How to Do a Corn Maze

Walking through a corn maze is fun, but can be confusing.

Navigating your way through a maze can be difficult enough on paper or on your computer screen, but walking your way through a corn maze can be even more challenging. Farms across the U.S. may look to make extra money by creating a maze for visitors to stroll through once the fields have been harvested and they can afford to cut down the stalks. If you like puzzles and love the outdoors, find your way to the nearest corn maze and spend a few hours traipsing through the fields.

Things You'll Need

• Good walking shoes
• Appropriate clothing for walking in cornfields
• Water
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Watch or cellphone with clock

Instructions

1. Check in with the person running the corn maze. He will likely provide you with a map of the maze you can refer to in case you get too turned around and an estimate of how long it takes to complete the maze. He'll also tell you the rules of the maze, such as whether you can bring in food and drinks and what other items you're allowed to carry with you.

2. Enter the maze and follow the wall of corn. By harvest time, cornstalks may reach 7 or 8 feet high; you won't be able to judge where you are while in the maze. Take note of any bridges or place markers the maze's designer erected along the path.

3. Make only right or left turns unless you reach a dead end. The idea behind this strategy is that it should lead you in a circle back to the entrance. If you find yourself lost, refer to the map to help you find your way out of the corn maze.

Tips & Warnings

• Some corn mazes are made to be haunted around Halloween and are open at night. If you choose to go to a haunted corn maze, make sure to bring a flashlight and a jacket to keep you warm on cool fall nights.

• You can go through a maze by yourself, but it's better to do it in at least pairs so you can help each other if you get lost. If you have allergies, take medicine before entering the corn maze; the pollen on the stalks may make your allergies worse. Be sure to bring tissues.

References

• Corn Mazes America: Visitor Guide
• A Maze in Corn
• Callaway Farms: The Corn Maze: Frequently Asked Questions
• Snohomish County Washington: Corn Mazes