Acres of Apples

This loop winds through a magnificent apple country landscape of orchards and farms, and through the hamlet of Peru, a charming town that retains vestiges of its agrarian past.
The upper Champlain Valley is one of the highest producing apple areas in the United States, second only to regions in Washington. While traveling Acres of Apples you will travel through five different apple orchards.

The orchards that mark the countryside of Peru had humble beginnings as backyard orchards in the late 1890s. The first commercial orchard, Northern Orchards which is on the route, began production in 1906. The larger orchards are in excess of 5,000 acres, and approximately 80% of the apple trees are of the McIntosh variety. These trees are ideally suited to the Champlain Valley due to their ability to withstand harsh winters, and to mature in a shorter growing season. In addition, this loop passes the largest dairy farm in Clinton County and offers
a spectacular view of a river carved gorge at Ausable Chasm.

Easy

0.0 Port Kent Ferry Dock – Parking.
0.2 R on Lake Street.
3.5 R at Route 9.
6.3 L at Bear Swamp Road/Route 442.
10.4 R on Route 22.
10.6 Hamlet of Peru, L on Route 22B.
11.7 L on Mannix Road.
12.4 L on Old Town Road.
13.0 L on Barney Downs Road.
13.3 L on River Road.
13.8 R on Jarvis Road (becomes Union).
16.3 L on Brown Road.
17.5 R on Route 22.
18.0 L on Arthur Road.
18.7 R on Chasm Road.
19.5 L to stay on Chasm Road.
20.7 L on Route 9.
21.1 R on Route 373
24.4 Port Kent Ferry Dock.
Fees
no
Tours Are Offered
no
Site is Child-friendly
yes