A few decades ago, pears were the primary crop in the central Sierra Nevada foothills. A fungus called pear decline decimated the region's orchards beginning in the 1950s.
Local ranchers slowly recovered, replacing their pears with apples. Today an organization of some 50 ranches feature not only apples, but homemade goodies such as apple pies and fresh-squeezed juice.
Located in and around Camino just east of Placerville, there's plenty here for families. Come on an autumn weekend and you'll find apples, pumpkins, pony rides, crafts and music. Several award-winning wineries call Apple Hill home. After Thanksgiving, thousands of families come here to cut their Christmas trees.
Apple Hill Directory
| Name | Address | Telephone |
| Abels Apple Acres | 2345 Carson Road, Placerville CA |
(530) 626-0138 |
| Apple Hill Growers' Association | P. O. Box 494, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-7692 |
| Apple Pantry Farm/Hidden Valley Orchard | 2300 Hidden Valley Lane, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 295-1001 |
| Argyres Orchard | 4220 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-3862 |
| Barsotti Juice Company | 2239 Hidden Valley Lane, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 622-4629 |
| Bavarian Hills Orchard | 3100 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 642-2714 |
| Bill's Apples & Felice's Dolls | 2234 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-5283 |
| Boa Vista Orchards | 2952 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 622-5522 |
| Bodhaine Ranch | 2333 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-1686 |
| Boeger Winery | 1709 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 622-8094 |
| Bolster's Hilltop Ranch | 2000 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-2230 |
| Cardanini Pumpkin Patch | 2655 High Hill Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 644-2140 |
| Crystal Creek Tree Farm | 2019 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-4647 or 644-7014 |
| Denver Dan's | 4344 Bumble Bee Lane, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-644-6881 |
| Double J Ranch | 2581 Mace Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 647-0111 |
| Smokey Riadge Ranch- Ench Family | 2160 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 626-5078 |
| El Dorado Orchards | 2881 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 642-1222 |
| Fenton Herriott Vineyards | 120 Jacquier Court, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 642-2021 |
| Fudge Factory Farm | 2680 High Hill Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 644-3492 |
| Goldbud Farms | 2501 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 626-6521 |
| Goodness Orchard | 4341 Pony Express Trail, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-6448 |
| Grandpa's Cellar | 2360 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-2153 (bake shop) 644-0611 (store) 903-6611 (tours) |
| Hangtown Kids Apple Orchard | 2598 Mace Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 647-1810 |
| High Hill Ranch | 2901 High Hill Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 644-1973 |
| High Sierra Iris Gardens | 3710 Hassler Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 642-1222 |
| Honey Bear Ranch | 2826 Barkley Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-3934 |
| Jack Russell Farm Brewery | 2380 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-4722 |
| Kids Inc. | 3245 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 622-0184 (pie shop) 644-0358 (owners |
| Larsen Apple Barn | 2461 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-1415 |
| Lava Cap Winery | 2221 Fruitridge Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 621-0175, 621-1660 |
| Madroña Vineyards | 2560 High Hill Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-5948 |
| Marvin Larsen Ranch | 2721 Mace Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-2475, 644-1396 |
| Mill View Ranch | 2740 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-4408 |
| Mother Lode Orchards | 4341 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-5101, 644-1914 |
| O'Halloran's Apple Trail Ranch | 2261 Cable Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-3389 |
| ParaVi Vineyards-Formerly Primus Vineyards | 2875 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 647-WINE (9463) |
| Patrick's Mtn. Grown Berry Farm | 4455 Pony Express Trail, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 647-0613, 644-1761 |
| Pine O'Mine | 2620 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 344-0288 |
| Plubell Family Orchards | 1800 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-1761 |
| Rainbow Orchards | 2569 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-1594 |
| Ralph's Apple Ranch | 2209 Larsen Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-4038 |
| Smokey Ridge Ranch-Ench Family | 2160 Carson Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 626-5078 |
| Sun Mountain Farm | 2000 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 621-3740 |
| Thomas Mountain Organic Farm | Corner of Larsen Road and Hartwick Drive, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 621-3740 |
| Three Elves Farm | 2550 Mill Valley Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-1870 |
| Willow Pond Farm | 2731 Jacquier Road, Placerville CA 95667 | (530) 295-8090 |
| Wofford Acres Vineyards | 1900 Hidden Valley Lane, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 626-6858 |
Christmas Tree Farms |
||
| Harris Tree Farm | 2640 Blair Road, Pollock Pines CA | (530) 644-2194 |
| Hillside Tree Farm | 2881 North Canyon Road, Camino CA 95709 | |
| Rapetti Farms | 2585 Fruitridge Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530 622-7229 |
| Robert's Christmas Tree Farm | 5645 Gilmore Road, Pollock Pines CA | (530) 644-2831 |
| Santa's Acres | 2921 Barkley Road, Camino CA 95709 | (530) 644-2865 |
An apple a day DOES keep the doctor away. Apples contain ample quantities of anti-oxidants. Eating apples improves lung function, slows certain forms of cancers, reduces blood-clotting, and reduces incidence of heart disease in women. Credit the anti-oxidant known as procyanidins, also abundant in chocolate and red wine. These anti-oxidants are most concentrated in the skins of the apples.