Top Apple Orchards to Visit in Ellijay Georgia
Experience the charm of Ellijay's famous apple country — from a private cabin basecamp in the Tails Creek Valley
Best Apple Orchards Near Ellijay
Penland Orchards and Farm Market
A family-owned destination offering fresh-picked apples, homemade cider, and delectable pies. Penland Orchards features a charming farm market with local preserves, honey, and crafts. Perfect for families!
Red Apple Barn
A beloved Ellijay tradition, Red Apple Barn offers u-pick apples, fresh cider, and the best apple cider donuts in North Georgia. Their farm market features seasonal produce and locally made goods.
Bottoms Nursery
Known for their u-pick blueberries in summer and apples in fall, Bottoms Nursery offers a authentic farm experience with reasonable prices and friendly service.
Apple Picking Season in Ellijay
Apple season in Ellijay typically runs from late August through October, with different varieties ripening throughout the season. Early apples include Gala and Honeycrisp; peak season brings Fuji, Jonagold, and Granny Smith. The Georgia Apple Festival anchors the second weekend of October each year and draws the biggest crowds — book your North Georgia cabin rental at least eight weeks ahead for that weekend.
Plan the weekend around the cabin
An Ellijay apple-orchard weekend tends to follow the same rhythm: orchards in the morning before the heat, lunch in town, an afternoon at a winery or on the porch, fire pit at night. The cabin makes the rhythm work. You're close enough to the orchards to make multiple stops without re-packing, and far enough out that the evenings are actually quiet.
Read the full cabin amenities list to see what's stocked (the gourmet kitchen handles whatever apple pie ambitions you've got), or jump straight to the booking inquiry form — we respond within twenty-four hours. For the bigger weekend picture, see the perfect Ellijay weekend itinerary and the Blue Ridge weekend guide.
Georgia Apple Festival
Each October, Ellijay hosts the Georgia Apple Festival, a major annual event celebrating the region's apple heritage. The festival draws thousands of visitors with its craft fair, live music, and family activities.
Plan Your Apple Orchard Adventure
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