Catoctin Mountain Orchard

I had a wonderful visit to Catoctin Mountain Orchard! The apples were absolutely beautiful—fresh, crisp, and perfectly displayed. The scenic mountain views made the whole experience even more special, especially on a clear day. There’s also a great selection of food to enjoy while you’re there, so it’s easy to make a full outing of it. The country store is charming and full of delicious treats, especially the pumpkin pie and apple pie—both tasted homemade and incredibly flavorful. The pies are baked fresh too! The tractor ride was a highlight too, adding a fun and relaxing touch to the visit. Overall, it’s a perfect place for families, friends, or anyone looking for a classic fall experience. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Awesome country store! Outside they have seasonal apple picking and flower picking. Beautiful view Lots of cool homemade baking and produce! Great holiday feel! A bit overpriced but still worth it!

Not just a u-pick orchard but also a local tradition. Offering a wide range of fresh seasonal produce as well as home made jams, jellies and baked goods Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a must for us whenever we are in the area. They are particularly popular in the Fall when the apples are ripe for picking. Currently they have a pumpkin patch with some fun photo opportunities.

Beautiful Farmer's Market with local foods and jams. Excellent food, I've been coming here since I was in middle school and can say this place never disappoints.

Stopped by to pick up their frozen blueberry pie and chicken pie for dinner (delicious), and home-made apple sauce. The apples are ripe and ready to be picked! They have a huge selection of pumpkins and gourds.

Great selection of seasonal produce, baked goods and other sundries. The you-pick flower is a great deal- beautiful stems to choose from in mid-August with a nice play area for kids right next to one of the cutting areas. You can fit a ton of stems in the cup if you remove the lower foliage from them as you go.

This has become our annual apple picking place. Huge orchards and friendly folks! The store itself on the grounds has many different varieties of fruits, homemade jams, pies, etc. The apple picking seems to be only on the weekends now

Freshest of the freshest! Local fruits, veggies, homemade cakes and pies. Then there's lots of local made jams and sauces. The best and most full mum baskets for only $30. Check it out, I think you'll like it.

Great time for families, couples, and beyond! Apple dumplings were very good. Diversity of produce and pies - unfortunately there wasn't any coffee available (understandable but wishful thinking). Would love to purchase more here to support local business!

Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a great place to purchase and pick your own fresh produce. I've visited for several years to pick apples and have had a great experience each and every time. A tractor takes you to the picking sites and the staff members provide thorough directions. The apples are absolutely delicious and I was able to bake some great treats with them. The Orchard also has a store where you can buy a wealth of produce, baked goods, beverages and other treats - the apple cider slushies were very popular. The apple cider donuts never disappoint; they're a guaranteed purchase when I visit. If you're looking for a fun weekend activity with your family, friends and loved ones, Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a great place. Just be sure to visit the website to see what is in season if you want to pick your own fruit.

great produce. nice bakery. friendly people. stop patronizing grocery stores who arr gouging food prices for record profits!!

Fairly close to the mountains for hiking. There are a lot of signs pointing to this place so it's very hard to miss it. Once you are here, there are a lot of things you can do. There's a farmers store with fresh produce and baked goods, which the Apple Cider donuts are great. It's not too sweet and just taste fresh and soft. BRING CASH To go apple picking you need to pay in cash. There is an ATM that charges $4 to withdraw. It's $3 per person to enter and you have to pay for the size of bag to bring some apples. I got a large bag which is $32. I think I got about 40 ish apples in it. Pretty solid pricing. Whether or not I needed 40 apples is another story. It was really the experience of it all since I haven't done this since I was a kid. You ride a tractor trailer to the fields and can go up and down some trees that they picked that they said was ripe. There are boxes to choose from that they already picked that they said were ripe and were refrigerated. I think it was just to give variety without driving everywhere. There are plenty of apples. Just need to find the variety you like the best.

Most wonderful staff it's a fun trip great service and best donuts. Make sure you make your own bouquet here it's super fun with the flowers and it's nice to walk around.

RUDE (RACIST) WORKERS! Avoid this place! They put the bruised and damaged peaches on the bottom of the box. Old lady screams at you for even touching the box you're going to purchase. Spent $19 for for spoiled peaches!

