Agritourism & Farm Experiences near Julian, CA

Julian

Planted by the Farmer family — the namesake of Julian's Farmers Road — this certified organic orchard grows about 1,000 apple and pear trees across 8 of its 28 acres. Open Friday through Sunday during apple season, visitors fill a bag for $25 (about 10-12 lbs), with a second bag at $15.

Julian

Apples and Art Orchards grows apples on Julian Orchards Drive, in the mountain district that built Julian's reputation as San Diego County's apple town. The name points to an orchard pairing its fruit stand with an art or craft element, though no public listing confirms current hours or varieties.

Julian

O'Dell's grows pears under organic practices on Julian Orchards Drive, in the mountain district that made Julian famous for apples. Pears are a less common crop for the area's cool, roughly 4,000-foot elevation, which more typically favors apple varieties. No public schedule confirms current u-pick hours.

Julian

Menghini Winery has poured wine in the apple-orchard hills above Julian since 1982, making it the second-oldest winery in San Diego County. Owners Mike and Toni Menghini pour a lineup that includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, and their house Julian Gold blend. The tasting room is open Monday and Friday 11am-4pm, and weekends 11am-5pm; closed Tuesday through Thursday.

Julian

Volcan Valley Apple Farm grows apples on Julian Orchards Drive in Julian, the Cuyamaca Mountains town built around its fall apple harvest and pie shops. Specific varieties, u-pick hours, and cider offerings weren't confirmed online.

Julian

Crosscut Farm and Orchard is on Farmer Road in Julian, California, in the apple-growing mountain country of San Diego County's Cuyamaca range, high enough in elevation for the cold-winter chill apple trees need.

Julian

Old Peacefield Orchard is on Wynola Road in Julian, California, in San Diego County's mountain apple country. Julian built its identity around apple orchards and pie shops after its 1870s gold-rush boom gave way to agriculture.

Julian

Apple Lane Orchard sits in Julian, the Cuyamaca Mountain town that built its identity on apples after gold-rush-era settlers planted the first orchards in the 1870s. Local growers here run u-pick weekends and sell fresh cider and pie through the fall harvest. No verified specifics on this orchard's current varieties or hours turned up online this session.

Julian

Julian Mining Company runs gold-panning and gem-sluicing on a working claim outside Julian — $35 buys a paydirt bucket you keep the gold from, $20 and up gets you a gem bucket. The property also has ore-cart train rides, a remote-control boat pond, axe throwing, a pirate treasure dig, and apple picking, plus 4th-grade Gold Rush field trips it's run for 18 years. Open weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Santa Ysabel

Julian Farm & Orchard grows apples, pears, pumpkins, and berries on a Wynola property three miles from downtown Julian, with u-pick apple tours by reservation and fresh-pressed cider, cider slushies, and whole pies sold on site. The farm also runs an animal-sanctuary petting zoo, hayrides, a haybale maze, and axe throwing, with Harvest Fest through September and October and Daffodil Days each spring.

Julian

Sentenac Ranch sits on 160 acres about two miles outside historic Julian, where visitors pick their own apples and pumpkins each fall. The ranch also runs Sentenac Cattle Company, a small cattle operation founded in 2010. Julian's mountain orchards typically run later into the season than the valley farms below San Diego. Call ahead before making the drive up the mountain.

Julian

Calico Ranch is a working apple and pear orchard on Highway 78 in Julian, California, paired with the on-site Calico Cidery. U-pick picking has been closed in recent seasons because of drought, but the cidery still pours tastings and runs tours through the orchard. It's one of the working orchards behind Julian's reputation as Southern California's mountain apple-growing town.

Ramona

Family-owned pumpkin patch on Highway 78 in the San Diego County backcountry, running for about 30 years. Free admission gets you into the corn maze, petting zoo, and corn cannon, and the ranch switches over to selling Christmas trees in December.

Santa Ysabel

Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures sits on Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel, in the oak-studded backcountry of San Diego County's Cuyamaca foothills, historic stagecoach and ranching country between Julian and the coast. The name points to a Western-themed agritourism operation. No further confirmed details on activities, hours, or admission.

Ramona

A seasonal fall pumpkin patch in the Ramona area of San Diego County's wine-country backcountry, roughly 30 minutes northeast of downtown San Diego. Like most patches in the region, expect pick-your-own pumpkins and family activities concentrated in the weeks around October. Current operator and hours weren't confirmable online this round.

