13 corn mazes to explore in Toronto and the GTA

by Jeff Cottrill

Summer may be almost over, but fall has its own fun things to look forward to, like Thanksgiving, Halloween, jumping into leaf piles ... and corn mazes! Since the 1990s, farms all over the world have crafted mazes in their cornfields, where visitors and tourists and their families can walk through them, get lost and sometimes even solve puzzles or embark on scavenger hunts. The more ambitious mazes are cropped into designs or shapes that you can see only from a plane or helicopter. And Southern Ontario has a bunch of them, only a short drive away from the big city! So, put on your farm clothes and your best walking shoes, and take a trip to one of these mazes in Toronto and the GTA.

Hanes Corn Maze
The Hanes maze in Dundas boasts twenty acres of three-metre cornstalks in which kids and grownups can solve a Human-Size Puzzle by searching for checkpoints. It’s also known for complex designs; this year, it’s a giant 150th Birthday tribute to Canada. The farm also has a mini-theme park for kids, Farmland ($2 admission for all ages), with animals, activities and a smaller maze.

• Hours: Daily, 10 am to 5 pm; extends to 9 pm in October (8 pm on Thanksgiving Day); nighttime maze visits available for groups who call ahead
• Admission: $12 adults and teens; $11 seniors; $10 children aged six to twelve; $2 children under six
• More information

Lindley’s Farm & Market
Another farm that takes pride in its complex maze designs, Lindley’s in Ancaster has boasted tributes to the Canadian flag, Foodland Ontario, Rotary Hamilton and even itself. This maze has one-and-a-half miles of trails with a puzzle and prizes, as well as emergency exits for those who need to get out right away. The farm’s pumpkin hayrides are also popular.

• Hours: Weekends and holidays, 10 am to 4 pm, from October 1; groups only on weekdays
• Admission: $7
• More information

Richardson’s Farm & Market
This one’s a bit of a drive around the Niagara Horseshoe in Dunnville, but its three-acre corn maze is accompanied by other kinds of mazes made of straw bales, ropes and more. There’s also an animal petting area and a farm market.

• Hours: Weekdays, 9 am to 6 pm; weekends, 9 am to 5 pm, from September 30
• Admission: Unavailable
• More information

Stonehaven Farms
Past maze designs at this Campbellville farm have included “Tractor with Flat Tire,” and this year, Stonehaven is promoting the maze with the slogan, “Keep Calm and Escape the Maze.” The farm also has wagon tours, a Kids Zone with straw piles and a large sandbox, and a market full of freshly picked fruits and baked goods. Pumpkin picking available in October.

• Hours: Daily, 12 to 5 pm; nighttime maze visits available for groups who call ahead
• More information

Brooks Farms
Now here’s the one to come to if you’ve got restless kids. Brooks in Mount Albert has a Barnyard Playland with a pirate ship, a fire truck, rides, shows with animated singing chickens, zip lines, train rides, a jump pad, farm animals ... and, of course, a corn maze from the end of August. Grownups can pick their own pumpkins, apples, strawberries and raspberries.

• Hours: Daily, 9 to 5 pm
• Admission: $10; free for kids 2 and younger
• More information

Cooper’s CSA Farm & Maze
Steve and Lisa Cooper run a ten-acre corn maze in Zephyr that has become famous for its past themed designs, from the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs logos to last year’s Game of Thrones tribute. No word as of this writing if there’s another big theme this year, though. Wagon rides begin on September 23, with raspberry and pumpkin picking before the end of October.

• Hours: Weekends, 10 am to 5 pm
• Admission: $10
• More information

Dixie Orchards
A family-owned apple farm in southern Caledon, Dixie has a corn maze and straw jump, along with wagon rides on weekends, farm animals, a bakery and market, and pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. The farm offers pizza and snacks on weekends as well.

• Hours: Daily, 10 am to 5:30 pm, until the end of October
• Admission: Unavailable, though school tours are $7.91 (including HST) per student
• More information

Downey’s Farm Market
This farm north of Brampton is observing Canada’s sesquicentennial in style: its maze has been cut into a maple leaf, the Canada 150 logo and the words “TRUE NORTH STRONG AND FREE.” Allow about forty-five minutes to complete ten kilometres of trails; add extra time to play Finger Funnies or Corny Characters. There’s also a family play area with animals, mini-golf and a giant sandbox.

• Hours: Daily, 10 am to 5 pm, until October 31
• Admission: $9
• More information

Forsythe Family Farms
Forsythe’s two-acre maze is just one of the attractions and activities at this Uxbridge farm; there are also walking trails, wagon rides, an adventure playground, themed scavenger hunts, tricycle and pedal-kart tracks and lots of animals, including bunnies at a designated cuddle station.

• Hours: Weekdays, 9 am to 6 pm; weekends, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: $3.50 weekdays, $6.50 weekends
• More information

Knox Pumpkin Farm
Other fun activities for the kidlets at this pumpkin-picking farm include wagon rides, $5 pony rides, face painting, a play area and farm animals. Located in Hampton, just north of Courtice, Knox has been standing since the eighteenth century.

• Hours: Daily, 10 am to 5 pm, from September 30 to October 31
• Admission: $5 weekdays, TBD weekends
• More information

Pingle’s Farm Market
This Oshawa-area maze, measuring eight acres, is also known for designs with big themes; this year’s image is yet to be announced as of this writing, but the 2016 maze had a sports theme. Allow as much as an hour for this one. You can also win a prize by answering questions and submitting answers at the farm market. Pingle’s also includes a giant slide, mini-golf, a straw jump and farm animals to visit.

• Hours: Weekdays: 9 am to 5 pm, weekends and holidays: 11 am to 4 pm
• Admission: $7
• More information

Whittamore’s Farm
Known for berry-picking a short drive away from the city, this Markham farm also has Pumpkinland, a large kiddie play area with a corn maze, rides, shows, more singing animated chickens, animals, sand lots, jumpers, slides, swings and more. Your kids can lose themselves for a full day here while you check out the farm shop and relax in the picnic area.

• Hours: Daily, 10 am to 5 pm
• Admission: $9 weekdays; $13 weekends and Thanksgiving; $48 family of four on weekends; $40 season passes available
• More information

William Meany Hedge Maze
And if you don’t want to leave the city, why not take a ferry to Centre Island and try out this hedge maze operated by the City of Toronto? Rebuilt and reopened in 2015 after a $200,000 donation by businessman Meany, who wanted to bring back the old Island maze of his childhood memories, the maze has walls made of more than 1,200 newly planted black cedars. Fall ferry service began on September 4.

• Admission: Free
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