Freshly baked pies AND apple cider donuts on this trip! Donuts were not overly sweet and the pie was made with actual fresh peaches. Delicious!

Best peaches anywhere and we absolutely look forward to purchasing several pecks of their freestone yellow variety every July and August! Employees are always friendly and helpful. The farm itself is beautiful with lovely views. Plenty of pick your own opportunities at this farm as well. We have been regulars for years - definitely worth the drive!

They are Extremely proud of their produce. Even more expensive than Wegmans! Cute place maybe great in the fall. But not this early in the summer.

Amazing apple pie. I wish that the location was closer to DC so that I could easily purchase another one.

During Off Season, open only Friday-Saturday-Sunday. As we walked into the market, the smell delicious fresh baked pie and apple cider donuts is all over! Have you tried freshly baked apple cider donuts? One wouldn't be enough, get at least 6! Get donuts with a sip of apple cider juice? Yuuum! We also got blueberries lemon buckle pie, it's so delicious with crumbles on top of the pie, and blueberries jam inside, all are melting in crunchy, sweet and tart deliciousness! These homemade frozen pie also available in the fridge, so you can get the fresh baked anytime at home without the huss and fuzz of messy dough. Different kinds of butters, jams, and apples are available at your choice! All are homemade! Can't wait until the farm is open all week long and you can walk into the orchard picking apples!

We recently stopped by here and overall were disappointed with the experience. The carton of apples we bought were mealy, there were flies everywhere, and the service at the counter was almost aggressively unfriendly. There are many other places like this in the area that aren't subpar so save your money and go there instead. I think being right off the highway they have guaranteed business, especially in the fall, so they don't really have to try. Next time we'll just keep on driving.

Some of the sweetest fruits I've had! Snow giant peaches are amazing and the pies are fantastic (love the berry and strawberry rhubarb)

Great time picking apples with the family. Nothing beats fresh picked apples. Workers were very nice and helpful.

Located right off the road, they're very conveniently located and attracts lots of traffic that didn't even plan to go there. Store - great They have all sorts of produce, fruits from their orchard and jams/spreads. I also liked their baked goods such as fruit pie. Price wise they are very reasonable. 32 oz apple sauce is prized at $4 and tastes good. However, fresh fruits are very expensive here. I would still recommend this place.

We had a PERFECT fall morning here! Our group arrived early at 9am and the apple picking was not available until 10am. We opted to walk around the indoor market, take some group photos, and cut some fresh flowers! There are two luscious flowers beds to cut from. The beds are clearly designated near the front and the flowers are easy to navigate. They provide you with a plastic container and simple gardening sheers. You can cut as many flowers as will fit into the plastic container. The flowers are exposed to all the outdoor elements, so be mindful of bugs, spiders, etc. The flower beds are mainly wildflower varieties, which are my favorite so I was a happy flower picker! At 10am, we were really surprised to see people lining up at the front of the orchards. The staff had to place a "rope drop" line at the front to prevent people from inching forward. The line itself moves really fast. There is an entry fee for all guests and additional fees for the apple bags. They only accept cash, so be prepared for that. After you pay to enter the orchard, all guests must ride the wagon to the orchards for picking. They do not allow people to walk the from the entrance to the actual orchards for apple picking. The wagon ride was pleasant, scenic, and fun. When the wagon reaches the destination, you're greeted by a staff member who tells you where you can pick apples from. Our guide, Caitlin, was so nice and helpful! She even gave us some pro-tips for picking apples! There are multiple varieties, again clearly labeled, and they also have bins of already-picked apples if you don't want to pick your own. I was also surprised to see that a lot of patrons were picking multiple bags of fruit! Our group of five adults shared one large bag and that was enough for all of us! You take the wagon ride back to the market and load up your vehicle with your produce. I purchased apple cider and two fresh pies: Four Berry and Peach Praline. Goodness almighty, everything was delightful! My one regret is that I only bought two pies. I guess I will have to go back! The people who work here are truly amazing. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and hard-working. Please support this business!!

I wonderful place to stop on a crisp autumn Drive. Harvest season brings out many fruits pumpkins and gourds to this mountain orchard roadside market. They have fresh pies and brownies as well as frozen ones you can make yourself at home. The market sells such delights as pickles jams jellies apple butter jerky and other homemade snacks. The outside orchard offers pick it yourself apples as well as many opportunities for great pictures with your kids.

