Apple Hill
Orchard · California
El Dorado County's Apple Hill district strings dozens of family orchards, cider presses, and pie stands along Carson Road above Placerville, a Sierra foothill harvest tradition since the 1960s, running weekends from September through December.
Don’t miss
Color nearby peaks: October 31–November 4
Color builds from October 16 · mostly bare by November 24
Sampled at Apple Hill’s own coordinates and elevation (863 m) rather than a regional average.
74 weather points cover California, and the model shifts their answer 3 days later, which is what it takes to match 3 published peak dates from monocounty.org and explorefall.com. This year's weather has the peak running 1 day later than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Apple Hill
Good color holds through about November 11, giving you roughly 26 days from the first turn to past peak. Against California overall, that is 14 days earlier. Height explains the gap, since this sits at 2,831 ft. It sits at 2,831 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.
From Sacramento it is about 43 mi, close enough for a morning drive.
Apple Hill on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of California, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in California
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
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Frequently asked
- When does Apple Hill peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 31–November 4 (best estimate November 2). Color starts around October 16 and is mostly bare by November 24.
- How do I get to Apple Hill?
- The closest city is Sacramento, about 43 mi away. It's part of California's fall lineup.
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