Mt. View is built for kids, with a play area and weekend apple cider doughnuts—September and October only—without becoming a full-on circus. As far as apple varieties go, you’ll find more than 125, depending on the season; that includes many of the usual suspects (Honeycrisp, Fuji, McIntosh) as well as some heirlooms, like Pink Pearl, Gravenstein, and Tokyo Rose. Yes, the orchard is certainly family friendly, but Mt. View is also a fun spot to taste hard ciders, beers, and even wines, served in the onsite Grateful Vineyard tasting room. 

Best for: Farm stand, apple cider doughnuts, mountain views

Draper Girls Country Farm can be the busiest orchard on this list—a testament to how lovely the farm is. Regulars hoping to avoid the crowds visit on weekdays, where they traipse and fill buckets among the rows of Macs, Honeycrisp, and Tokyo Rose trees. Draper Girls has developed a reputation for its exceptional ciders, both nonalcoholic and hard; the latter is available to taste in a flight, sip as a glass, or take home in a growler with an apple haul. Kids love to hit up the mountain-view tree swing, or feed the farm’s family of goats. 

best for: cider tasting, farm stand, Mountain views

With 360-degree views of Hood, Adams, and Rainier, Kiyokawa is worth visiting for the scenery alone. The family-run business is a tight operation, with maps and well-informed staff to help you find the right tree. That’s important, since Kiyokawa has more than 150 varieties grown on-site, including hard-to-find Winter Banana, Manchurian Crabapples, and Ruby Jon. Keep an eye out for events, which run the gamut from mariachi bands and Mexican food trucks to hayrides and apple tasting.

best for: Farm stand, play area, events

No ladders necessary: This Beaverton u-pick orchard keeps its fruit trees short, so toddlers can get in on the fun and no top-branch Gravensteins or Braeburns go to waste. Bell’s is generally pretty mellow, with a sweet red farmhouse and a picnic area for a sack lunch at the orchard. Picking times can be relatively limited; it’s best to check the orchard’s Facebook or website for updated hours and varieties. 

best for: short trees, kid-friendly, wagons provided

This Tualatin Valley orchard has existed since the 1860s and is a designated u-pick-only orchard offering 70 varieties of apples. If you can’t find something, Charles Poindexter, the farm’s owner, is often on-hand for direction. Apple hunters, this is the place to cross off your bucket-list varietals: Tydeman’s Red, Spitzenburg, and Wolf River are just some of the rare apples growing here. 

best for: u-pick plums and quince, limited crowds (Bring your own container)

The low-key Fordyce orchard is a favorite among Mid-Valley families, who dig its inexpensive u-pick setup ($1 per pound) and its limited-but-distinctive selection (October’s apple crop includes Karmijn de Sonnaville, a deeply flavorful Dutch cross of Jonathan and Cox’s Orange Pippin). Kids can tackle the nearby corn maze, while parents supplement their apple haul with Asian pears, pumpkins, or sunflowers, depending on the season. Lingering warm days may call for a post-pick milkshake. 

Best for: Kid-friendly, farm stand (bring your own Container)

One of the mid-Valley’s top u-pick apple orchards, True North apples sometimes ripen later than trees in the Mount Hood area, ideal for procrastinators and those hoping to pick through late October. For u-pick, you’ll find the standards here—Jonagolds, Pink Lady, Granny Smith—as well as other pick-your-own fruits, like plums, grapes, and pears. True North stocks its general store with cider, juice, and preserves made with the orchard’s fruit, as well as a range of antiques straight out of a Laura Ingalls Wilder kitchen. If the pick runs late, order a pint of carbonated cider and grab a seat near the campfire, when seasonally appropriate.

best for: Picnic area, general store, honey