Apple Season in North Georgia: Your Guide to Ellijay Apple Country 🍎
There are a lot of reasons we love fall in the North Georgia mountains.
Cool mornings. Changing leaves. Campfires. Mountain views. Hot tubs on chilly nights.
But around Ellijay, fall means something else too:
APPLE SEASON!
Ellijay isn't just a place where you can find a few apple orchards. It's known as the Apple Capital of Georgia, and apple season has become one of the biggest reasons people visit our corner of the North Georgia mountains every fall.
So grab a basket, bring your appetite, and let's explore Apple Country!
🍎 When Is Apple Season in North Georgia?
Georgia's apple season generally begins in late summer and continues well into fall, with September and October being prime time for orchard visits.
Most of Georgia's apples are grown right here in the North Georgia mountains, and Ellijay and Gilmer County are at the center of it all.
Different varieties ripen at different times, which means an orchard visit in September can be completely different from one in late October.
And that's part of the fun!
DFR TIP: If picking a specific variety is important to you, check with the orchard before heading out. What's available can change quickly throughout the season.
🍏 Where to Experience Apple Country
You could spend an entire weekend exploring the orchards around Ellijay.
B.J. Reece Orchards
One of Ellijay's best-known fall destinations, B.J. Reece offers U-Pick apples along with plenty of family activities.
Their 2026 U-Pick season runs seven days a week during September and October.
Depending on when you visit, you'll find apple picking, farm activities, a market and bakery, cider donuts, fried pies and plenty of opportunities to go home with considerably more food than you intended.
And that's exactly how an apple-orchard trip should end.
Hillcrest Orchards
Another Ellijay tradition, Hillcrest has been around since 1946.
In addition to picking apples, families can enjoy activities including wagon rides, a petting farm and even their famous swimming pig races.
Yes.
Swimming pigs.
Because apparently picking apples wasn't entertaining enough.
Don't leave without checking out the apple cider donuts, fritters and other goodies from the market.
Red Apple Barn
The Red Apple Barn has been family-owned since 1927 and offers another classic North Georgia fall experience.
Depending on the season and availability, visitors can enjoy apples, pumpkins, flowers, games and picnic areas.
Their market is also worth the stop for treats like apple fritters, candied apples, jams and other locally made goodies.
R & A Orchards
R & A Orchards started as an FFA school project in 1983 and has grown into more than 60 acres of apples.
In addition to their farm market, R & A offers seasonal apple picking and other farm experiences.
It's another great stop if you're making a day of exploring Highway 52 and Ellijay's Apple Country.
🎉 Don't Miss the Georgia Apple Festival
If you're visiting Ellijay during October, there's one event you need to know about.
The 55th Annual Georgia Apple Festival takes place October 10–11 and October 17–18, 2026.
The festival is held at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds and features more than 250 vendors, handmade arts and crafts, food, demonstrations and — naturally — plenty of apple goodies.
Festival hours are:
Saturday: 9 AM–6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM–5 PM
Admission is $10 for adults, and children under 12 are free.
One important note for our fellow dog people: pets are not allowed at the Georgia Apple Festival fairgrounds, with the exception of service animals.
🍎 There's Another Festival Downtown!
Here's something visitors sometimes miss.
During the same two weekends, Downtown Ellijay hosts the Apple Arts Festival.
It's a great excuse to spend some time downtown exploring local shops, restaurants and vendors.
Even better?
Admission is FREE and the downtown Apple Arts Festival is pet-friendly.
So if you're traveling with your four-legged family members, this may be the better festival option.
🍩 What Should You Eat?
This might actually be the most important section of this guide.
You can't come to Apple Country and simply eat an apple.
That's amateur hour.
You need to investigate:
🍎 Fresh-picked apples
🍩 Apple cider donuts
🥧 Fried apple pies
🍏 Apple fritters
🍎 Apple butter
🥤 Fresh cider
🍬 Candied apples
🥧 Apple dumplings
Our professional recommendation?
Calories consumed during apple season in the mountains don't count.
We're pretty sure that's science.
🏔️ Make a Weekend Out of It
Here's where North Georgia really shines.
You don't have to choose between an orchard trip and a mountain getaway.
Do both.
Spend the morning picking apples.
Explore Downtown Ellijay in the afternoon.
Grab dinner at a local restaurant.
Then head back to your cabin, light the fire, pour yourself something good and relax in the hot tub while the temperature drops.
Wake up the next morning, make some coffee, enjoy the mountain views and figure out what you're going to do with the ridiculous number of apples you bought the day before.
That's fall in North Georgia.
🍂 Come Experience Apple Season
Apple season doesn't last forever.
Neither does fall foliage.
That's part of what makes this time of year so special.
Whether you're coming for the Georgia Apple Festival, spending a day at the orchards or just looking for an excuse to escape to the mountains for a few days, October is one of our favorite times of year in North Georgia.
And we'd love to host you.
Find your cabin with DFR Cabin Collection and make Apple Country part of your next North Georgia mountain getaway.
🍎 Pick the apples.
🏔️ Explore the mountains.
🔥 Light the fire.
❤️ Make some memories.
We'll provide the cabin.
