Pleasant Valley Orchard — Pumpkin Patch & Apple Picking in Shafer, MN

St. Croix Valley orchard with rolling hilltop views, summer berries, fall caramel apples, and weekend wagon rides to the patch.

Pleasant Valley Orchard in Shafer, Minnesota is the Twin Cities-area apple destination — about 45 minutes northeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul — with apples (August-October), pumpkins (September-October), and the iconic Minnesota Honeycrisp pick-your-own (Honeycrisp was developed at the University of Minnesota, and Minnesota orchards remain the variety's spiritual home). The on-site bakery handles cider donuts and pies; the country market handles year-round visitors. Multiple seasonal events drive heavy October weekend traffic from the Twin Cities.