Orchards near Elburn, IL

Sycamore

Plank Rd Orchard grows 16 apple varieties, from early Gala to late-season Honeycrisp, and lets visitors pick their own during harvest. The farm store fills in around the apples with baked goods, honey, and small-batch jams and jellies. It's a straightforward u-pick operation on Plank Road outside Sycamore, doing what an orchard does well without much else attached.

Waterman

A family orchard in Waterman dating to 1965, growing 25 apple varieties across 2,100 trees at its main site plus 500 more at a second location. The 1880s barn on the property doubles as a gift and craft loft, and the farm also grows pick-your-own raspberries alongside cider donuts, caramel apples, and fresh pies.

Woodstock

Woodstock

All Seasons Orchard grows 16,000 apple trees outside Woodstock, Honeycrisp among the headliners, alongside a three-quarter-acre pumpkin and gourd patch. Cider donuts and caramel apples come hand-dipped on-site daily, and the grounds add a corn maze, zip line, and apple cannon on top of straightforward u-pick. The season runs late August through early November, open daily except Tuesdays, with barnyard access starting around $9.

Woodstock

Union

Prairie Sky Orchard has been growing apples on Union Road since 1991, when the current owners turned five empty acres into what's now roughly 2,800 dwarf trees across 14 varieties. Pick your own or buy pre-packaged, then stop at the barn store for cider donuts, jams, salsas, and u-bake pies. Asian pears and raspberries round out the harvest, and a weekend food kiosk adds hot dogs and pulled pork.

Union

Woodstock

Woodstock Country Orchard's old web domain has since been resold and no longer reflects the business, a sign this Garden Valley Road orchard may not be operating the way it once did. Anyone planning a visit should call ahead or check current McHenry County orchard listings before making the drive.

Woodstock

Lang's Orchard runs u-pick apples on Secor Road outside Woodstock, weather permitting — a cold snap during spring flowering has forced the orchard to sit out entire seasons rather than sell an off crop. The farm posts real-time picking updates on Facebook and keeps a small on-site store running when the trees cooperate.

Malta

Jonamac Orchard grows more than 30 apple varieties in Malta, from Honeycrisp to Fuji, and presses several into hard ciders and collaborative beers at its on-site Cider House. Fall adds a corn maze, animal barn, camel and pony rides, and a haunted maze after dark in October. The store and bakery run select days from 9am to 5:30pm, with campfire sites available by reservation.