Overall a good place. The pies, disappointingly, are shipped in from a commercial operation in Akron, Ohio. I believe it is called the Gardner Pie Company. They are certainly not made on site from their fruit. Don't be fooled thinking they are...

I've been here so many times to pick up pies, but covid really hit hard. The staff is always great, but they've had some supplier issues and some of their pies aren't available like my favorite Peach Praline. They had a bunch of ready baked pies but you could see the limited selection if you've been here before. The amount of frozen pies were pretty non-existent. I did take home a baked Apple Crumb and frozen Peach pie, and the AC was kind of disappointing. Wasn't thoroughly cooked all the way and the crumb topping was very different than in the past; it was more of a fine dusting of crumbs, and not the course, larger chunks as before. Hopefully the peach pie is of the same quality as pre-covid. This place also has a large selection of fresh produce and I always stock up on their incredible apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple or cherry butter, and I'll see how good the spicy/sweet pickles are. I love coming to this place, but covid really takes its toll on all things good.

My husband and I stopped in here on a whim. We were craving some sweets. We found so many goodies. Their market has fresh baked goods, different flavors of apple cider, jams, fruit and hand sewn aprons just to name a few. Oh the apple cider donuts are a must. I bought an apron / kitchen towel set. The apron is so well made. I would say there is a little something for everyone. If you are in the area please stop in you won't regret it

Very cute market. There was not a lot of inventory. Maybe because it was the end of the day? They have fresh pies, apple cider as well as other flavors. Popcorn and honey sticks to name a few. A cute stop for fresh food grabs!

Stopped after seeing the sign along the road. The pies smell good but they are not homemade. They come from a distributor where most of the local farmers markets and similar stores get their pies. Also $20 for a pie is ridiculous. It is still springtime so not much in the way of vegetables except for some leafy greens. The jams and apple cider are plentiful and a pretty good variety. These items are a little more reasonably priced, $5-$7 for a jar of jam if I recall correctly. We did get some apples but regretted it. It is not apple season so we should not have expected good apples right now. I would stop again if we were in the area for summer vegetables or fall fruits.

Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a roadside market on U.S. Highway 15 in Maryland. We usually stop here when a trip takes us north of Frederick. The smell of freshly baked pies greets one upon entering. The market offers baked goods (whole pies, breads, fruit breads, cookies) and farm produce. Along with this are shelves of canned and packaged nuts, salsa, hot sauce, snacks, preserves and butters. Look for seasonal items like pumpkin bread. You'll find something tasty and tempting here. There is also a fall festival and pumpkin patch. Credit cards accepted.

We stopped here on our way back down county from the Mount. We were intrigued by the possibility of a great pie...so we picked up an apple, a strawberry and a blackberry. At $13.50/each we figured they ought to be pretty good! On the way out we got a couple of packs of apple cider donuts for the car ride too. We always get them at Gaver Tree Farm when we cut our Christmas tree down and they are a favorite with the kids! None of them complained but both my husband and I thought they tasted like banana...which is not what they're supposed to taste like! Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Fast forward a few hours to dessert and we were eager to try the pies. The strawberry was okay, and the apple was passable despite being overly spiced. All of them had pretty soggy bottoms, and we're quite sure the crust isn't home made. But the worst was the blackberry, which I had chosen myself. In the center of the pie, about the size of an impression that would be made by a large sized water glass, was a gross white firm blob of what I can only try to identify as cornstarch and sugar that wasn't fully dissolved when the filling was made. Yuck. And since it was in the middle, every slice had a chunk of it. Such a disappointment, and such a waste of money. The one good thing we bought was a hanging pot of flowers for my mother in law. They were expensive but really lovey, and if they survive then I would recommend the store for flowers. And the staff is friendly. But the baked goods left a bad taste in our mouths!

