, Hillcrest, R & A, Aaron, Red Apple Barn) are about 90 minutes west.
Do North Georgia orchards charge admission?
Some do. Hillcrest Orchards charges a per-person entry fee for its Apple Pickin’ Jubilee that unlocks activities and includes a small apple bag. Reece, R & A, Red Apple Barn, and Aaron Family Orchards generally have free entry with paid U-pick bags. Always check the orchard’s website for current pricing.
Can you pick apples in Helen, GA itself?
Not really. The town of Helen sits in a valley without commercial orchards. However, all the major North Georgia orchards are within a 45-minute to 90-minute drive, making Helen the perfect basecamp for orchard hopping in Lakemont, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge.
Are the orchards near Helen kid-friendly?
Absolutely. Hillcrest and Reece are the most kid-focused, with attractions like pig races, cow milking, apple cannons, petting farms, and mazes. Red Apple Barn is great for toddlers with its hayrides and play areas. Hillside offers wheelchair and stroller-accessible orchard rows.
What is the Georgia Apple Festival, and how do I plan around it?
The Georgia Apple Festival is held at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds on the second and third full weekends of October each year. It draws hundreds of vendors, a parade, live music, and heavy crowds. If you want quieter U-pick, plan a weekday visit or the weekends around the festival.
