Southern California is famous for not having four true seasons. But Oak Glen, in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, is one place where people go to experience autumn.
The unincorporated community has been a site for apple growing for more than 150 years
Freshly picked apples, outdoor barbecue, farm-to-table dinners, dinner theater and nature walks await them in harvest season, which traditionally begins Labor Day weekend.
ALSO SEE: Oak Glen looks forward to a good crop of apples — and tourists, Harvest time in Temecula means wine, snacks and grape stomps
Crisp air just flips a switch, according to Alison Law-Mathison.
“In the last two or three weeks, you can see people getting anxious. The minute the temperature drops about 10 degrees, people start buying pumpkins and pies and apples and cider, and they just feel glorious.”
Law-Mathison is co-owner of the shop Moms Country Orchard and member of an influential growing family. Her parents, Alex and Theresa Law, came to Oak Glen in the 1940s, owned orchards and were known for their fruit stand and Law’s Coffee Shop, beloved for its apple pies and breakfasts, among other enterprises.
Moms Country Orchards uses apples from Law’s orchard as well as other local produce for the preserves, jams and jellies it sells. She said apple butter, “made in a home kitchen,” is the store’s super seller, closely followed by Christmas jam.
Oak Glen is about 4,700 feet above sea level and “right on the San Andreas Fault” and at a good height for snow, which Law-Mathison said gives the community a good water supply. But being part of nature also makes the community vulnerable in late summer. The Apple and El Dorado fires of 2020 caused property damage and evacuations and took the life of one firefighter. In 2023, mudslides in fire-damaged areas from Tropical Storms Hilary and Kay closed roads and damaged Oak Glen Steakhouse.
Although consuming nearly 44,000 acres in the mountains, last September’s Line Fire largely bypassed Oak Glen. And with cooler temperatures arriving as the end of summer nears, growers are hopeful for this season.
“So far, so great,” said Michael Hudson of Snow-Line Orchard, founded in 1898 and acquired by his family in the 1980s. The property boasts an apple cider press, a winery and the oldest chestnut tree west of the Mississippi, but it may be best known for the apple cider mini-doughnuts made and sold hot in its shop.
The shop also sells several varieties of apples and lets customers pick their own raspberries. Other ranches offer U-pick apples and other produce.
The mild summer has benefited Oak Glen, Hudson said.
“Apples tend to like cold weather. It’s been pretty good, not just for us but for all of the Oak Glen fruit producers.”
Some of the larger ranches have gift shops, restaurants, live entertainment and attractions such as petting zoos. Oak Tree Mountain is kind of a Knott’s Berry Farm-like operation with shops, eateries and attractions such as ax-tossing and giant slide, all anchored by Apple Annie’s Restaurant & Bakery. It’s known for its volcano-shaped Mile High Apple Pies, which sell for about $39.85 whole.
But Law-Mathison said some of her favorite attractions are free, such as the Oak Glen School House Museum, built in 1927, and nature walks at the 909-acre Oak Glen Preserve.
“We appreciate your business. But you don’t need to spend a dime. You can come up, get your kids out of the city and just relax.”
Here are some of the businesses and attractions at Oak Glen, based on their websites and social media. Because the community is unincorporated, addresses are often listed as in Yucaipa, the city down the road.
For more information, the Oak Glen Apple Growers Association has a website with more information at oakglen.net
Los Rios Rancho
39611 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, losriosrancho.com
Attractions include U-pick apples, U-press cider, a country store, a food stand selling barbecue and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Moms Country Orchards
38695 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, momsoakglen.com
This shop sells produce from the Law family orchard as well as jams, jelly, honey and other local products.
Oak Glen Preserve
39611 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/oakglen
This preserve is owned by the nonprofit Wildlands Conservancy. Activities include hiking, dog-walking, bird watching and picnicking. The entrance is at Los Rios Rancho. Admission and parking are free.
Oak Glen Schoolhouse Museum & Park
11911 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, 909-797-1691
This historical one-room schoolhouse is open noon-4 p.m. weekends. The park has picnic tables and a playground.
Oak Glen Steakhouse & Saloon
38490 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, oakglensteakhouse.com
This rustic restaurant and bar has a menu that ranges from steaks to poke, with breakfasts on weekends.
Oak Tree Mountain
38480 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, oaktreemountain.com
Businesses include Twisted Oak BBQ; Common Ground Public House; Oak Tree Mountain Slide; Pops & Drops Candy; and Axe Therapy. Oak Tree Mountain is card-only.
Riley’s Farm
12261 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, rileysfarm.com
Attractions include U-pick product, shopping, “living history” school tours and a colonial-themed restaurant. Dinner theater productions include “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in September and October.
Snow-Line Orchard
39400 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, oakglenorchard.com
This farm grows a variety of apples available for purchase in its shop, which sells hot, cold and hard cider.
Stone Oak Manor
38433 Potato Canyon Road, Oak Glen, stoneoakmanor.com
This bed & breakfast can be booked for weddings or other special events and is putting on a Halloween experience on Oct. 4. Tickets are $10-$30 and overnight stays are available.
Stone Pantry Orchard
11993 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, stonepantryorchard.com
Crops include U-pick apples, pears and pumpkins. The farm is open weekends and by appointment. It books special events.
Stone Soup Farm & Heirloom Orchard
12131 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa, stonesoupfarmca.com
The farm is open on weekends and for special occasions such as private picnics. Crops include apples, berries and flowers.
Wilshire’s Apple Shed
11925 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, losriosrancho.com/wilshires-apple-shed
This old-time roadside stand is now a coffee house and pizzeria. It is named after the Wilshire family, 19th century settlers whose descendants include performer Susan Anton, but it was acquired by members of the Riley family that owns nearby Los Rios Rancho.