Apple picking in Northwest Illinois has a way of turning an ordinary Saturday into a small celebration. The trees are low enough for little hands, the farm stands smell like cider and baked treats, and the best souvenir is usually
Two nearby farm stops make it easy to plan an apple-picking outing: Selmi’s U-Pick Apple Orchard in Rock Falls and BerryView Orchard near Mount Morris. Both are working farms, so the experience changes with the crop, the weather, and the varieties that are ready that day.
Where to Go Apple Picking in Northwest Illinois
Selmi’s in Rock Falls
Selmi’s is the full fall outing: a U-Pick orchard with more than 15 apple varieties, a farm market, pumpkins, and enough seasonal activities to turn apple picking into an afternoon on the farm. Favorites such as Honeycrisp, Cortland, McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold, and EverCrisp® ripen throughout the season, so the selection changes as fall rolls along.
For the U-Pick experience, reserve a ticket through Selmi’s website and choose a time slot and bag size. A tractor ride carries visitors out to the orchard, where the pace is pleasantly simple: walk the rows, look for the apples that are ready, and place each one gently in your bag.
Once the apple bag is full, there’s plenty more fall waiting back at the farm. Pick out a pumpkin, tackle the corn maze, visit the petting zoo, or let the kids loose on attractions like the jumping pillow, giant slide, and zipline. And somewhere in there, make room for a hot apple cider donut. Consider it part of the experience.
Because apple varieties and picking conditions change throughout the season, check Selmi’s current U-Pick information before heading out. The farm is at 1206 Dixon Ave. in Rock Falls.
BerryView Orchard is the quieter counterpoint, a small farm stop in the country west of Mount Morris. The farm grows apples, pears, peaches, vegetables, and aronia berries, with fruit available for picking or ready to take home depending on the season. BerryView also makes apple cider donuts during orchard season, which is reason enough to leave a little room in the car.
The farm’s owners offer U-Pick on many fall weekends, with the selection depending on what is ripe. That’s part of the charm here. You’re visiting a working orchard rather than a fixed attraction, so each trip can be a little different.
Check BerryView’s current updates before heading out to see what’s ready for picking and when U-Pick is available. BerryView Orchard is at 7504 W. Midtown Road near Mount Morris.
Make Room for the Small Pleasures
An orchard visit doesn’t need a packed itinerary. Start with the rows of trees, take time to compare varieties, and let the farm market help decide what comes home with you. A bag of apples can become a pie, a crisp, a salad, or simply the snack that starts disappearing before the drive is over.
Sometimes, that little bit of unscheduled time delivers the best parts of a fall day: a warm donut, a roadside view, a conversation with the farmer, or one last apple chosen because it looks exactly right.
If you’re making a longer day of it, both orchards offer plenty of opportunities to explore nearby Northwest Illinois communities. Pair your orchard stop with lunch, a little shopping, or time outdoors—and leave enough room in the schedule for whatever catches your eye along the way.
Before You Go
Apple varieties and picking conditions change throughout the season. Check each orchard’s current information for hours, U-Pick availability, ticketing, weather updates, and what’s ready that day. Wear comfortable shoes for uneven ground and plan to carry your apples carefully once you’ve picked them.
In Northwest Illinois, fall comes home one apple at a time.
Mississippi Palisades State Park, located just north of Savanna along the Mississippi River, offers more than 2,500 acres of rugged beauty and outdoor adventure. Towering limestone bluffs, wooded ravines, and scenic overlooks provide some of the most breathtaking views in Illinois, making the park a favorite destination for hikers, photographers, and nature lovers. The park's dramatic landscape is part of the Driftless Area and is rich in Native American history and natural features.
Visitors can explore miles of trails ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes that wind through rock formations, forests, and river overlooks. Popular viewpoints such as Lookout Point, Ozzie's Point, and Louis' Point offer spectacular views of the Mississippi River valley. The park also features accessible trails and overlooks, making scenic experiences available to a wide range of visitors.
Outdoor recreation opportunities abound throughout the year. Campers can choose from more than 240 campsites, including sites with electrical hookups and modern amenities. Rock climbers come to tackle the park's cliffs and formations, while birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts may spot bald eagles, migratory birds, deer, and other native species. Fishing, boating, geocaching, cross-country skiing, and seasonal nature exploration add even more ways to enjoy the landscape.
Whether spending an afternoon taking in the river views or enjoying a weekend under the stars, Mississippi Palisades State Park provides a memorable escape into one of northwest Illinois' most striking natural settings.
A tree lighting in Sterling, a house tour in Mount Carroll, a lantern-lit village in Fulton and fifty decorated trees in Savanna: four small-town holiday traditions across four counties in a single December stretch.
Cut a tree, browse a museum full of decorated trees, walk Savanna’s Main Street, and spend a cold clear morning above the Mississippi at the Palisades.
