THE ULSTER COUNTY FALL FARM TRAIL
Headed north up the Hudson River, the towns of Marlboro, Milton and Highland are surrounded by acres of orchards, vineyards, farmers markets and open landscapes – making this corner of Ulster County a fall-fan favorite. Apples dangle ready for picking. Farm stands are piled high with the seasons’ harvest. Tasting rooms pour wines and ciders made with the fruit from the backyard.
Start early and take on this Fall Farm Trail in one ambitious day, stretch it across a weekend getaway, or choose a few stops and make the trail your own.
However you do it, just be sure to start with an empty stomach and spacious trunk. You’re going to need it.
YELLOW FLAG: SEASONAL HOUR REMINDER
Many farms, orchards and tasting rooms operate seasonally or only on select days of the week, so check individual destinations business hours before leaving for your adventure.
THE TRAILHEAD: MARLBORO
Every scrapbook-worthy road trip deserves a proper send-off, and this one starts with a hot cup of joe from Fermata Cafe & Roastery. The independent roastery blends Italian coffee culture with Hudson Valley ingredients, including local honey, apples from nearby Prospect Hill Orchards and sourdough from Gardiner Bakehouse.
Once every cup holder is occupied, it’s go time. Wander the rows at Borchert Orchards, see what’s in season at Caradonna Farms or head to Weed Orchards & Winery, where the transition from picking to sipping can happen without ever leaving the property.
Choose what catches your eye, make your first picks and tuck the bags safely into the trunk. There’s plenty of road ahead.
STOP ONE: MILTON
Sip on your coffee while you make the short drive up to Milton, where farm stands, orchards and flower fields make pulling over something that can’t be argued. Browse Overlook Farm Market Home Stand to see what the latest harvest has brought in, or follow the area’s fruit-growing tradition to Locust Grove Fruit Farm.
And nobody said everything you pick has to be edible. From mid-July through October, Hudson Wildflower Co. opens its fields for U-pick flowers. Walk among rows of cosmos, zinnias and dahlias, bucket in hand, and build a bouquet from the colors that catch your eye.
By now, the trunk should be looking pretty good. The flowers, however, get the good seat up front. Time to head back down to Marlboro to try some local flavors.
STOP TWO: MARLBORO WINE COUNTRY
You won’t have to travel too far north before the orchards begin giving way to vineyards. Marlboro is home to a collection of tasting rooms that each offer a different reason to pull over. Maybe it’s the sweeping Hudson Valley scenery at Benmarl Winery, wine and cider at Quartz Rock Vineyard and Cider House, a tasting at The Kedem Tasting Room, or wine and spirits made on-site at Stoutridge Distillery and Winery that calls your name.
Pick the view, pour or tasting room that catches your attention and save a favorite bottle for the trunk.
Back down in the hamlet, across from Fermata, The Shoppes at River & Rooted gathers candles, jewelry, clothing and gifts from a rotating group of Hudson Valley makers. A short walk up 9W, Roots and Relics adds vintage finds, secondhand clothing and houseplants to the haul.
When hunger catches up with you, Brix Gastropub serves locally harvested ingredients across a seasonal Hudson Valley menu. Or settle into the Raccoon Saloon, a local fixture for more than 40 years known for burgers, French onion soup and views overlooking the Marlboro falls and Hudson River. If the trail runs into the evening, The Falcon pairs dinner with live music in a historic building perched over the same falls.
STOP THREE: HILLTOP FARM
Beyond weekend picking, Prospect Orchards Hilltop Farm is home to the 1817 Taproom, an on-site cider house and distillery serving cider, wine, beer and cocktails made with the farm’s own fruit, including HVO apple brandy. Talk about a farm-to-glass experience.
Keep the local pours pouring with a weekend tasting at Nostrano Vineyards, or grab a pint at Locust Grove Brewing Company, where beer, cider, food trucks and frequent live music share the farm property. From here, you can call it a night nearby and save the rest of the trail for tomorrow or see how much daylight you have left and keep going. Either way, it’s a win-win.
STOP FOUR: HIGHLAND
Keep the U-pick experience going at DuBois Farms or browse the stand at Laughing Fork Farm for a few final finds before trading the harvest for another local pour. If it’s Sunday, Bad Seed Cider Taproom and Farm Bar offer cider right at the Highland farm. For a full meal, The Ridge by Mill House overlooks an apple orchard with mountain views while serving a seasonal American menu featuring harvest bowls, smash burgers and more.
By now, the backseat smells a little like apples, the flowers are riding shotgun and finding another inch of trunk space may take some creativity. That’s a pretty good sign you’ve done the trail right.
FINAL STOP: NEW PALTZ
As the sun takes its place behind the Catskills, begin heading west toward New Paltz to settle in for the night.
Mohonk Mountain House is a family favorite with a Victorian charm. However, to make sure you experience the resort to the fullest, be sure to book your stay or get a day pass your trip. Now, if you’re looking for something a little more quaint, check-in at the New Paltz Way Hotel or The Inn at Kettleboro – each offering its own blend of comfort and relaxation.
New Paltz has a variety of cozy inns, bed and breakfasts, lodges and convenient hotels to choose from, creating plenty of ways to wind down after a full day on the Farm Trail. But no matter where you rest your head, you’re sure to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another day spent upstate.
THE SUMMIT
Before you close the trunk and head inside for the night, take inventory. Apples from an orchard. Produce from a farm stand. A bottle discovered among the vineyards. A bouquet stretched across the backseat because there wasn’t room anywhere else. That’s the Fall Farm Trail: following Ulster County’s harvest from where it grows to where it’s poured, served and packed up to enjoy at home. It’s a long day. But take one look at the trunk and you’ll know it was worth it.
