Hooverville Orchards in Placerville spreads across a genuine working orchard where you can actually pick fruit straight from the trees with your dog alongside you. The selection rotates with the seasons—cherries and peaches in early summer, then apples, pears, plums, nectarines, and berries as the year progresses. They also grow Asian pears, Bartletts, Bosc pears, boysenberries, blackberries, mandarins, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and pomelos depending on the time of year.

The orchard’s farm stand sells their own freshly baked pies, jams, and jellies made from what they grow. If you’re tired after picking, you can grab a slice of pie and find a spot to sit while your dog stretches out beside you. The open layout means there’s plenty of room to walk around, and your dog gets to experience the sights and smells of an actual orchard rather than just a manicured park.

What makes this worth the drive from lower elevation areas is the location itself. Placerville sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills, so the air feels noticeably cooler and fresher than Sacramento or the valley. You’re also positioned near the hiking trails that wind through El Dorado County’s gold country landscape—the kind of terrain with genuine views, not just suburban greenery. The elevation and tree coverage keep things more pleasant on warm days compared to lower areas.

Bring water for your dog since there’s plenty of walking involved, and the ground can get dusty during dry months. The orchard’s dog-friendly approach means leashed dogs are welcome to move through the picking areas and around the grounds. Seasonal events happen throughout the year, so if you’re visiting during harvest time, you’ll see actual activity—families picking, produce being processed—rather than an empty farm stand. Call ahead to confirm what’s currently in season and ready to pick.