STAY AWAY FROM THIS UNSCRUPULOUS PLACE! They are not just lax about safety and protection from Covid, they are deliberately and greedily conducting business that puts people's safety at risk. For an activity to get outdoors, you're better off taking a picnic, buying a few apples from one of the many nearby stands and going to the Catoctin Mountain Park nearby, hiking or walking, and enjoying the beautiful vistas and fresh air! The worst of this place was that to pick apples, they make you take an enclosed wagon ride with a load of people (many not wearing masks--including some of their own staff) just so that they can charge you an extra $3 per head. The ride is completely unnecessary since the small orchard is staring at you as you enter their compound--max 10 ft of walking. I could see that to make money they don't want to give up this gimmicky ride, and for many people with kids it would be a fun attraction. But it would be easy enough to make the ride voluntary, use open wagons and not load them packed full of people at a time when social distancing is necessary. The ride is just going around in a circle for 3 minutes max--easy for them to take smaller loads. More importantly, they shouldn't be doing business if they haven't trained their staff to practice and enforce safety. They young woman loading 20+ people on the wagon we went on (and so in very close proximity to all of them) was not wearing a mask, and when I asked her why, she first said she had left it in front of the wagon, and then that she didn't need to wear a mask as this was her family farm. So not reassuring about this business's seriousness to follow safety--we decided not to go in the store. Lastly, the greed at this place has them charging prices that start to become ridiculous even if you have reconciled yourself to paying more for the experience, freshness, and just in support of local farms. Below is a picture of the bag they charged us $38 dollars to fill with apples--$23 for the bag, and $3 each for 5 adults to enter the orchard. It holds a little over 20 apples, so we paid about $1.75 per apple and 15 minutes of apple picking experience.

This is for the orchard/pick-your-own. Didn't buy anything in the store so can't say anything about the pies/etc. But the orchard/picking was really fun! There is a small entrance fee but it's not that uncommon for a pick-your-own orchard to do that. It's okay. The wagon ride is fun and in terms of COVID safety it's not at all enclosed, lots of airflow. No problem there. The orchard itself only had five rows open for picking this early in the season, but they're very long and we had great choice and quality of apples (three varieties). Their apple trees are set up on rigid metal wires so they grow vertically, almost like vines! It's very cool looking, and it means the apples are a lot easier to reach, since the tree isn't bushy and growing outward. It makes picking easy and seems to reduce the amount of unreachable apples per tree. We had no trouble filling the largest sized bag. Tip: stop for ice cream at Gateway Candyland, only two or three minutes down the road. We'll be back later in the season for more apples!

This orchard has some delightful preserves and our favorite apple cider. The raspberry preserves and marmalades are affordable and tasty. There's a wide variety of high quality products and I can't wait for spring so I can purchase one of their saplings.

You will be overwhelmed w/ the wonderful smell of freshly baked pies as soon as you walk in - and they have quite a selection. We went w/ the apple pie b/c that's what my sister always gets -- yummy! Also got fresh blueberries, green beans, tomatoes, apples, apple butter and caramel popcorn. All very good. Outside they have a small playground for the kids, a garden of gerber daisies, and orchards and orchards of apple trees. Looking forward to picking some apples in the Fall!

There is a decent variety of jams and baked goods. I also liked the availability of local honey. The produce is more expensive than what you would find at a grocery store. However it is probably more fresh here. We came on a weekend at noon and the store was packed. There are two toilets for the ladies room and I never seen such a long line for the restroom at a market before, to the point that there was no TP or paper towels. I discovered the blondie Apple here and it was the most delicious apple I've ever had. I liked how they had a few whole apples out that you could sample! Nice to enjoy a complimentary apple during your shopping experience. Next, we left the store and inquire about the apple Picking. Each person has to pay $2 admission and then you can pick a bag size to store your apple. The bag sizes were $12 for a small, $19 for medium, $30 for large. We opted for medium and picked about 12 medium apples in the bag. Your $2 admission includes a 1 minute short ride on their trolly to the Apple Picking Site. Like others mention, there weren't that many different types of apples to pick from. Half of the apples were pre picked and out in these large wooden crates. So you might as well go to a grocery store for that experience. They had three different types of apples for picking. There were stayman apples for picking. I found those too sour. I think I prefer butlers orchard because I liked the layout of feeling like I was in a long lane of orchard, whereas these rows here were quite short and much of it was sectioned off and not available for the public for picking.

