Fall is apple-picking season in New Mexico. Discover the state’s best U-Pick apple orchards with fresh apples, cider, baked goods, and fall festivities.
Fall in New Mexico brings cooler days, changing leaves, and, if you know where to look, trees loaded with apples ripe for picking.
While the Land of Enchantment doesn’t have as many U-pick apple orchards as some other states, there are still a handful of farms where you can wander among the trees and fill a bag with fruit straight from the branch. Some spots sweeten the experience with homemade apple pie and cider, while others turn harvest season into a full-fledged fall festival.
Apple season doesn’t last long, though, and crop availability can vary from year to year. If apple picking is on your fall bucket list, keep reading to discover the New Mexico orchards you need to check out—plus what to know before you go.
When is apple-picking season in New Mexico?
Apple-picking season in New Mexico typically runs from mid-August through October, with September marking the peak time for harvesting. Factors like weather, elevation, and apple variety can impact timing.
U-pick availability can change quickly, so you should check the farm or orchard’s social media or call before driving out so you don’t waste a trip.
What to know before visiting a New Mexico U-pick orchard
Before you head out on your U-pick adventure, make sure you dress accordingly. Orchard terrain is often uneven, rocky, or muddy, so closed-toe shoes or boots are recommended. Depending on the weather, you may also want to bring sunscreen and water.
When you call ahead to check on U-pick availability, you should also ask if the farm provides bags or containers and whether they accept credit cards or prefer cash.
Proper apple-picking etiquette
Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to pick an apple. Here are a few guidelines to follow during your next apple-picking excursion:
- To protect the tree and prevent other apples from falling, twist the one you want gently off the branch instead of pulling on it.
- Don’t climb or shake the tree, as this can damage it. Some orchards provide ladders for hard-to-reach apples.
- Only pick what you plan to buy. Don’t pick apples just for a photo or discard unwanted ones on the ground.
- Be gentle when placing your picked apples into your basket or bag so they don’t bruise.
- If you drop or bruise an apple, don’t leave it behind. You can still bake or make cider with it.
Where to go apple picking in New Mexico
Now that we’ve covered the basics of apple picking, here are the top U-pick apple orchards in New Mexico worth visiting:
1. Cadwallader Mountain Farms
Cadwallader Mountain Farms is a small family farm that offers U-pick apples and a variety of other fruits depending on the season. As far as apples go, you’ll find several different varieties, like Gala, Rome, Fuji, McIntosh, and Honey Crisp.
Pricing for U-pick apples at the farm varies based on how much you pick:
- 1-10 pounds: $2.00 per pound
- 11-20 pounds: $1.75 per pound
- 21-30 pounds: $1.50 per pound
Note that the farm accepts only cash or check.
Address: 13 Mountain Park Rd., Mountain Park
2. Nichols Ranch and Orchards
Nichols Ranch and Orchards is a family farm that’s home to one of New Mexico’s biggest and oldest cherry and apple orchards still actively operating. Here, you’ll find about 3,000 apple trees spread across 20 acres of land.
During the U-pick season, farm staff will point you in the direction of the best fruit, but visitors are also encouraged to explore on their own. The terrain here is hilly and rocky, and you might have to use a ladder to reach some of the apples, so it’s recommended that you wear comfortable, sturdy footwear.
You can also plan your visit around the sixth annual Apple Festival on Oct. 3-4, which features apple picking, apple pie, and freshly pressed apple cider. In total, the event will host about 20 food vendors, more than 70 arts and crafts vendors, and beer and wine from local breweries and wineries, plus live music, a petting zoo, face painting, and games.
Address: 236 Cottonwood Canyon Rd., La Luz
3. U-Pick Mesilla Valley Apples and Farm Fresh Apple Pie
Browse apples on hundreds of trees at U-Pick Mesilla Valley Apples and Farm Fresh Apple Pie in Las Cruces. Red Delicious and Jonathan apples are the most common varieties at this orchard. You can also purchase baked goods like apple pies and apple pie cookies.
The orchard recently posted that its 2026 apple-picking season was cut short, but it hopes to reopen next August.
Address: 2330 Shalem Colony Trl., Las Cruces
4. Hays Honey & Apple Farm
Hays Honey & Apple Farm typically grows apples in Bosque Farms, but the farm told us that it won’t have a crop in 2026 because of drought conditions. Keep this family farm on your radar for future fall apple-picking trips.
Address: 400 Esperanza Dr., Bosque Farms
Turn apple picking into a fall day trip
Since New Mexico’s apple orchards are spread out around the state and you might have to travel a decent distance to reach them, you might as well turn your visit into a full day of fall fun. Here are some other activities and attractions worth adding to your itinerary near each of the orchards mentioned above:
- Cadwallader Mountain Farms and Orchard: After picking apples in Mountain Park, continue up US 82 to see the Mexican Canyon Trestle, a historic wooden bridge. Then, spend the afternoon browsing the shops or getting a bite to eat on Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft.
- Nichols Ranch and Orchards: Pair your apple picking with a fall hike on the Salado Canyon trail, which will lead you through the Sacramento Mountains. Enjoy canyon scenery, a creek, and access to another historic bridge: the Salado Canyon Trestle.
- U-Pick Mesilla Valley Apples: If you’d prefer to turn apple picking into a leisurely afternoon rather than tack on a strenuous outdoor activity, head to historic Old Mesilla when you’re done at Mesilla Valley Apples. The area surrounding Mesilla Plaza is filled with adobe buildings, shops, galleries, and restaurants, with the beautiful Basilica of San Albino overlooking the plaza.
