There’s nothing quite like a refreshing cider after an outdoor adventure. Here, hiking and cider experts recommend memorable hikes to pair with great nearby cideries in four states.
New York
In Croton-on-Hudson, New York, just 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan, Geoff Thompson’s award-winning Thompson’s Cider Mill abuts the 1,000-acre Teatown Lake Reservation, which has more than 15 miles of tranquil trails. “It’s hard to imagine a more perfect match of cidery and hiking trails,” Thompson says.
Thompson started making cider in 1974 as a hobby, expanding production a few years later on an abandoned orchard adjacent to Teatown. “I began clearing out the forest trees that had moved in and planted new apple trees. Today the orchard includes 500-plus trees,” he says. Visitors can sample ciders like Gold Rush and purchase an impressive selection of apple varieties at the cider mill on fair-weather weekends — Thompson recommends calling in advance to make sure a member of the small team is on premise.
Per Thompson, an ideal hike could begin with the Hilltop Trail, which dates back to the 1880s and parallels his orchard. The trail makes its way down to a dam, which creates the 33-acre Teatown Lake. Hikers can explore Bailey Brook, wetlands, and boardwalks crossing a stream channel, or take on some elevation to gain a view of the Hudson Valley and Bear Mountain.
In the Empire State’s far northwest corner, Scott Donovan, founder and president of Donovan Orchards Estate Ciders in Barker, recommends cider-loving hikers check out Golden Hill State Park. Less than a 5-minute car ride or short bike ride away from his cidery, the hike offers lush forest trails and a stunning view of Lake Ontario. “The terrain gently slopes down to the water, and a must-see is Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse,” Donovan explains. Visitors can overnight at the Lighthouse Cottage or at one of the on-site yurts. But before bunking down for the night, sample a flight of the Donovan estate ciders, and return to camp with a bottle of Somerset, a local-favorite sweet cider named for a nearby town.
Rhode Island
“There’s a 14.5-mile scenic bike path with bay views that runs from Providence to Bristol, Rhode Island, called the East Bay Bike Path,” says hiking enthusiast and social media influencer and creator Meredith Ewenson. The mostly flat, fully separated path starts at India Point Park and ends at Independence Park, offering scenic views and enticing stops — such as Tizzy K’s Cereal Ice Cream and Folklore Provisions, a cafe inspired by one of the co-owners’ Azorean heritage — along the way.
“Just one minute — literally — off the well-paved trail in Warren is Sowam’s Cider Works Company,” Ewenson says. There, cidermaker Spencer Morris uses traditional techniques such as apple sweating and natural carbonation to process in small batches the over 70 varieties of apples he grows himself. Visitors can sample ciders showcasing now-rare single varietals like the Rhode Island Greening and blends like Winecrisp with crabapples in the cozy tasting room on Child Street.
Pennsylvania
Located on a former golf course in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Yinzer Valley Farms boasts an indoor-outdoor facility with a rotating selection of a dozen ciders. Each year, the venue welcomes local makers like Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream and Stone Clay Co. and more than a thousand attendees for the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour’s Bonfires, Barrels & Boos event.
When he’s not playing host, however, Yinzer Valley Farms founder and president Michael Smetak likes to hike on the historic Coal & Coke Trail, less than 3 miles from his farm and welcoming to visitors year-round. In the warm months, find shaded access to views of Jacob’s Creek; during the colder seasons, spectacular fall foliage and wintertime outdoor accessibility make the trail a draw. Smetak recommends stopping in after a hike for a pint of Yinzer’s ciders, including its most popular, Blueberry Lemon, which is “crisp and refreshing — not too sweet, and not too tart.”
Washington
Vashon Island, Washington, accessible by ferry from Seattle, is home to two orchard cideries: Dragon’s Head Cider and Nashi Orchards. May through October, visitors to the Dragon’s Head orchard are welcome to bring their own lunch to enjoy alongside a bottle or glass of English-style cider like the award-winning Kingston Black at outdoor tables, or while lounging in Adirondack chairs or hammocks. This makes it the perfect respite after an Island Center Forest hike, which has over 9 miles of trails featuring forest stands, meadows, and wetlands and is home to over 70 species of birds, says Nichole Banducci, executive director of the Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce. Better yet, the orchard is directly accessible via the Meadowlake Trail.
Given the proximity of the two Vashon orchards, visiting both in a single day is a distinct possibility. Less than a mile from Dragon’s Head, Nashi Orchards is best known for cultivating a selection of heirloom Asian pears for its pear ciders. Banducci recommends pairing Nashi with a visit to Shinglemill Creek Trailhead, a serene loop trail less than 2 miles away. Even a designated driver could enjoy some well-made drinks on such an outing: Banducci notes that Nashi produces a “delicious and complex selection of non-alcoholic perry.”
Crystie Kisler, co-founder of Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum on the Olympic Peninsula, says her favorite nearby hike is the Lakeside Trail at Anderson Lake State Park. “It’s a peaceful sojourn into the forest with lovely views of the water as you circumnavigate,” Kisler says. She notes that it takes about an hour to walk around the lake, but hikers may also extend their route into the cedar, fir and alder forest via trail offshoots. Back at Finnriver, visitors can take in views of the organic orchard and neighboring flower fields. “On a clear day, you can see the forested ridge of the Olympic Mountains in the distance,” says Kisler, who recommends capping off a successful hike with a bottle of one of the Finnriver ciders that feature ingredients sourced from the regions’ forests, such as Forest Ginger, Tideline, or Fruits of the Forest.
East of the Cascade Range in central Washington, Ali Griffin, marketing director at Tieton Cider Works in Yakima, recommends pairing a cidery visit with a trip to the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy trails. “The East trailhead of Cowiche Canyon Conservancy offers a scenic and accessible hiking experience, featuring basalt cliffs, seasonal wildflowers, and the flow of Cowiche Creek,” Griffin explains. Hikers can follow an old railroad grade and spot wildlife like mule deer, songbirds and bald eagles. Because the relatively level route features packed dirt and gravel, she notes that the hike works for a variety of ages and ability levels. Just a 15-minute drive from the east trailhead, Tieton boasts 55 acres of orchard, making it one of the biggest cider-apple growers on the West Coast. At the Tieton tasting room, Griffin recommends sampling the brand’s series of single-varietal ciders, which showcase the unique profiles of various high-acid, tannic cider apples, such as Golden Russet, an American cultivar known as the “Champagne of cider apples.”
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