A Fall Must In Eastern Maine: Apple-Picking Season Is Right Around The Corner. Here Are Some Spots For You To Try!

Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. While for many, this marks the unofficial end of summer and beach season, for others, it marks the unofficial start of fall and one of my favorite seasons: apple-picking season!

Did you know that Maine orchards can vary in size from 1 acre up to several hundred acres? So, depending on just how much time you want to spend finding that perfect pomme, you could duck in for a quick pick, or stay and linger for a while!

Here in Eastern Maine, we are lucky to have quite a few options for places to go apple-picking.

Read More: Know What These Little 'Apples' are Maine? You'll Wish You Didn't

Here's a list of four orchards within an hour of the Queen City,  where you can pick your own apples, right off the tree!

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TREWORGY FAMILY ORCHARDS, Levant

Not too far outside of the city of Bangor,  it'll take you a little over 15 minutes to get to the first spot on our list (depending on how you drive).  It's a nice ride out to Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant.

With rows and rows of pick-your-own apples, very clearly marked, and plenty of wagons ready to carry your overflowing bags from the check out to your car, the folks at Treworgy's have created the quintessential fall experience, complete with apples, pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, tractor rides, and even goats you can pet.

Make sure you have enough time in your day to do this place justice because once you get there, you're going to want to stay for a while.

The first apples available for picking this season will be the Pristine crop and the Williams Pride, according to their website. That will be followed up by McIntosh apples, Cortlands, Akane, Macoun, Honeycrips, Galas, and Liberty apples at the end of the season.

CONANT APPLE ORCHARD, Etna

If you head out to 729 Stage Road in Etna, you'll find the next stop on our list, Conant Apple Orchard. They are absolutely open this year, despite some confusion surrounding some local traffic signs that have been put up as crews work on a road project in that area.

According to their Facebook Page, they are very much still open for business and hope you come out for a visit.

"This sign is in the road coming from the Bangor side. The Bangor side of the orchard IS NOT CLOSED AT ALL. This sign is just here to warn that the road being closed, which is past the orchard- you can still go through. There is a detour if you are coming from the Newport side."

While you stop in to pick-your-own at Contants, you can also enjoy one of their decadent seasonal drinks or homemade donuts.

And if you're a fan of farm animals, they've got a bunch for you to check out this year, including ducks, goats, cows, and horses. They also have a mini donkey, a mini pony, and a dog.

HOOPER'S APPLE ORCHARD, Monroe

At 856 Back Brooks Road in Monroe is another gem of a pick-your-own spot, Hooper's Orchard.

According to the Facebook Page, if Honeycrisps are your "jam", this is the spot for you!

"Honeycrisp is our main crop apple, with 50+ varieties of heirloom and modern, highly flavored apples. Cider pressed daily, no preservatives."

Hoopers opens for the season this Saturday, August 23rd, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

SULLIVAN'S ORCHARD, Charleston

About half an hour north of Bangor, on the Puddle Dock Road in Charleston, is Sullivan's Orchard. This sprawling orchard has quite a few varieties to pick from, even crab apples.

Along with apple picking, there are other cool things to experience at Sullivan's Orchard.

They will also be opening up for the season this Labor Day weekend, with early apples like Duchess, Zestar, and Williams Pride up for grabs. Altogether, throughout the season, they'll have over 25 different varieties for sale.

You don't have to travel far to experience one of the best parts of the end of summer/beginning of fall season around here.

For more fun facts about apple growing and picking apples in Maine, you can click here.