New shuttle and one-way traffic to help alleviate Apple Hill congestion

Fall in El Dorado County means several things, but on the top of many lists is a trip to Apple Hill during the month of October.

Weekend crowds are already heading to the farms, wineries and breweries from Placerville to Pollock Pines, but the thousands of cars that make the trip each week during the month of October have prompted transportation, farming, tourism, safety and County officials to work together to alleviate the weekend gridlock on area roads.

Starting in October there will be a free Apple Farms Shuttle each Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. that will transport people along a 10.8 mile loop from the parking lot at Sierra Pacific Industries to 12 stops along the route, three wineries and nine orchards, bakeries and farms.

Funded through a grant from the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District with support from El Dorado County, SMUD and Sierra Pacific Industries, the four 30-seat El Dorado Transit buses will start the hour-long route every 15-20 minutes. Transit officials worked out 12 stops that are safe for both vehicles on the road and those exiting and boarding the buses.

Starting October 6, Carson Road from Highway 50 to Union Ridge Road (Abel's Acres) will be closed to westbound traffic on weekends except for the shuttle buses in order to help with visitor flow and to make roads each for emergency personnel to navigate. The California Highway Patrol and flaggers will be out to help direct traffic.

Until 2013 there were shuttles in the area during apple season, and transportation officials are trying again with efficient traffic planning. 65,000 vehicles pass through Placerville on each weekend day, with at least 5-7,000 of them heading to Apple Hill.

To catch the shuttles, take the Camino Exit #54 off of Highway 50 and go to 2796 Larsen Road and up the driveway (it will be marked on weekends). There will be parking for about 300 cars at the Sierra Pacific Industries lot. Shuttles will leave every 15-30 minutes and follow the route shown in the photos above. They will stop at High Hill Ranch, Rucksack Cellars (a new winery by Madrona), Boar Vista Orchards, Lewis Grace Winery, Goldbud Farms, Abel's Apple Acres, Lava Cap Winery, El Dorado Orchards, Delfino Farms (formerly knows at Kids, Inc.), Apple Pantry Farm/North Canyone Cider Company, Larsen Apple Barn (Sundays only), and Rainbow Orchards. The shuttle will drop people off at the entrance of these locations and some walking will be included. The first shuttle will leave the parking lot at 9:00 a.m., the last one will depart at 4:00 p.m.

Riders can get off at any of the 12 stops and catch another shuttle when done at that location.

The shuttles are wheelchair and handicapped accessible. No dogs are allowed unless service animals.

- Paula Peterson