By Alicia Doyle
Sunday Signal Writer
Santa Clarita residents need not look far for a real “You Pick ‘Em” experience. Throughout the seasons, farms in and around Santa Clarita burst into color, offering locals the chance to harvest apples, pumpkins, berries and farm-fresh veggies straight from the source.
Underwood Family Farms
Just 45 minutes south of Santa Clarita along a stretch of peaceful backroads, Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark offers a true harvest-time adventure for families seeking hands-on fun and fresh-picked flavor.
October’s Pick-Your-Own bounty includes crisp green beans, peppery arugula, ruby-red raspberries, sweet bell peppers, beets, tender bok choy, eggplants and leafy greens. Tomatoes of every kind — baby, heirloom, and even the green varieties — share space with kale, spinach, cucumbers and an array of summer squashes.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Underwood’s Pick-Your-Own fields welcome visitors year-round, except on major holidays. The farm’s setup allows guests to wander wide, open acres at their own pace, with space enough to keep comfortable distances while enjoying the simple pleasure of harvesting food straight from the earth.
Underwood Family Farms is located at 3370 Sunset Valley Road in Moorpark, 93021. For more information, call (805) 529-3690 or visit underwoodfamilyfarms.com.
Riley’s Apple Farm
Drive 90 minutes east to Oak Glen and discover Riley’s Apple Farm — a classic, high-altitude orchard where apples taste fresher thanks to the cool mountain air. Founded in the late 1800s, Riley’s is as much a living history museum as it is a pick-your-own destination.
During the normal agricultural cycle — which usually runs from late April to early November — guests tour the groves with a basket in hand, gathering Braeburns, Maiden’s Blush and Grimes Golden. Aside from apples, visitors can also pick from a selection of white pumpkins, zinnias and sunflowers.
Fall weekends bring pumpkin picking, old-fashioned games, campfire cooking and live folk performances. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for group tours and educational programs.
Riley’s Apple Farm is located at 12261 S. Oak Glen Road in Oak Glen, 92399. For information, call (909) 797-7534 or visit rileysfarm.com.
Snow-Line Orchard
Snow-Line Orchard, perched high atop the San Bernardino Mountains in the historic community of Oak Glen, has been welcoming visitors for well over a century. Founded in 1898 by Isaac Ford, the orchard began with a promise to deliver “Sky High Quality” — and that dedication still shines through today.
Each year, the orchard’s raspberry season transforms the hillside into a vibrant, pick-your-own paradise. Families arrive basket in hand, ready to fill them with plump, sun-sweetened raspberries that only appear once a year. Because the picking window depends on weather, visitors follow Snow-Line’s updates on Facebook to catch the harvest at its peak. Between brimming vines, crisp mountain air and panoramic views, it’s the kind of simple pleasure that keeps families returning year after year.
But there’s more to Snow-Line than berries. Visitors can step inside the original packing shed and cider mill, savor handmade goods, and relax at rustic picnic grounds framed by mountain scenery and historic buildings kissed by autumn color.
Snow-Line Orchard is located at 39400 Oak Glen Road in Oak Glen, 92399. For information, call (909) 797-3415 or visit oakglenorchard.com/
Prancer’s Farm
Prancer’s Farm in Santa Paula offers families a chance to celebrate the seasons in pure farm-country style. When spring and summer roll around, the farm transforms into a sprawling strawberry haven where visitors — baskets in hand — wander sunny fields to pluck their own ripe, juicy berries straight from the vine. Buying containers at the fruit stand is the first step in an outing that brings friends and families together, from backyard neighbors to big field trip groups exploring forty acres of working farmland.
By autumn, the farm’s festive spirit only grows. Through October 26, Prancer’s iconic pumpkin patch pops with color, offering row upon row of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes — everything from classic carvers to quirky heirlooms just waiting for a spot on the porch or in the family photo album. Guests stroll the patch, soaking in cozy fall vibes or searching for that picture-perfect pumpkin to carry home for baking or decorating.
Prancer’s Farm is located at 8540 E. Telegraph Road in Santa Paula, 93060. For more information, call (805) 824-7015 or visit www.prancersfarm.com.
2026 Picking Season
Villa del Sol
Villa del Sol cherry farm beckons visitors to a slice of agricultural paradise nestled in Leona Valley, where families have been cultivating ruby-red treasures since 1999. This 25-acre working orchard isn’t just another pick-your-own destination — it’s a carefully orchestrated symphony of terrain and climate. The farm cascades down a south-facing slope where morning rays warm the earth — protecting delicate blossoms from spring’s fickle frosts — while filtered warm air through the branches nurtures what becomes a once-yearly harvest.
Though Villa del Sol is closed for the 2025 season, the anticipation for next year’s harvest already begins to build in this special corner of the Santa Clarita Valley. The cherry picking season at Villa del Sol is fleeting magic, typically running from late May through early July. Dedicated caretakers tend the trees daily, preparing for those precious few weeks when visitors experience the satisfaction of plucking sun-warmed cherries straight from the branch.
Despite facing the same inflationary pressures hitting farms everywhere — from skyrocketing water costs to expensive equipment and fertilizer — the decision has been made to keep prices unchanged, a gesture of appreciation for loyal customers who understand the farm’s simple philosophy: “Pick, Pay then Eat”.
Operating with a strict u-pick-only policy, Villa del Sol requires a $10 minimum purchase per person and maintains a no-sampling rule in the orchards — a business necessity for an operation that sells cherries for just a few weeks each year.
Villa del Sol is located at 6989 Elizabeth Lake Road in Leona Valley, 93551. While they had a short 2025 season, it is the largest cherry you-pick orchard in southern California. To keep abreast of the next season, visitwww.upickcherries.com.
JL Farms U-Pick Cherries
Though JL Farms U-Pick Cherries has closed for the 2025 season, the gates to this Littlerock orchard will swing open again come peak cherry-picking time in the Antelope Valley. As the oldest family-run cherry orchard in Littlerock, JL Farms carries the kind of history you can taste. Their 650 trees, half heavy with golden-red Rainier cherries and the rest brimming with deep crimson Lapin, Bing, and Brooks, sit just seven to nine feet tall — perfect for little hands to reach.
During cherry season, the orchard can get lively, and visitors are asked to check JL Farms’ website or “Cherry hotline” at (661) 944-9903 for daily updates. On busy days, entry is staggered to ensure everyone has room to pick at leisure. Heavy-duty plastic bags are provided for harvesting and carrying cherries home — no outside containers or buckets — and visitors should come prepared with their own sanitizer or wipes, as no washing stations are available on-site.
JL Farms keeps its orchard a peaceful, family-friendly haven. That means no picnics, ice chests, coolers, or backpacks among the trees — and children must stay close to their grown-ups. Whatever cherries you pick, you buy; sampling for ripeness is fine, but plucking stems and leaves harms next year’s crop.
JL Farms is located at 7651 East Avenue U, Littlerock, 93543. To keep up-to-date on the next season, visit cherriesupick.com.
Tips for Your Pick ’Em Adventure
Call ahead or check farm websites for crop updates, weather advisories, and appointment requirements. Many locations suggest sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and most operate cash-only stands. Bring containers for your haul, along with a camera to capture fall’s unforgettable colors.
You pick ’em farms invite the community to celebrate local agriculture, support family-owned businesses and soak up autumn’s sensory delights — all with a basket in hand and fresh air on your cheeks. Whether searching for the perfect pumpkin, a crisp apple, or a box of just-picked berries, these spots promise a satisfying seasonal adventure.
