Apple Picking from Temecula & Murrieta

It is closer than you think. Volcan Valley Apple Farm is about 53 miles from Temecula — roughly an hour and a quarter — and Highway 79 takes you almost the whole way.

Volcan Valley Apple Farm is a U-Pick apple orchard at 1284 Julian Orchards Drive, north of Julian in the San Diego County backcountry, about 53 miles and an hour and a quarter from Temecula and a few minutes more from Murrieta. State Route 79 runs south from Temecula through Aguanga and Warner Springs to Santa Ysabel and does nearly the entire drive on one road — no freeway after the first few minutes. It is a two-lane highway through open country, winding in places, so it rewards an unhurried pace rather than a fast one. At Santa Ysabel take Highway 78 east about three miles, turn left onto Wynola Road, and you reach the orchard without driving through downtown Julian at all. Most families make it a half day rather than a full one.

The drive, and what is worth stopping for

One road, four stops, and a turn at the end that most first-time visitors miss. Stops run north to south, in the order you meet them.

From Temecula & Murrieta

Highway 79 South · ~1 hour 15 minutes direct
Open the whole route in Google Maps
  1. 1
    Sky Sailing — Warner Springs Gliderport

    Right on the 79, about halfway. A family-run sailplane operation flying out of Warner Springs since 1959 — you get towed up and released, and the whole flight is silent. Worth stopping even just to watch the launches from the fence line.

  2. 2
    Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve — Highway 79 trailhead

    A free county preserve most visitors drive straight past, with the staging area on the east side of the 79 just south of the old mission. Oak woodland and open grassland, gentle and wide underfoot — a good leg-stretch before the last twenty minutes of the drive.

  3. 3
    Dudley's Famous Bakery & Cafe

    A San Diego County institution since 1963, at the junction where the 79 meets the 78. Famous breads, pastries and sandwiches. Everyone stops at Dudley's. It's the law.

  4. 4
    Julian Pie Company (Santa Ysabel)

    The less crowded outpost, a minute further on. Same legendary pies as the Main Street shop without the Main Street queue — which matters more on the way home than on the way out.

  5. 🍎
    Volcan Valley Apple Farm

    Turn onto Wynola Road off the 78 and you reach the orchard without driving through downtown Julian at all — the farm sits north of town, so coming from this direction it arrives first.

Three things worth knowing before you set off

Highway 79 is the whole route — you barely touch the freeway
From Temecula you pick up State Route 79 south and stay on it through Aguanga, roughly nineteen miles and half an hour out, then on past Warner Springs to Santa Ysabel. It is two lanes most of the way and genuinely winding in stretches, which is the appeal rather than the drawback — but it is not a road to hurry on, and the drive is a real part of the day rather than something to get through.
Turn at Wynola Road and skip downtown Julian entirely
Coming from the north you reach Santa Ysabel first. Take Highway 78 east for about three miles, then turn left onto Wynola Road and follow it roughly three miles to Julian Orchards Drive. Because the orchard sits a few miles north of town, this approach brings you to the farm before Julian rather than after it — you never drive through the town center unless you want to. Coming from most other directions you would.
It is a half-day trip, not a full one
An hour and a quarter each way, plus the hour or two most families spend picking, means you can leave Temecula or Murrieta after breakfast and be home well before dinner. If you would rather stretch it out, the stops above are what turn the drive into the day — and the other five routes to the orchard cover the longer, more scenic approaches.

Before you go

Visiting & Hours

When is U-Pick season, and when does it usually open?
The 2026 season opened Sunday, September 6. Chris has since walked the orchard and set the rest of the season from what is actually on the trees: we are open every Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM — September 19, September 26, October 3, October 10 and October 17 — running into mid-October for as long as the apples last. We are closed Monday through Friday, and we open a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. Each week we confirm the coming Saturday on the banner at the top of this website and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
What are your hours?
When we are open it is 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Last bags are handed out at 4:30 PM and the gates close at 5:00 PM. We are closed Monday through Friday. For the rest of this season we are open every Saturday — September 19, September 26, October 3, October 10 and October 17 — and a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. Each week we confirm the coming Saturday on the banner at the top of this website and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
When will you open this season — do you know the exact date yet?
Our season opened Sunday, September 6, 2026, and we are CLOSED Labor Day Monday, September 7 — opening day was busier than expected and the ripe apples were picked out. For the rest of the season we are open every Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM: September 19, September 26, October 3, October 10 and October 17, for as long as the apples last. We open a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. Each week we confirm the coming Saturday on the banner at the top of this website and in The Cider Press, our email newsletter.
Are you open on weekdays?
No — we are closed Monday through Friday. For the rest of the 2026 season we pick on Saturdays, and we open a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. Fridays were part of the plan earlier in the season and are not any more, so please do not plan a Friday visit.
Are you open Labor Day weekend?
No — we are CLOSED on Labor Day Monday, September 7. The orchard and the farm stand are both closed that day. We opened Sunday, September 6, and the day brought a much bigger crowd than we expected; essentially all of the ripe fruit was picked. The apples still on the trees need more time. We are sorry for the change. We are open every Saturday for the rest of the season, starting Saturday, September 19, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Do I need a reservation?
No — we don't take reservations at all, so there is nothing to book and nothing to arrange. Apple picking is first come, first served for everyone, and the rule is the same for a large group as it is for one family. We have come close to our capacity limit, but we have never actually had to turn anyone away, so you are not racing anyone for a spot. Just arrive during our open hours (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM) on a day we are open and pay admission and your bag at the gate.
Can a large group make a reservation?
No — we don't take reservations, and that includes every kind of group: school and homeschool classes, scout troops, church and club outings, birthday parties and large families. It is one rule for everybody, so nobody has to ask and nobody gets a different answer. Apple picking is first come, first served. Large groups are genuinely welcome and we see them often — you won't face queuing or crowding if you arrive in the morning during our open hours. Come as you are, pay admission and your bag at the gate, and pick alongside everyone else.
How long does a visit take?
Most families spend 1–2 hours picking apples and enjoying the orchard. You are welcome to stay and have a picnic at our tables.
What time should we arrive to avoid the crowds?
Arriving right at 9:00 AM gives you a quiet orchard for the first hour before it fills up, and the last couple of hours before closing (3:00 to 4:30 PM) are usually calm as well. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is the peak. We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. We can never guarantee it — a perfect autumn day brings everyone up the hill at once.
When should we visit if we want a quieter experience?
We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday, so the quiet is in the hours rather than the day. The calmest stretches are the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM and the last couple of hours before closing, from about 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is our busiest. A quieter hour also gives you a better chance of catching Chris, our lead farmer, for a short talk and some questions — though we cannot promise her time, since the orchard has a way of making other plans.
Any tips for making the most of our visit?
Take it slow — it can be a hot day, and the orchard is a far nicer place at a wander than at a march. Start with the samples at the gate so you know which varieties you actually like before you fill a bag. And do ask a farm hand for picking tips: they know which rows are at their best that morning, and they will happily show you how to take an apple off the tree without bruising it or hurting next year's bud.
Why were you closed for part of last season?
Some years the fruit simply is not ready all at once. Our varieties ripen in a stagger, and in a slow year the later ones need more time on the tree — we would rather pause than send people into rows that are not worth picking. That is what happened last season: we picked into mid-September, waited, and opened again for a weekend in early October once the late varieties came on. It is not the usual shape of a season, but it does happen, and it is always the apples deciding rather than us. If we ever do it again we will say so on the website and in The Cider Press, the same way we announce opening day.
When is the orchard least crowded?
The last couple of hours before closing (3:00 to 4:30 PM) are usually calm, and arriving right at 9:00 AM gives you a quiet orchard for the first hour before it fills up. Late morning, roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, is the peak. We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday. We can never guarantee it — a perfect autumn day brings everyone up the hill at once.
Why is the farm closed on weekdays?
Our staff uses those days to repair the damage from the previous weekend, prune branches that have grown into the rows, and prepare for the following weekend. For the rest of the 2026 season we pick on Saturdays, with a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday, and with 10 acres of trees there is always room.
What is the best day and time for a smaller crowd?
We are open Saturdays for the rest of the season, and a Sunday only when we announce that Sunday, so the choice is really about the hour rather than the day. The smallest crowds are in the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM, and again after 2:00 PM. On a quiet morning you also stand a better chance of meeting Chris, our apple farmer, if she is not out tending to something urgent.
Should we come early in the season or later?
<p>Neither is better — they are different, and it comes down to which apples you want. September usually brings Jonathan, Empire and Gala. Gala is sweet and mild and tends to be the children’s favorite; Empire is crisp and juicy; Jonathan is sweet-tart and bold. Fuji and Golden Delicious usually follow from September into October, and Pippin comes last in October — Pippin is our classic pie apple, so if you are baking it is worth coming later for. Good fresh-eating apples turn up across the whole season, so you are not choosing between eating and baking, only between varieties. Whenever you come there is a mix on the ground, because the apples on one tree do not all ripen at once — some are ready at the start and others come on over the following weekends. Two other things worth knowing: the orchard is a full green canopy from mid-September and the leaves do not turn until late October, and the first hour after we open at 9:00 AM is comfortably the quietest part of any day. Exact timing varies with the year and the weather, so check the homepage or The Cider Press newsletter the week before, or email us and we will tell you where we stand.</p>
Are you open the weekend of September 12 and 13?
We were closed that weekend — Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13. Opening weekend brought a much bigger crowd than we expected and the fruit that was ready went home with it, and what was left on the trees needed more days to size up and to build its sugars. We are back open from Saturday, September 19, and then every Saturday for the rest of the season, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Pricing & Admission

