U-pick and Hike

Apple Picking and Hiking in Oak Glen

Great apples don’t just grow on trees. Oh, wait—of course they do! Some of the most delicious anywhere grow on trees high up in the San Bernardino Mountains in the town of Oak Glen, where Los Rios Rancho, So Cal’s largest historic apple ranch, grows 32 varieties, all completely organic. Stroll row after row of apple trees, filling bags with apples such as jonagold, spartan, red delicious, and gala, all while admiring sweeping views of the Inland Empire over a mile below.

After picking all the apples you want, head into the Oak Glen Preserve, home of the Southern California Montane Botanic Garden, to do some hiking! More than 1,600 plant species flourish here in the most botanically diverse range of its size in the U.S.

Enter through a vibrant path lined with sunflowers, stopping by the information booth to pick up a trail map along the way. An easy 2-mile trail circles the entire preserve, but can be extended to 4.8 miles if you follow the various spurs. Seeing the colorful leaves on the trees is an added bonus in autumn. Hike through oak woodland, conifer forest, chaparral, grasslands, wetlands, and riparian habitats. Be sure to check out the Red-Wind Pond and the Conifers of California grove.

After your hike, visit the farm kitchen just across the parking lot. Grab a barbecue lunch, or bring your own picnic and loll on the large lawn while listening to live music. The Farm Store sells all sorts of homemade apple treats made, of course, from apples grown on-site (their apple pies are to die for). Be sure to try the apple cider—each gallon contains juice from at least three different varieties of apples! You can even try your hand at pressing your own cider, and there’s cider of the alcoholic variety available as well, produced right there at Los Rios Rancho. As they say, an apple a day!

BONUS PUMPKINS: U-pick pumpkins are available Thursdays through Sundays, while they last.

Los Rios Rancho at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen is located at 39611 Oak Glen Rd., off the I-10 near Yucaipa. From the I-10, take Exit 85 onto Oak Glen Rd., turn left, and continue 11 miles; the Farm Kitchen and Oak Glen Preserve are on the left, the orchards on the right. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View