Road Trip to the Great Vermont Maze

We’ve always been big fans of the fall season, what with the apple picking, pumpkin patches and cornfield mazes. This is more than a daytrip, yes, but it’s got all the markings of an epic weekend! Check out The Great Vermont Maze, the largest corn maze in New England, designed by 5^th generation Boudreau family. For the past 24 years, Mike Boudreau and his wife Dayna have spent their winters designing this over-the-top, gargantuan maze (24 acres of maze!!!) It all began when they were living in New Hampshire but visiting Dayna’s parent’s dairy farm in Vermont. They had noticed that there weren’t many attractions for the kids in the area so they took it upon themselves to design one. And that they did. Every year the theme and the shape of the maze change – and now 25 years in, they are challenging their third generation of mazers.

Dayna notes, “Most mazers hike 2 ½-3 hours and end up walking 3-6 miles to solve the Big Maze. Some walk 6,000 steps and others over 10,000 steps.” The theme this year, inspired by this, while giving a nod to Jules Vernes’ tome, 20,000 Steps Under the Corn. Some say “corn maze” is really an understatement, for the Boudreau’s puzzle features over 100’ of bridges, an underground tunnel, and a 28’ cruiser floating on top of the corn.

Named as the hardest maze in America by best-selling author AJ Jacobs in his new book “The Puzzler,” Boudreau notes that one couple took over 8 hours to complete it, refusing the assistance of clues. It’s even been the site of several marriage proposals. And that's not the only excitement the maze has seen. One year, some of the farm’s grassfed beef escaped and were found walking the trails of the maze. “Luckily it was off-hours of operation,” notes Boudreau. For those looking for something less challenging, the farm also features the Scenic Maze, an easier endeavor with less time commitment.

Although mazing is often thought of as an autumn activity, Boudreau encourages mazers to come in August or early September, likening the experience to skiing in February. “You want to go when the conditions are best and most challenging. The corn is tall, thick and green in August and early September—and is at its most challenging. If you wait until late fall, the frosted weak corn can be knocked down by heavy rain, winds or yes, even snow.”   A good rule of thumb – if the corn is ripe for eating, it’s a good time to try your luck with the Black Diamond of corn mazes, The Great Vermont Maze!

Tickets for the events on the Boudreau’s farm are sold online at www.vermontcornmaze.com and some days sell out every year, so don’t wait until the corn is frosted and gone in the fall. Pack a lunch and head to North Danville, VT for an amaizingly, cornfusing summer adventure. And after you have all that fun and work up an appetite, you can buy farm fresh, grass fed beef direct from the Boudreau’s son, Jake who manages their family’s Lowline Angus Beef Farm. Pre-orders can be made online at www.fourtownlowlines.com.

• Heading to The Great Vermont Maze? Boudreau says that the NEK Chamber is a great resource for lodging and activities. Depending on what you’re looking for, the award winning Rabbit Hill Inn in Waterbury is a great couples retreat; there are a number of B&Bs and the Burk Ski area has some good local options!