The best corn mazes in the Bay Area this fall

This twisty, tricky corn maze in Livermore is one of the biggest in the area — and it's difficult enough to stump adults. It sprawls across six acres, with stalks rising 12ft tall, making an impressive design that even spells out the farm's name. Luckily, you’re not left to navigate the fields on your own: various stations among the rows offer clues to guide you in the right direction. When you get to the end, climb to the center of the bridge for a bird’s-eye view of the entire maze. Head here any time in October.

Arata’s claims the distinction of San Mateo County’s oldest working pumpkin farm. The family starts plowing, planting, and cultivating the fields in March to produce their six-acre corn field, which grows up to 9 feet tall. Pick your pumpkin from those hidden among the stalks or wade through the so-called “pumpkin river,” a snaking, half-mile-long path through the corn filled with vibrant pumpkins of all sizes. If you’d prefer to tackle a traditional maze, check out the two-acre Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze. The bales are stacked between seven and eight feet high, and a new route is developed annually. On weekends, a costumed minotaur patrols the maze, passing out golden pumpkins to kids.

Farmer Jim Groverman designs a new corn maze every year, planting nearly 160,000 seeds to create this four-acre labyrinth. Stalks rise 10 feet high; finding your way through the full maze typically takes 45 minutes to an hour. They now have second-story viewing platforms inside the corn maze to take the scene and help you figure out how to get out. Bordered by sunflowers and hay bales, the maze rises beside a five-acre pumpkin patch filled with over 35 varieties. Bring a flashlight on Fridays and Saturdays when the maze is open after dark. 

Joan’s Farm and Pumpkin Patch has been a staple in the Bay Area for decades. Here, the corn maze covers 1⅓ acres. It is quick enough for kids with limited attention spans but tall and twisty enough to entertain adults. In addition to the maze, the farm includes a wide range of fall activities, including a pumpkin-covered obstacle course, gem panning, a train ride, pony rides, and hayrides. There is also a small cafe serving hot dogs, shaved ice, and snacks. This year, the pumpkin patch opens for Halloween on September 30. 

This 20-acre maze in Hollister is spookier than most—it’s open until midnight on weekends to attract thrill-seekers. The so-called Maniac Maze sprawls across 20 acres. Farm co-owner Bonnie Swank designs each year’s maze to be unique; Twenty-seven signs are hidden among the stalks to help guide your path and solve a progressive story. Go during the day to explore the maze without the spooks and browse 21 varieties of pumpkins. You’ll also find an “ugly pumpkin” slingshot, a train ride for kids, and corn cannons.

Uesugi’s is known for its pumpkin pyramid, a towering orange pile built from 4,000 gourds. The corn maze winds over two acres and includes interactive trivia cards that nudge visitors in the right direction. Afterward, take a hayride through fields filled with thousands of sunflowers and wildflowers, ride a train among the scarecrows, or pet ponies and goats in the petting corral. You'll also find live music, a playground, and a pumpkin launch — where you can shoot a canon and launch a pumpkin into a field.

It’s an hour-long drive from San Francisco, but it’s worth the ride for this barnyard hoedown. There’s live music and shows on the weekend, games, and kids’ activities. (Check out the lush flower and produce gardens, where you can gather a bouquet of fresh herbs and enjoy the buzzing observation beehive.) The farm’s four-acre corn maze is festive and fit for small kids, as is the hay bale maze nearby. Hitch a hayride to the pumpkin patch, where your pumpkin is complimentary with admission. 

This Dixon pumpkin patch may be a bit further than what is considered the Bay Area, but it's worthy of inclusion for sheer size. In the past, it has secured the Guinness Book of World Record for being the biggest corn maze. Every year, organizers set out to make the maze with a unique theme and design that outdoes the year before. Have kids with you? The farm offers a mini hay maze for free, in addition to hay rides, photo ops, and concession stands with food and treats. Open until October 31, 2023.