What a wonderful market! We live in PA and stopped here on our way back from WV as we are fans of fresh fruit and veggie vendors. As soon as you walk in, the overwhelming, delicious smell of fresh pies puts a smile on your face. They have a huge variety of goodies, well more than your typical small town market, and it's all FRESH! - Fruits: We went during peak peach season, so the selection was ample! We wanted strawberries, but didn't find any, so I guess they are out of season. I read other reviews that expressed slight disappointment in the selection, but remember everything is seasonal! - Veggies: They had a good selection of veggies! We didn't buy any, but we were looking for fruit. They had fresh green beans, banana peppers, dozens of different items! - Apple and pumpkin butters, plus dozens of different flavored jams! - Canned soups, both pre-made and where you add the final ingredients - Venison jerky and sausage snacks (so good, we bought 4 packages!) - Freshly baked and frozen pies available in many different flavors! - Individual packages of fresh fudge and cookies available! You can also cut your own fresh flowers outside if you inquire first inside, and they were all pretty. It's a great restroom break and place to walk around outside! The prices are reasonable compared to other farmers markets. You are paying for farm fresh and homemade items, so don't expect Walmart prices. We paid $1 per peach and that has been standard everywhere else. The beef jerky prices were comparable to Jack Links, but obviously way better quality! It's worth every penny to be healthy, have farm to table, and high quality taste. You can order items online from them too! We will definitely be stopping by here whenever we visit MD and WV!

Catoctin Mountain Orchard, at least to me, is much more than the sum of its parts. On the outside, this would actually not be the ideal stop along scenic US-15 on the way up to Gettysburg. But, there are many factors that go beyond a simple review or classification system. Let me explain. PRICES: I think most people have a gripe with this element, and they are right to do so. Some items are simply too expensive to justify not getting in your local grocery store. I'm not even referring to homemade or hard-to-find items, but every day local apples, for instance. They charge a bit more than you would normally pay. But, do you get grocery store quality? Usually not, it's typically much better, and the variety is a lot greater. Is there a trade-off? Yes, most definitely. You are also supporting local small businesses (namely, farmers), which is always a good use of your funds. But, make no mistake, this is not a bargain basement shopping destination. QUALITY: This vastly depends on what you are shopping for and during which season. I tend so shy away from berries here (cranberries being the notable exception), but their apples and pears are usually amazing. Fall is a great time to visit. The kale has never let us down, and their baked goods, while pricey, are exceptionally delicious. The frozen apple dumplings heat up wonderfully at home. I have run into the occasional bad piece of fruit, more often this is not with the apples or pears, though. I typically find consistent amazing quality, and to me at least, it is worth the extra cost. LOCATION: Thurmont isn't too far from DC or Baltimore, but more than an hour from both. It's about 15-20 minutes north of Frederick, but the drive is very scenic, especially in the Fall. The orchard is also right off the highway, which is nice too. No winding roads to navigate to find the place. HIDDEN GEMS: I cook with the produce a lot, big batches of jams and fruit butters. Get the seconds for this! You can get a huge box for about half or less the cost of first quality fruit. For most cases, the only difference is aesthetics (discoloration on the skin, indentation from hail, etc.). While I have run into a few 'bad apples' before, they are easily identified and dispatched. One note about the seconds, though, I generally dedicate the following day to fruit cookery just to be safe. I get mostly sound solid fruit, but there are a few rare exceptions. To avoid any early spoilage, I cook them up the next day if I can. And the bounty is well worth it. Overall, my impression is generally favorable due to the nostalgia of the place. I remember going there as a kid once in a while in the autumn, and the trip was quite memorable. Free samples of apple cider and apples, fresh fruit and jams, and once the bakery was open, the priceless and intoxicating aroma of freshly baked pies fills the air. It is the concentrated essence of the season. Could the staff be a bit warmer and friendlier? Perhaps. But, I chalk this up to the hipsters and entitlement-minded city slickers who are selfish to the degree of an art form. I can only imagine how many times a customer has broken a jar, and blamed the staff instead of their obnoxious five-year-old who was running about. Trust me, I've seen it. All that said, I really do enjoy coming back here every year, and these days, no season is off limits... except when they are closed of course! Be sure to check their website for their winter and early spring hours. I think that's when they are closed for a few months. Just check their hours in general, because they aren't 24/7, ya know... A true Autumnal destination, at least for my family. And always will be, provided the price doesn't skyrocket too much. Now I want apples. And pie.

