Apple Picking & More at Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC

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If Fall for you means apple picking, pumpkin patches, wagon rides, and corn mazes, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC can help you check all those things off your list in one fantastic, family-friendly day out!

Stepp’s is a wonderful, fully functioning farm and orchard that doubles as a giant playground for kids and adults alike.

With roots dating back more than 50 years, it’s one of the oldest apple orchards in North Carolina, and home to one of the area’s first pick-your-own apple operations.

While there is some work to be done here, such as u-pick apples, pumpkins, grapes, and beautiful flowers to take home, the farm also offers an array of fun Fall-themed activities that could keep your family entertained all day.

Read on for our guide to visiting Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, including the history of the family-owned farm and an overview of their u-pick offerings and fun things to do there.

READ MORE: The 12 Best Hendersonville Apple Orchards for Apple Picking & More

Places to Stay in Hendersonville NC

The Charleston Inn (historic 16 room & Cottage B&B on Main St).

1898 Waverly Inn (B&B – oldest surviving inn in Hendersonville w/spa services)

Hampton Inn (pet-friendly, indoor pool, very good breakfast included)

CedarWood Inn (quiet cozy inn between Hendersonville & Flat Rock)

Kanuga Inn & Lodging (peaceful 14,00 acre 61 room lakeside retreat w/activities)

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard Info

ADDRESS: 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville NC

PHONE NUMBER: 828-685-9083

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

PEAK FALL HOURS: Mon to Thur 9 AM-5:30 PM, Fri/Sat 9 AM- 6 PM, Sun 10 AM- 6 PM

ADMISSION: General Admission is free. Activities available as a $15 bundle, which includes entrance to the corn maze, a wagon ride, and a turn on the jump pad (for kids under 12) or the apple cannon (ages 13+).

Wagon Ride at Stepps Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC — Wagon Ride through the Apple Orchard

Driving Directions from Downtown Asheville

From Downtown Asheville, take I-240 W/US-70 W for 1.5 miles, then keep right at the fork to continue on I-26 E. Go 21.9 miles, then take exit 49A to merge onto US-64 E toward Bat Cave.

In 0.2 miles, merge onto US-64E, go 0.4 miles, then turn right onto Sugarloaf Rd. Follow that for 3 miles, then turn right onto Pace Rd. In 2 miles, turn left onto Stepp Orchard Dr and you’ll see the orchard entrance on your right.

Driving Directions from Downtown Hendersonville

From Downtown Hendersonville, head east on 6th Ave W towards N Main St. In 0.3 miles, 6th Ave W turns slightly right and becomes US-64 E/4 Seasons Blvd/M.L.K. Jr Blvd.

Continue on this road to follow US-64E. In 2.1 miles, take a slight right onto Sugarloaf Rd, then go 3 miles and turn left onto Pace Rd. After 2 miles, turn left onto Stepp Orchard Dr. and the entrance will be on the right.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard History

It was over 50 years ago that J.H. Stepp Jr. and his family bought this Hendersonville NC farm, which had previously been owned by a distant cousin named Polk Hill.

Hill often let friends pick apples from the orchard after his wholesale season ended, while the Stepp family had owned J.H. Stepp & Sons Packing House, General Store & Hardware in the rural community of Dana NC.

After J.H. and wife Yvonne renamed the orchard Hillcrest, she and her mother would sell apples out of a car. They soon upgraded to a 8′ x 8′ farm stand, and by 1975 the current Apple House had been finished.

The Stepps’ sons, Joby and Mike, began working full-time in the apple orchard, and also oversaw 200 adjacent rented acres of farmland.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard was among the first farms in North Carolina to offer ‘U-pick’ apples, and opened one of the first commercial packing houses in Henderson County.

J.H. was named Apple Farmer of the Year in 2010, and was a board member for the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association and the North Carolina Apple Growers Association.

J.H. and Yvonne Stepp have since passed away, and Joby ultimately got married and moved to Virginia. But Mike, his wife Rita, their kids and grandkids still operate the family-owned NC farm today!

Apple Picking in Hendersonville NC — Bret Love picking apples at Stepps Hillcrest Orchard

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard Apple Picking

In addition to the pre-picked apples available at their farm market, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard offers over 25 different apple varieties to be picked by visitors.

Crimson Crisp, Early Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Jonagold, and Shizuka are among those that typically reach their peak ripeness in Autumn.

Check their website or Facebook page to find out exactly what varieties are ready to be picked the week you plan to visit the farm.

They will provide bags for your bounty, so all you have to do is grab the ones that look tastiest!

After you finish, stop by the Farm Market to get a taste of some of the delicious apple goodies for sale. We loved their freshly made apple doughnuts, warming hot cider, and a cooling apple cider slushie.

They also have an array of Stepp’s merchandise (from t-shirts and hoodies to hats), as well as lots of local goodies, such as jams, jellies, and jewelry.

Mary Gabbett with Pumpkins at Stepps Hillcrest Orchard

Other U-Pick Options at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard

If you’re still up for more u-pick action, you’ll find 15 varieties of pumpkins in Stepp’s North Carolina pumpkin patch.

There are many pumpkins perfect for carving jack o’lanterns, and others that are ready to be baked into pie. They also have mini pumpkins, warty goblins, and moonshine pumpkins!

Fruit lovers can grab a box and some clippers, then head over to the vineyard to get some sweet, delicious grapes. The farm has Steuben, Fredonia, and Sunbelt grapes, all perfect for snacking on or making tasty jams and jellies.

If you really want to go to town with your Fall decorations, head out to their flower fields and cut yourself an arm full of sunflowers or zinnias.

The family farm provides clippers and take-home baskets for all their u-pick guests.

Apple Cannon at Stepps Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville NC — Mary Gabbett shooting the Apple Cannon at Stepps

More Family-Friendly Activities

There are seemingly endless activities at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard that could keep you and your kids entertained for hours. Here are just a few highlights of our visit:

Apple Cannon

We had a blast getting a bucket of apples (ones that have been deemed too small or misshapen to sell), loading them into the apple cannon, and seeing if we could hit the metal targets.

It’s a great chance to get the family together and have a friendly competition to see who can hit the most targets, or get their apple to go the furthest.

Jump Pad

Got a kid with energy to spare? They’ll love the farm’s large jump pad!

This giant inflatable is great fun for kids ages 12 and under, and it’s a wonderful way to have burn off some of their sugar rush while you kick back and relax.

Picnic Area

Bring your own basket of goodies, check out the local food trucks on weekends, or grab some treats from the Farm Market and head under the farm’s covered picnic area for a family lunch surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Corn Maze

It wouldn’t be fall in North Carolina without getting yourself lost in a corn maze!

Stepp’s professionally cut 5-acre corn maze will keep family members of all ages entertained, and will certainly put your navigation skills to the test. There’s also a smaller corn maze for young kids.

Wagon Rides

It would hardly be a complete trip to the farm without a wagon ride. If you visit on the weekend, hop on one of the wagons and Farmer Mike will take you on a tour of the orchard that hits all the highlights. Children under the age of two do not need a ticket to ride. -by Emma Gallagher; all photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett