Tall, faded stalks of corn loom overhead, rustling in the wind and bending to obscure the entrance to a foot path the winds away out of sight. Corn mazes sit at a delicious intersection of wholesome fall family fun and scary Halloween antics. Depending whether you go during the day or at night, with little kids, a group of friends, or a date, they have the capacity to be goofy or spooky, contemplative or terrifying, and maybe even romantic?
Anyway, these fleeting labyrinthine sculpture parks are a hallmark of fall upstate and something local farms take pride in. Here are five of the best corn mazes in the Hudson Valley plus one super scary option. Got another one that you love? Pop it in the comments section below!
Fishkill Farms | Fishkill
Fishkill Farms’ one-acre corn maze has always been a fun, feel-good fall draw, with money from admission going to charities. This year, 30 percent of each $5 ticket will be split between Cider Mill Friends, Cider Institute, Hudson Valley Research Lab, and Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York. The maze is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm and tickets are sold on the spot. Reservations are required for both U-Pick with a complimentary wagon ride included. You can purchase tickets on the website.
Kesicke Farm | Rhinebeck
Kesicke Farm Fall Festival runs weekends 10am-5pm from September 20 through October 26, from 10am to 5pm. The property spans 240 acres, and fall fun includes a large corn maze ($8), hay wagon rides ($6), a petting zoo, and U-Pick pumpkins (priced by size). You can also buy farm-raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and eggs, and fresh-baked cider donuts at the farm store. One of our readers commented, “The corn maze gets better and better every year! They really are a family farm and you can feel that when you are there.” Kesicke Farm is cash only, but there is an ATM onsite.
Hurds Family Farm | Modena
From family hayrides and U-pick apples and pumpkins to pony rides, the 125-acre Hurds Family Farm is the picture of fall fun. The farm has PYO apples and pumpkins every weekend 9am to 5pm through late October. Other kid-friendly activities include a bounce pillow, games, an obstacle course, a water cannon, cow train, mini zipline, duck racing, golf cart adventure tours, hiking, gem mining, and a petting zoo. The pollinator-themed corn maze spans a whopping two acres ($6). All-inclusive wristbands are $25-$34 when pre-purchased online or $30-$40 onsite. Kids under 3 enter free, but must be accompanied by an adult with a wristband.
Kelder’s Farm | Kerhonkson
With Gnome Chomsky, one of the world’s largest gnomes, watching jovially over the entrance, its myriad family activities, and sweeping views of the Rondout Valley, Kelder’s Farm is iconic. Take a turn on the jumping pillow, pet the animals, shoot the apple cannon, or play a round of mini golf after you wend your way through the eight-foot corn stalks of the two corn mazes. U-Pick apples and pumpkins are still available and the farm store is also open with its fresh produce and value-added goods. This year Kelder’s celebrates New York State Future Farmers of America (NYS FFA), with a portion of proceeds going to the organization. Kelder’s fall festival runs September 6 through November 2. Admission tickets are required for everyone else ages three to 79.
Minards Family Farms | Clintondale
Minards is an acclaimed agritourism destination for the whole family. A standard wristband gets you access to the bouncy pillow, chalk bus, petting zoo, spider web, pony hop, barnyard football, baseball, and basketball, tug of war, tic-tac-toe, apple checkers, pumpkin bowling, tire mountain, combine slides, tunnels, tractor climb, peddle carts, corn hole, and of course, the 2.5-acre corn maze. You can also go with the family and rent a lakeside firepit, order food at Minards Burger Joint, and go shopping for farm-fresh products at the Barn Market and Bakery.
Mead Orchards | Tivoli
After you’re done picking a bushel or two of your own fresh apples at Mead Orchards, you and the family can have a picnic on the farm or participate in any of the fun agricultural activities, including hayrides, Apple Town, a giant caterpillar tunnel, sunflower maze, and the five-acre corn maze. U-Pick is open at 10am on Fridays through Sundays. Don’t forget to snag an apple cider donut, sparkling cider, farm honey, and fresh produce at the Orchard Farmstand on your way out.
Twin Ponds on the Farm | Montgomery
Twin Ponds on the Farm may get the prize for largest corn maze, coming in at no less than SEVEN acres! The fall season opened on September 13 and runs weekends through November 15. The $17 admission gets your kids access to over 20 activities including hay pyramid, duck racing, visiting with the barnyard animals, spider web, corn hole, a game room, warp walls, a climbing wall, a tire playground, ball pit, tug-of-war, tractor pull, and more.
Outhouse Orchards | North Salem
We don’t usually dip into Westchester, but Outhouse Orchards is in the county’s northernmost town and they are open daily all fall, in case you want to play hooky with your kids. The Fall Festival season runs through November 2 and offers farm and apple picking, hay rides, a hay pyramid and a hay maze, bounce house, steer roping, duck racing, a tractor tire playground, a bubble house, and a corn maze. The farm stand offers fresh produce, baked goods, cider donuts, preserves, hard cider, and more.
Barton Orchards | Poughquag
For over 40 years, the 180-acre Barton Orchards has attracted families in fall to pick their own apples and pumpkins, while activities like pig racing, a petting zoo, hay rides, paddle karts, and live music round out the fun. Their corn maze is more than just a walk through tall stalks—each year, the five-acre labyrinth is redesigned with new twists, turns, and dead ends, offering a playful challenge whether by day or under the Friday night lights. On top of the maze, Barton offers a haunted house on Friday evenings, a fun park on festival weekends, a bark park for dogs, and a general store and creamery.
Headless Horseman | Ulster Park
You should probably leave the little ones at home for this, but for adults and teens looking for a seasonal fright, Headless Horseman’s Dark Harvest Corn Maze is deliciously terrifying. They say most who go in never come back out, so…enter at your own risk. Legend has it that Old Man Terpening found that harvesting innocent people’s blood was the only way to grow his corn crop big and tall, lending his harvest the dark coinage the Evil Reaping. Headless Horseman admission also gets you into their six nationally ranked haunted houses and other terror-inducing attractions like walking trails, the Crow Cage Maze, and spooky nighttime hayrides. (Children under 8 are not permitted.) Entrance is $68.90-$73.90 when purchased online in advance.