The smell of fresh pie vapors finds it's way up your nose and you just have to go in for that reason. They have an ample amount of canned jam, fruit salsa, condiments and other sorts of goodies. Fresh pies seems to be there thing and boy did they smell wonderful. They had a medium selection of fresh produce out and the berry farm was closed so I think that affected the selection. Also the prices are a little pricey, it may be cheaper if you can pick it yourself if they offer that. They had a pick your own flower area as well. I have 3 star because I was disappointed in the produce selection they offered. For as large and as busy they are I thought they would have more. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday.

Their baked goods and apple cider are all super tasty, hence the three stars, however their customer service leaves much to be desired. The few times we've visited the store the older gentleman who works the register can't be bothered to reply to a simple greeting of hello. Any attempts to engage him in small talk as he rings you up end in awkward silence. No thank you, no have a nice day, nothing. Maybe he's hard of hearing. Or else just ridiculously rude. You can't go wrong on their pies though! So that's a plus!

Hope you guys have a chance to meet Chris!! Super friendly, 3rd generation. A promise to a wonderful further for generations to come Everything we have ever tried is amazing. This place has a rich history with rich products.

Yummy will made pies! We have enjoyed several and they know how to make them like Grandma! We love driving an hour to see the mountains and stopping by for these treats! Glad there are still places like yesteryear that make you stop and appreciate the well made quality foods!

The staff were lovely and they clearly take pride in their works. The facilities were pristine. The business seems to have nailed COVID operations. All in all, this was a great way to spend a fall weekend.

Stopped by here for the first time even though I've lived in Frederick for 22 years. Very cute orchard. Beautiful view around the shop. My kids liked the apple cider and the brand of chips they carry. Their cookies they sell near the register are really yummy. The employees are pleasant enough. The location is clean. I bought some Apple Cider donuts. They were okay.

We stopped here after having lunch at the Shamrock Restaurant. Outside, the rows of pick-your-own flowers were spectacular. Inside, the farmers market had a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, pies and even aprons. We bought a peach praline pie and strawberry rhubarb pie which were frozen. We had previously tasted the strawberry rhubarb pie at a friend's dinner and thought it was very good. We haven't yet tried the peach praline pie. There were beautiful hand-sewn aprons in a great variety of patterns, and I purchased one at a reasonable price. After making this stop, we headed for the nearby Candyland.

come here to get berries and covid! The donuts are bomb but the employees are unsanitary af!!

Unfriendly, unhelpful, and rude. Sorry to say but that was how they treated me today. "So honey what are you looking to make with them apples ? " I'm not a dolt. I know 2nd apples and that they're for apple sauce not necessarily for display. Then they took apples out of my box and put them in another. Glared at me as if I was stealing, as the woman next to me took bites out of multiple apples to check them. Not a word to her. So maybe there was a bias here???? When I asked for help to get two bushels to the front it was far to much and I was handed a cart and told to return it. Enough! I won't be back.

This place is worth the drive. Fresh apple cider second to none. Delicious fresh apples of many varieties. Mouth watering baked goods. Other foods that you can get nowhere else. Friendly helpful staff. A taste of old fashioned America. Make the drive up 270/15. You will thank me. Smile & enjoy.

What a cute find! After an unsuccessful apple shopping trip at a different orchard, we accidentally wound up here. As we approached, we could tell Catoctin was in a way different league. To start, they have a cute outdoor area and all around were many, many pumpkins of all sizes. Of course we took 2. Going inside the market you immediately smell deliciousness from all directions. Mostly though, the bakery full of freshly baked, gorgeous and inviting goods. Couldn't leave without some fresh apple dumplings. The apple selection here is plentiful! The prices were a hair higher than some other places I've been too but I was happy to pay it with the wide variety they had. The next several weeks my house was filled with apple foods (my healthy homemade apple sauce, killer apple cider and an apple pie were just the start) and I gave plenty away from this one trip! The staff, maybe a family, were too kind. Icing on the cake. The only reason I'm not leaving 5 starts is because you can't pick your own here. Apple picking is one of my favorite autumn activities. Virginia has several orchards you can do that. Regardless, will miss not being around next autumn for apple season with Catoctin Orchard.