California

Harbour Farm & Vineyard is on Highway 67 in Ramona, inside the Ramona Valley AVA, a designated wine-grape appellation in San Diego County's inland backcountry. No further confirmed details on what Harbour Farm grows, bottles, or sells directly.

Ramona

Farmhouse Getaways rents out two agritourism properties in Ramona: the four-acre Red Barn Ranch, with a pool, on-site market, game barn, and farm animals, and the eight-acre Mountain Retreat, with hiking trails and a private hot tub. Both operate as eco-focused vacation stays for individuals, families, and events like weddings and reunions.

El Cajon

Summer's Past Farms grows fields of lavender and herbs in the foothills of Flinn Springs, east of El Cajon, alongside a nursery, gift shop, and espresso bar. The family farm runs soap-making workshops and seasonal events, including Lavender Day, an antique and craft fair, and a fall pumpkin patch. It's open Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission.

Ramona

Shadow Creek Ranch is on Mussey Grade Road in Ramona, in San Diego County's inland backcountry. The Ramona Valley grows citrus, avocados, and a growing share of wine grapes under the Ramona Valley AVA, and horse and cattle ranches still work the hillier ground around town.

Lakeside

Oma's Pumpkin Patch runs each fall on the grounds of Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside, a working dairy in San Diego County's East County backcountry. Dairies opening a side patch alongside milking operations each October is a longstanding pattern out this way. No verified specifics on this year's crop, hours, or activities turned up online this session — worth a call before the drive.

San Diego

Wholesome Heritage Farms Pumpkin Patch operates on San Pasqual Road in the San Pasqual Valley, a working agricultural valley east of San Diego known for its dairies and seasonal farm stands. As the name suggests, it's a fall pumpkin-patch operation. No hours, admission, or contact details are posted online yet.

Aguanga

Genesis Farms grew beets, carrots, peppers, herbs, and flowers on Dove Drive in Aguanga using natural growing practices, with farm animals on-site. Directory listings mark the operation as permanently closed as of 2025.

Escondido

Fran's Original Farm Stand operates on Summit Drive in Escondido, part of inland San Diego County's citrus and avocado belt. No working website, social page, or product list turned up in research, so specifics beyond the name and address could not be confirmed.

San Diego

Rancho Bernardo Pumpkin Farm, part of San Diego's Pumpkin Station and Pinery group operating since 1999. This is one of the group's farm sites, on Highland Valley Road, with sunflower fields, a corn maze, tractor rides, and a petting zoo.

Aguanga

Buck and Belinda grow French and English lavender on their family farm outside Aguanga, distilling it into syrup, honey, and body-care products sold from an on-site shop open seven days a week. Visitors used to wander the rows freely; now the farm limits access to ticketed workshops — wreath-making, candle pouring, tea blending — held on weekends through the growing season. The lavender still ships nationwide from the online store.

Aguanga

Farmy Farms is listed on Boulder Vista Drive in Aguanga, a rural stretch of southern Riverside County near Anza. The farm has a live website but it doesn't yet detail what's grown or sold, and no visiting hours are published online.

Valley Center

Eric's Valencia Orchard grows Valencia oranges at the corner of Cole Grade and Tyler roads in Valley Center, part of San Diego County's inland citrus and avocado belt. Valencias are a late-season variety, typically picked from spring into summer after the navel crop finishes. No contact info is listed online.

El Cajon

Part of the Pumpkin Station chain that runs seasonal pumpkin lots across San Diego County each fall, with sister locations in Del Mar, National City, Bonita, and Rancho Bernardo. An El Cajon site isn't currently listed among the chain's active locations, so this listing may be outdated — the company's general line can confirm.

Escondido

A farm stand on Miller Avenue in Escondido selling local produce alongside jams, jellies, and pickles, with fall and winter selections rotating through. It's one of a handful of small stands scattered through this stretch of North County San Diego growing land.

Escondido

Farm Stand West sells produce from a stand on Miller Ave in Escondido, in the North County San Diego growing region known for citrus, avocados, and small produce operations.

Valley Center

The Lavender Fields sits on Keys Creek Road in Valley Center, part of the North San Diego County backcountry known for small flower and lavender growers. The business's old web domain is now parked for sale, so current operating status, hours, and offerings could not be confirmed.