12 Cranberry Bogs You Can Visit This Fall

Ever wanted to wade into a cranberry bog? No need to audition for an Ocean Spray commercial—you can immerse yourself in a sea of burgundy berries by taking a cranberry bog tour. The best time to visit is during the cranberry harvest season, which typically occurs from mid-September through mid-November.

During the fall, the bogs turn ruby-red as farmers flood their fields and maneuver harvest machines to separate the vines, letting the ripe berries float to the surface. It’s a stunning fall sight, every bit as quintessential as apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and the vibrant foliage. Take in the view while you can, though—the farmers soon step into the water to round up the berries and pump them into trucks to get cleaned and processed into sauce, juice, and all the other cranberry products you love.

Want an up-close view of the harvest? The best places to visit a cranberry bog include Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New Jersey—three of the biggest producers cranberries in the United States, per the USDA. You can also venture to Canada to see crimson bogs in British Columbia and Quebec.

Some cranberry bog tours offer a look at the farmers at work, while others invite you to wear a pair of waders and step into the water for a magical immersion in the cranberries. Either way, taking a cranberry farm tour is guaranteed to be a memorable experience. Here are 12 places to visit cranberry bogs this fall.

A.D. Makepeace Company (Wareham, Massachusetts)

Hop on the Cranberry Bog Bus Tour to see the harvest at the world’s largest cranberry grower, A.D. Makepeace Company. Named for Abel D. Makepeace, who earned the title “The Cranberry King” after developing hundreds of acres of bogs in southeastern Massachusetts in the mid-1800s, the historic company now works some 1,750 acres of bog in Wareham, Rochester, Carver, Middleborough, and Plymouth, Massachusetts. The 90-minute wet cranberry harvest tour will bring you bogside to learn more about the traditional farming practices and see the native red berries at their most beautiful.

Benson’s Pond (Middleborough, Massachusetts)

Benson’s Pond invites tourists to take a tour of its sprawling 40 acres of cranberry bogs in Middleborough, Massachusetts, during this year’s harvest season. While the third-generation family-owned farm’s popular cranberry harvest bogger experiences are already sold out, you can still catch views of the beautiful bogs on the harvest crews and brews event, complete with seasonal drinks and bites from a local food truck and live music, on October 6. Benson’s Pond also offers private cranberry bog tours and events by appointment, so reach out to the farm directly to explore your options.

Cape Farm Supply & Cranberry Company (Harwich, Massachusetts)

From spring through fall, you can take a tour of Cape Farm Supply, the largest organic cranberry bog on Cape Cod. The popular 90-minute tours focus on more than just the harvest, instead teaching visitors about how the bog is managed all 12 months of the year. You’ll also get the chance to visit with the farm animals.

Cranberry Interpretation Centre (Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec)

Want a fun day trip from Quebec City? Take a 75-minute drive to the Cranberry Interpretation Centre in Saint-Louis-de-Blandford. It offers guided cranberry bog visits during harvest season that include covered wagon rides and plenty of tastings of products made with the distinctively tart berries. While most of the tours are in French, the attraction offers English-language tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. You can also opt for an English-language VIP tour, which includes a cranberry muffin and drink, plus a self-portrait in a cranberry pool.

Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation (Long Beach, Washington)

Dedicated to teaching people about cranberries, the nonprofit Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation is open for self-guided walking tours every day from 8 a.m. until dusk. You can always get a look at different varieties of cranberries and irrigation systems throughout the year, but you’ll need to visit in October if you want to see the cranberry harvest in action. Better yet, visit during the Cranberry Harvest Weekend (October 14-15), when you can get an up-close view of the wet harvest, dig into a cranberry-infused breakfast or lunch, and listen to a local musician. Don’t miss the homemade cranberry ice cream in the gift shop!

Riverside Cranberry Farm (Langley, British Columbia)

The self-guided cranberry bog tour at Riverside Cranberry Farm is a worthwhile experience in its own right. You’ll get to stroll the perimeter of the bog as it’s being actively harvested and see antique cranberry cleaning equipment in Riverside’s new barn. But the farm is also one of the few places that lets guests put on a pair of farm waders and take a dip into the cranberry bog for that Instagram-worthy selfie. Experience it for yourself by adding on “The Cranberry Plunge” experience to your harvest tour ticket.

Rooted in Red (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin)

Cranberry season is a big time for celebration at Rooted in Red, a historic cranberry farm in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. It invites locals and travelers alike to take part in the fun at several events this fall. Look like the star of an Ocean Spray commercial during the farm’s “Stand in Floating Cranberries” experience on October 14-15. You’ll get to wear authentic waders and toss cranberries around the bog as a professional photographer captures every memorable moment. You can also take a ride on a 12-person pulled wagon for an educational cranberry bog tour in early October. It will teach you all about how cranberries are grown and harvested, along with the century-old farm’s ethical and sustainable growing practices.

Splash of Red Cranberry Tours (Pittsville, Wisconsin)

Here’s a cranberry bog tour you can feel really good about. On scattered dates throughout September and October, you can get a guided experience at a cranberry farm just east of Pittsville, Wisconsin, with Splash of Red Cranberry Tours for just $25—and the fee goes to support student scholarships. Led by students and alumni of the only cranberry science class taught in the country, the tour includes the opportunity to pick berries fresh from the vine and see the harvest and processing of berries up close. The experience ends on a sweet note with a cranberry-infused lunch and dessert.

Theodore H. Budd & Sons Cranberry Farm (Leisuretowne, New Jersey)

Want to take a tour of a cranberry bog in New Jersey? Pinelands Adventures has you covered with its guided tours of Theodore H. Budd & Sons Cranberry Farm, a Burlington County mainstay since 1852. During the two-hour wet harvest tour, you’ll get to meet the farmers and watch as they harvest cranberries in the bog.

Vilas Cranberry Company (Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin)

Every Friday from late August through early October, you can visit the Cranberry Square Farm Market in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, at 10 a.m. for a free cranberry bog tour. It starts with an educational video, educational discussion, and free samples at the farm store. Equipped with fundamental knowledge of how cranberries grow, you can then head outside to the bogs at Vilas Cranberry Company to see the harvest in real time.

Wetherby Cranberry Company (Warrens, Wisconsin)

Mark your calendar—September 30 is Public Harvest Day at Wetherby Cranberry Company, giving visitors the chance to put on waders and walk right into the bog at the 120-year-old farm during its live harvest. No reservations are required for this annual tradition. Guests also have the option to wade into this cranberry bog on Sunday, October 1 (although the farmers won’t be harvesting that day), or book a personalized VIP cranberry tour led by a third-generation grower through the end of October.

Whitesbog Historic Farm & Village (Browns Mills, New Jersey)

Listed on both the National and New Jersey State Registers of Historic Sites, Whitesbog Historic Farm & Village aims to teach people about the longstanding tradition of cranberry farming and rural life in South Jersey. It offers frequent cranberry bog tours most days during harvest season. It also hosts special cranberry-focused events, like High Tea with cranberry teas and scones on October 14 and the Cranberry Celebration & Living History Day on October 21. Come out for wagon rides and cranberry picking!