How much does it cost?
Admission is $5 per person for everyone over 5 — children 5 and under are free with a paying adult. Picking bags are separate at $20 each and hold about 6–7 pounds of apples, roughly a dozen medium apples. Only one bag needs to be purchased per group, so the rest of your party can walk the rows, taste the varieties and help pick for just the price of admission. Extra bags are available at the gate if you want more apples than one holds.
Are kids free?
Yes! Children 5 and under enter free of charge with a paying adult. Everyone over 5 pays the $5 admission.
How big are the U-Pick bags?
Each bag holds approximately 6–7 pounds of apples, which is about a dozen medium-sized apples.
Does everyone in my group need to buy a bag?
No — only one bag needs to be purchased per group. Everyone over 5 pays the $5 admission, and then your whole party can share a single $20 bag while everyone walks the rows, tastes the varieties, and helps pick. Most of our groups do exactly that. If you would like more apples than one bag holds, extra bags are available at the gate.
Do you offer group discounts?
No group rate is available. Admission is $5 per person for everyone over 5, and picking bags are $20 each. Bags are priced per bag rather than per person, so your group buys however many bags you want to fill rather than one per person.
Do you offer discounts for veterans, military, or first responders?
We are not offering a veteran, first responder, or active military discount this season. We are sorry to disappoint anyone who was hoping for one, and we are grateful for your service. Admission is $5 per person for everyone over 5. Children 5 and under are free with a paying adult, and picking bags are $20 each. Only one bag needs to be bought per group, so the rest of your party can walk the rows, taste the varieties and help pick for just the price of admission.
Do you offer presale tickets for apple picking?
No, we do not offer presale. Apple picking is first come, first served.

