Excelsior Orchards
Where Excelsior Orchards is located
Head into Paonia, CO and you'll come across Excelsior Orchards on the surrounding farmland. It's a family-run corner of Colorado's harvest scene and easy to reach for anyone within an hour of town.
From Paonia center, 14140 Dry Gulch Road is a short drive on county roads. Weekend traffic can back up near the entrance on peak fall Saturdays, arriving before 11 a.m. usually skips the wait.
Nearby you'll find the kind of scenery Colorado does well in October, farm stands, rural churches, and roads lined with maples turning red. It's a solid half-day out even without leaving Paonia.
Weather at Excelsior Orchards
Live forecast for the orchard's location, check conditions before you head out to pick.
Excelsior Orchards is a working apple orchard in Paonia, Colorado. The listing below pulls together the practical details visitors ask about most, location, contact info, and whatever hours, varieties, or activities the farm has confirmed with us.
Pick-Your-Own Apples at Excelsior Orchards
Pick-your-own is available at Excelsior Orchards during the harvest window. Guests walk the rows, pick straight from the tree, and settle up at the farm stand.
On-Farm Activities
Best Time to Visit
Apple season at Excelsior Orchards tracks the rest of Colorado. Most fruit ripens between late August and late October. For photographers and casual pickers alike, the first three weekends of October tend to be the sweet spot, cooler mornings, changing leaves, and the widest variety selection.
Peak-weekend crowds cluster around lunchtime, so either come early (before 10 a.m.) or late (after 3 p.m.) to skip the busiest hour. Weekdays are the most relaxed by a wide margin.
What to Bring
- • Cash (backup for the farm stand)
- • Closed-toe walking shoes
- • A light jacket or flannel
- • Sunscreen and a hat
- • Water bottles for the walk
- • Reusable bags for the ride home
- • A camera or phone charged for photos
- • Small bills for cider and donuts
Where Excelsior Orchards is located
Head into Paonia, CO and you'll come across Excelsior Orchards on the surrounding farmland. It's a family-run corner of Colorado's harvest scene and easy to reach for anyone within an hour of town.
From Paonia center, 14140 Dry Gulch Road is a short drive on county roads. Weekend traffic can back up near the entrance on peak fall Saturdays, arriving before 11 a.m. usually skips the wait.
Nearby you'll find the kind of scenery Colorado does well in October, farm stands, rural churches, and roads lined with maples turning red. It's a solid half-day out even without leaving Paonia.
Weather at Excelsior Orchards
Live forecast for the orchard's location, check conditions before you head out to pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excelsior Orchards offer pick-your-own apples?+
Yes. Excelsior Orchards runs pick-your-own during the apple harvest. Guests walk the rows, pick straight from the tree, and pay at the farm stand.
What else is there to do at Excelsior Orchards?+
Beyond picking, Excelsior Orchards offers pick-your-own.
Data source: Google Places · Confidence: Medium
Visitor reviews
Be the first to review Excelsior Orchards.
More apple orchards in Colorado
See all →Boulder, CO
Cultiva! Youth Project
Penrose, CO
Third Street Apples
Boulder, CO
63rd St. Farm
Ault, CO
Adams Apple Country Store
Penrose, CO
Ferrara's Happy Apple Farm
Glenwood Springs, CO
Orchard Creek Ranch
Plan the rest of your apple day
What's ripening these days →
See which varieties are ready to pick right now across Colorado.
Apple varieties guide →
Compare 50+ apples by taste, texture, and best use before you visit.
Recipes for your haul →
Pies, crisps, cider, butter, and more, tested with fresh-picked apples.
U-Pick day checklist →
What to bring, what to ask, and how to pick apples that store well.
More orchards near you →
Find the closest U-Pick farms sorted by distance from your location.
Read the orchard blog →
Seasonal guides, apple news, and tips from growers across the US.