The hilly Placerville and Camino area known as “Apple Hill” is certainly famous for its apple delights, but that’s not the only harvest that takes place in the hills. The quaint farmhouses and country charm of this agricultural mecca also offer a handful of scenic vineyards and walking trails. What better destination for a day of wine hiking?
Starfield Trails
Start your day at Starfield Vineyards, where the 67 acres of hillside vineyard include five kilometers of nature trails lined with towering Ponderosa pines and, depending on the season, some 10,000 flowering plants.
Enjoy a flight of red and white varietals ($10) from the El Dorado and Napa appellations to the winery, which is open for tastings by reservation, then stroll from the tasting room porch through the beautiful rose arbor and on the trails.
Details: Starfield Vineyards is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily by reservation at 2750 Jacquier Road in Placerville; www.starfieldvineyards.com.
Delfino sips
A 10-minute drive from the El Dorado trailhead, Delfino Farms offers a little bit of everything, from pies from Joan’s Apple Bakery to sips of California-style Henrietta Stitch dry cider. Wine lovers come to revel in the sights and sample the small-batch wines crafted by Delfino’s Edio Vineyards, where a flight ($15) includes four wines plus cider ($15 per person).
Christine Delfino Noonan and her brothers Peter and Derek Delfino opened the winery’s tasting room in 2021.
And if you’re looking for a short getaway, a ¾ mile trail winds through vineyards and orchards, ending in the forest at the back of the property where sheep, rabbits, ducks roam. and chickens.
Details: Delfino Farms and Edio Winery are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday at 3205 N. Canyon Road in Camino; https://delfinofarms.com. Find El Dorado trail maps at http://eldoradotrail.com.
Lunch on the high hill
An on-site restaurant at High Hill Ranch — at 155 acres, it’s the largest farm in the Apple Hill Grower’s Association — makes a great stopover if you’re craving something more substantial than deli meats. The restaurant serves barbecue dishes and burgers, as well as apple pies and apple fritters. And the property provides a fun ride anytime.
Details: High Hill Ranch is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends at 2901 High Hill Road in Placerville; www.highhillranch.com.
More hiking options
Apple Ridge Farms’ 3/4 mile nature trail — nicknamed Butterfly Walk for its butterfly wing photo op — is teeming with thousands of zinnia flowers, which stay colorful until the first frost.
For something more challenging, the El Dorado trail leads to Camino with spectacular views along the way and relatively mild weather in the fall and early winter.
Less than 15 minutes from Harris Family Farm on the east end of ‘Apple Hill’ is the Sly Park Recreation Area which has a more robust network of trails. It’s popular in the summer months for water activities and splashing Jenkinson Lake, but its nine miles of trails offer everything from easy walks to more challenging stretches along the south shore.
Details: Apple Ridge Farms is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends at 1800 Larsen Drive in Camino; https://appleridgefarms.com. Find details of Sly Park – 4771 Sly Park Road in Pollock Pines – at https://www.eid.org/recreation-5.