Apple Hill (El Dorado County) · fall harvest
Apple Hill (El Dorado County)
Apple Hill is a foothill collective of more than 30 orchards and farms plus nearly a dozen wineries in the towns of Camino, Placerville and Pollock Pines, midway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Per Visit California, apple-picking season lasts from late August to early November, with pumpkin U-pick each October and varieties such as Granny Smith and Gala. A hard-cider trail and wine tasting round out the harvest experience, so an RV base lets you sample bakeries and tasting rooms without worrying about the drive home. It is one of the West's best-known fall agritourism clusters.
Harvest window
Apple-picking season runs late August to early November; pumpkin U-pick each October
Crops & activities
U-pick apples & pumpkins · Granny Smith & Gala apples · Wineries & hard-cider tasting · 30+ orchards and farms
Where
Foothill towns of Camino, Placerville and Pollock Pines, El Dorado County, between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, California
Nearest RV base
Sly Park Recreation Area at Jenkinson Lake near Pollock Pines (about 5-6 miles off Highway 50) - a year-round area with roughly 190 campsites across multiple campgrounds; the Hilltop camp accommodates some larger RVs (an EID/county-managed recreation area, RVs up to about 40 ft, not full-hookup resort camping).
Plan it honestly
Peak ripeness shifts with the season's weather and is never guaranteed, so confirm what's ready before you climb the hill. Each orchard, bakery and winery is a private business with its own hours and fees - confirm before you go. Apple Hill weekends draw heavy traffic, so plan arrivals early.
Plan the route with the official agritourism source: Visit California (official state travel site) .