Policies & Amenities

Can I bring my dog?
Yes! We are dog-friendly. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. We provide waste bags and water bowls around the orchard.
Is the orchard stroller-friendly?
Yes! Our wide orchard rows easily accommodate strollers and wagons. The trellis system keeps trees at a reachable height, making it great for families with young children.
Do you use pesticides or chemicals?
No. We grow our apples without chemicals. Our orchard is chemical-free, so you can feel good about what you are picking.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and water. Picking bags are sold at the gate, so there is no need to bring your own containers. Shaded picnic tables are available if you would like to bring a lunch.
Are there picnic tables or places to sit?
Yes, we have picnic tables available for visitors. Feel free to bring a lunch and enjoy the orchard setting.
Do you sell food or drinks on site?
Yes! At our own booth we have cold apple cider, cold water, and farm and apple-themed goods including our Cleanpunk apple soaps. Savage Bee'ches joins us with their honey and is our apple cider vendor this season. We also often see Julian barbecue, a lemonade stand and a much-loved Mexican food truck — those come as their own schedules allow, so treat them as a happy bonus rather than a plan. There are shaded picnic tables if you would rather bring a basket of your own.
Can I count on the food truck being there on a particular day?
The food trucks run their own schedules and don't inform us when they will or will not be there, so we can't promise them on any particular weekend. Treat them as a happy bonus rather than a plan. There are many great places to eat or get takeout in Julian and on the way to Julian.
Which food vendors will be at the farm this season?
Two are confirmed for this season. Savage Bee’ches joins us with their honey and is our apple cider vendor. Victor brings his lemonade, churros and nachos — Saturdays are our busiest day and the churros and nachos sometimes sell out well before closing, so come early if you have your heart set on them. Other food trucks visit as well, but we are not always told in advance which ones will come or on which weekends, so treat anyone beyond those two as a happy bonus rather than a plan. If you would rather bring your own, we have shaded picnic tables — and Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel is a good stop for sandwiches on the way up.
Do you sell firewood?
Yes, we sell applewood firewood and smoking wood. Ask at the farm stand during your visit.
Do we need a ladder, or is the fruit too high for children to reach?
No ladders needed — that is the whole point of trellis growing. Our trees are trained on trellises so the fruit hangs at arm's height, which means children can pick their own and nobody has to climb or strain. The rows are labeled by variety, so you always know what you are picking.
How do you announce mid-season closures if the harvest pauses?
We don't schedule pauses in advance — they happen when the trees need time to catch up, and we often know only ten days or so ahead ourselves. The website is always the first place we post any closure. If you are planning a visit and want to check on current conditions, we welcome you to email us the week before your visit and we will give you an exact update on where we stand.
Can I bring a photographer to take pictures during my visit?
Yes, you're welcome to hire a photographer and bring them along. Your photographer pays regular admission, same as any other guest. We can't hold, close, or reserve any part of the orchard — we're open to the public that day and the rows stay open to everyone. We ask that you not ask other guests to move, wait, or step out of the shot, since everybody bought the same morning you did. In practice, the orchard is large with long rows, and most folks are looking down at their own baskets rather than at you. If you want the quietest rows, arrive right at 9:00 AM when we open.
Do you offer field trips or group educational programs?
We don't have a formal field trip program, and we don't book school, homeschool or scout groups — it is the same first come, first served rule we keep for everybody. Our season is short and every hand is needed on the days we can open, so there is nobody free to run a program alongside the picking. What that means is simpler than booking: bring your group during our open hours, pay admission and your bag at the gate, and pick alongside everyone else. If you would like calmer rows, arrive right at 9:00 AM — the first hour is the quietest part of the day. Young pickers are always welcome in the orchard.
Do you offer field trips or group educational programs?
We do not offer group or field trip experiences. We have a very short season and must focus on staffing during this period. We do welcome groups of many sizes on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like a less trafficked experience for your group, arrive right at 9:00 AM — the first hour is comfortably the quietest part of the day. On a quiet morning you also stand a better chance of asking if Chris, our lead farmer, is available for a short Q&A and apple picking demonstration, though we cannot commit to her availability as competing priorities in the orchard are relentless.
Can a large group buy just one bag and share it?
We ask that large groups do not buy a single bag and then snack their way through the orchard. It is not respectful or ethical, and losses like that are what put these unique experiences out of business. Each group should purchase bags according to how much they intend to pick.
Can a Girl Scout troop visit the farm?
Yes, we welcome Girl Scout troops during our u-pick harvests. We do not have a formal program with dedicated time for an extended farmer interaction, since our harvest season is very short and we must focus on harvest tasks to keep the orchard open. That said, if you ask any staff member about Chris (our lead farmer) when you arrive, she will make time if at all possible, depending on her competing priorities that day.
Will the orchard be open if it rains?
Light to moderate rain does not close the orchard. We only close the gates when lightning strikes are a threat or when rain is so heavy that mud becomes a danger to guests. There are no covered areas in the orchard, so we encourage you to bring a poncho or a rain jacket — they keep your hands free for picking and they will not catch on the branches as you move down the rows. If you would rather bring an umbrella, please be mindful of it around the trees. Our fruit hangs at arm’s height on the trellises, and it is easy to knock good apples to the ground on the way down a row without noticing.
Can I bring my cat to the orchard?
A cat on a leash or in a carrier is okay. We encourage you not to bring the cat out unrestrained at any time. The orchard is large and an unrestrained cat could trigger reactive dogs or cause other safety issues faster than staff could respond.
Are there restrooms at the farm?
Yes. We have hand washing stations and handicap-accessible restrooms on site, along with portable facilities.

Contact & Directions

Where is the farm located?
We are at 1284 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian, CA 92036. That is 2.4 miles north of downtown Julian, near Menghini Winery.
How do I get there from San Diego?
From San Diego, take I-8 East to Highway 79 North toward Julian. Continue through Julian and we are 2.4 miles north of downtown on Julian Orchards Drive, near Menghini Winery. The drive is about 60–75 minutes from central San Diego.
What is your phone number?
You can reach us at (760) 823-8822.
What is your email address?
You can email us at harvest@volcanvalleyapple.farm.
How do I get to the farm from Los Angeles, Orange County, or Riverside?
Come down I-15 South and then cut east toward Julian. We are at 1284 Julian Orchards Drive, 2.4 miles north of downtown Julian, near Menghini Winery. It is a long drive but a pretty one, and our Plan Your Trip page lays out the whole route with stops worth making on the way, including Old Town Temecula and Bates Nut Farm.
How do I get there from Oceanside or North County?
Take Highway 78 East and follow it toward Julian. We are at 1284 Julian Orchards Drive, 2.4 miles north of downtown Julian, near Menghini Winery. Our Plan Your Trip page has the full run with good stops along the way, including Mission San Luis Rey and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Is there a less winding route if someone in the car gets carsick?
Yes. The mountain roads into Julian are winding, and if motion sickness is a concern we suggest the longer route via Ramona on Highway 78 rather than the shorter climb.

See all 73 questions we get asked · See the seven apple varieties we grow

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(760) 823-8822