The Orchard at Altapass

Overview

About The Orchard at Altapass

Why stop

Seasonal U-pick heirloom apples
Weekend live Appalachian music, storytelling, and heyrides
Fun pollinator and model-train exhibits

Heads up

Seasonal operation (generally May–October)
Crowded on fall weekends and during harvest

Set right off the Parkway at Milepost 328.3, this non-profit, century-old orchard blends panoramic Blue Ridge views with Appalachian culture. It’s more than apples: think live music and clogging on the pavilion, storytellers, “heyrides,” and hands-on exhibits about bees, butterflies, and the railroad that shaped this hillside.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map

Where it is

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SightThe Orchard at Altapass35.87558, -82.02458

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting The Orchard at Altapass

Confirm seasonal hours and U-pick availability before you drive up.
For music and heyrides, target weekend afternoons but arrive early to beat crowds.
Check which apple varieties are ripe the week you visit.
Wear sturdy shoes—the orchard hills can be steep and uneven.
Save room for warm apple pie and ice cream at the General Store.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

For apples: mid-summer through late October—check which varieties are ripe before you go.
For music and storytelling: plan a weekend afternoon.
For fewer crowds: arrive near opening, especially in September–October.
For photos: late-day light warms the orchards and long ridgelines.

2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details

Blue Ridge Parkway alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide

Your drive to The Orchard at Altapass, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tour

Recorded for this place

The Orchard at Altapass: Apples and Appalachian Culture

Listen

“Right off the Parkway ahead is The Orchard at Altapass, which is much more than just a place to buy apples. It's a hundred-year-old working orchard dedicated to preserving Appalachian music and culture.”

Plays as you drive up to The Orchard at Altapass in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.

More about The Orchard at Altapass

What you’ll doPick from heirloom apple varieties in season, then linger at picnic tables with mountain vistas.

Pick from heirloom apple varieties in season, then linger at picnic tables with mountain vistas.
Browse the big red-barn General Store for warm apple pie, hand-scooped ice cream, homemade fudge, preserves, and regional crafts.
Catch weekend music and dance, stroll the grounds, and pop into the model train room that recreates the orchard’s landscape.

Trails and viewsMultiple walking paths weave through the orchards and nearby woods, offering relaxed rambles…

Multiple walking paths weave through the orchards and nearby woods, offering relaxed rambles and wide-open scenery. Expect rolling, sometimes steep hills—great for stretching your legs between Parkway overlooks.

WildlifeLook for barn swallows swooping from the back deck.

Look for barn swallows swooping from the back deck. The pollinator garden, Monarch butterfly displays, and a working honeybee apiary make this a smart stop for nature-curious kids. Along the paths you may spot songbirds and the occasional deer.

A bit of backstoryThe orchard dates to the early 1900s (tied to the Clinchfield Railroad).

The orchard dates to the early 1900s (tied to the Clinchfield Railroad). Today it’s preserved as a mission-driven cultural landscape—protecting heirloom trees, mountain traditions, and the views you came for.

Food and shoppingThe General Store is the hub for treats (pie, ice cream, fudge), jarred goodies, and local…

The General Store is the hub for treats (pie, ice cream, fudge), jarred goodies, and local artisan wares. Simple grill fare is available seasonally, and there are plenty of spots to sit and savor it.

Know before you goOperations and U-pick are seasonal; fall weekends can be extremely popular.

Operations and U-pick are seasonal; fall weekends can be extremely popular.
Terrain is hilly—wear shoes you don’t mind getting dusty.
Pet-friendly vibe (leash up) and very family-ready.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway

All Blue Ridge Parkway wildlife maps

1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.