Ok, so technically Catoctin Mountain Orchard is closed until May 1 (though their Web site proclaims that you can still shop online!). But I think we are all ready for spring, and I know I will be heading back to the orchard when it reopens. I have been to the orchard several times since I moved to Frederick, and it is always a fun stop (I drive on 15 a lot). The produce is top notch (check their Web site for what's available), and the bakery is as outstanding as other reviewers have said. The store also offers all kinds of jellies, jams, pickles, soup mixes, trail mixes, and sauces. You can also cut your own flowers. There is a playground to the right of the parking lot, which I did not realize for my first several visits. It has a large wooden castle and train, a sandbox, and a big hay mountain for kids to climb on. My daughter's kindergarten class went on a field trip to Catoctin Mountain Orchard last fall, and we had the opportunity to walk inside some of the storage facilities for apples (brrr!), and to see the room where the apples are sorted by size. The owners were incredibly friendly and great with the kids--they handed out samples of apple cider and apples, and drove us up to the pumpkin patch and waited patiently while each child found the perfect pumpkin (this DID require a lot of patience!). The owners told us some of the history of the farm, which has been owned by the same family since 1961 (the farm market itself has been around since 1948). The field trip was a great experience, especially for the kids. They were excited to find out that the apples in Frederick County school lunches come from Catoctin Mountain Orchards, at least for a portion of the year. I do think the prices are a little steep, but it's worth it. I was especially won over after the field trip and meeting the owners, who obviously work so hard at what they do. Hours are as follows, from Web site: May-October Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm Friday-Sunday: 9 am-6 pm November & December Monday-Sunday: 9am - 5pm January Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 9am - 5pm Closed February, March and April Reopens May 1

Love this placed so glad we happened to pass by on our way to Gettsyburg! I love apples and they offer free samples, which I thought was pretty amazing! I tried a cameo apple and it was perfectly crisp and delicious! We left with a box of them. We also purchased honey sticks, apple butter, sweet pickles, and my partner enjoyed pumpkin donuts. The grounds are also gorgeous and I highly recommend this place!

We have been coming to this Orchard for years and appreciate the quality fruit and vegetables and the delicious apple cider. I have taken our grandchildren out to the pick your own apples experience and it was fun. Because of covid is a Tsum they are no longer allowing people to sample apples. Or at least they don't have samples available maybe if you ask they will let you taste some. I highly recommend you ask if you can taste apples with which you are not familiar. They have a new variety called Summer Set which is supposed to be a cross between Honeycrisp and Fuji. I thought based on that that this variety would be delicious but in fact I was very disappointed. This is definitely not up to their usual quality of fruit. The summer set apples were flavorless and mushy a bad combination. I am actually going to just put them in my compost pile or maybe I will toss them out in the pasture for the deer to eat. I don't think they have even enough flavor to make applesauce out of them. The Crimson crisp apples on the other hand are fantastic. Recommendation is just ask to try the Apple

Very nice orchard with locally grown apples, pumpkins (note: not pick-your-own) and other seasonal produce. Fun fall themes outside, make it fun for photos ops. Not too keen on prices though; seemed a little steep. Overall, recommend this place and would definitely stop by again next fall.

Tourist Trap. Way overpriced. Employees need training in customer relations.

My wife, mother-in-law, 13-month-old baby and I really wanted a nice afternoon of apple picking today so we decided to visit Catoctin Mountain Orchard. Since we live 1:15 minutes away, we made sure to call ahead as we were worried about bad weather. We were told verbatim by the woman we spoke with that "unless there is a torrential downpour, we have apple picking!" When we arrived (following a light drizzle) we were told they weren't doing apple picking today. An incredibly unprofessional, dishonest, and frustrating experience.

What a beautiful day for apple picking! The service at the orchard was very polite and courteous. Definitely worth a stop for some delicious apple picking!!

Every fall the gang and I stop bye here on our way home from Pen-Mar Park. This is an awesome way to burn an hour or so with the kids. On the weekends you can walk through the apple orchard and pick your own apples and they also have a cool little playground for the kiddies to burn some energy on. The apple cider here is amazing and don't be afraid to make your own spiced cider with the tea bags that they sell your kids will love it.This year we paid $13.00 to let the kids pick their own flowers and they loved it.