Corn mazes in Vermont: Here's how to pick the right one for you

It wouldn't be fall in Vermont without miles of rows of corn and the opportunity to get lost in them. Farms across the state have begun opening their seasonal corn mazes to the public so amateur orienteers can test their navigation skills.

Some sites get fancy with their design each year and there are a variety of skill levels catered to among the mazes offered this year. Here are some of the well known mazes and their opening and closing dates as well as what you should know if you plan to go.

General visitation information is included. However, many farms offer special corn maze events that are after dark, haunted, incorporate mountain biking or live-action role playing scenarios. Be sure to check out websites for each for those details.

These mazes are listed in order of their closeness to Burlington.

Sam Mazza's, Colchester

Sam Mazza's has a one-mile and a two-mile corn maze this year. Both mazes are included with the price of admission and feature six numbered stations throughout for visitors to hole punch a paper to track their progress. Completed punch cards can be entered into a drawing for gift items.

The corn maze is open from Sept. 3 through Oct. 31.

The maze is open everyday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $11 for ages 12 and older and $6 for three to 11 years old.

The farm is located at 277 Lavigne Road in Colchester.

More information at https://sammazzafarms.com/corn-maze/.

Whitcomb's, Williston

Whitcomb's Land of Pumpkins and Corn Maze incorporates learning, puzzle solving, candy finding and the chance to win a free pumpkin all by navigating the four-acre corn maze. Five checkpoints present apple-picking facts and include a clue to a word scramble that can be solved after visiting each station. There is also a hidden candy jackpot and a specially marked ear of corn that, if found, entitles the finder to a free pumpkin or gourd from the patch.

The maze opens Saturday, Sept. 17.

It is planned to open 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets are $6 for ages five and up, with those four and under admitted for free.

Find the Whitcomb's farm at 347 Fay Lane in Williston.

More information at https://www.whitcombslandofpumpkins.com/corn-maze.

Lester Farm & Market, New Haven

Lester Farm & Market anticipates opening its maze on Sept. 10 and running through Oct. 31. The maze is open on nice weather days. The market is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

The corn maze ticket prices for ages 13 and older are expected to run $10; ages 6 to 12 for $6; and walking toddlers to five years of age for $2.

The Lester farm is located at 2297 Ethan Allen Highway (U.S. 7) in New Haven.

More information at https://www.lesterfarmmarketvt.com/opening-events.

Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville

If you're into a serious challenge and have a half day to dedicate, try the Great Vermont Corn Maze. At 24 acres, the big maze claims to be the largest in New England, and it has been featured in dozens of regional and country-wide lists for mazes to try. The big maze can take from two to four hours to solve, so visitors are encouraged to bring a bag with water and snacks. There are hatches to allow someone a quick out and quick back in the maze, if needed for the restroom or otherwise. And, there are workers stationed in strategic areas to provide clues to parties who get stuck.

Too intimidated to attempt the big maze? There is a scenic maze that takes around 40 minutes to hike through and the "Pretendin" play area catering to active and imaginative kids.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze is one of the earliest to open and close for the season. It runs July 30 through Oct. 10 for the 2022 season.

Maze start times begin on the half hour on weekdays from 9 a.m. to Noon and begin as late as 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The mazes close at 3 p.m. during the week and at 4 p.m. on weekends with the other areas staying open one hour later.

Buying tickets online in advance is recommended. However, you could purchase tickets by 10 a.m. in person the day of your visit for an extra charge. Tickets can sell out on holiday weekends.

Tickets run $20 for ages 16 to 59; and $10 for ages 5 to 15. There is a $15 charge for those 60 and older and kids four and under are free.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze is located at1404 Wheelock Road in Danville.

More information at https://www.vermontcornmaze.com/.

Kingdom Corn Maze, Sutton

The Kingdom Corn Maze at Simpson Farm features three walking corn mazes and one that can be explored via mountain bike. A kid-friendly maze features pictures of barn animals with clues to find Charlotte's spider web and can take a youngster up to 30 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace.

The family friendly maze has a component that can be finished after 45 minutes of walking or continuing on for another half hour to complete the whole thing. Walkers can get a passport before starting to guide the way if they need help.

The Kingdom Corn Maze's season runs Aug. 27 through Oct. 16.It is open Fridays Noon to 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and two Mondays, Sept. 5 and Oct. 10 (Labor Day and Indigenous People's Day), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All of the mazes are included in the ticket price of $13 to $16 per person. The higher amount includes the corn cannon shooting activity.

Find the Simpson Farm and Kingdom Corn Maze at1350 Burke Hill Road in Sutton.

More information at https://kingdomcornmaze.com/.

Gaines Farm, Guilford

At the tip of southern Vermont resides Gaines Farm in Guilford, which was established in 1782.

Its seven-acre maze includes 10-feet tall walls of corn stalks. There are games and clues to help wanderers enjoy the path and find their way out. There are even twilight and haunted Halloween maze events to add a little thrill to the trek.

The Gaines Farm corn maze opens Sept. 17 and goes through Oct. 30.

It will be open Saturdays and Sundays as well as Indigenous People's Day on Monday, Oct. 10. Times are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $14 for ages 13 and up and $12 for ages three to 12. Under three are free.

The Gaines Farm is located at 6343 Coolidge Highway in Guilford.

More information at http://www.gainesfarm.com/.

Keep in mind when visiting a corn maze that entry times for the maze may end well before the farm closes to ensure participants have enough time to make it to the end. Many of the mazes will also close during inclement weather, so you can call beforehand to check if the maze will be open. Group rates and other discounts are offered at many of the mazes.

Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.

Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: When Vermont corn mazes are open this season.