The 3 Best Pumpkin Picking & Corn Mazes in Arizona

When you think of fall, do you think of pumpkin and apple picking? Corn mazes? Hayrides? If you’re a transplant from anywhere east of the Mississippi, it may seem an obvious ending to the summer heat, but what about the desert southwest? Are we stuck hunting for prickly pear cactus fruit and mesquite beans?

I was surprised to learn we celebrate fall in much the same way as people around the world celebrate: with fall harvests of sweet corn, pumpkins, and apples. We run through the corn mazes, run down zip lines, pick our own pumpkins and generally enjoy the cooler fall temps. Here are three of the best farm attractions in Arizona to celebrate fall with your family.

Apple Annie’s Orchard

Apple Annie’s Orchard at 2081 W. Hardy Rd in Willcox is a Cochise County tradition. As the harvest season takes hold, Apple Annie’s comes to life, particularly in September and October with apple picking, the corn maze, hayrides and of course you can pick your own pumpkins. Apple Annie’s has other fall seasonal delights, too. Lots of produce grown in fields right there on the farm and picturesque fields of sunflowers – where you can pick up your fall decorations or harvest your own sunflower seeds. Plan to spend the day at Apple Annie’s and while you’re there, don’t forget to have a slice of their world-famous pie! My favorite is Strawberry Rhubarb, but I’ve never had a pie I didn’t like at Apple Annie’s! Be sure to check their website for exact dates and times, as it changes depending on the day.

Marana Pumpkin Patch

It’s worth planning a day trip to The Marana Pumpkin Patch at 14950 N Trico Rd in Marana, just a little west of Tucson. Open October 1^st through the 31^st, Thursdays and Fridays 3-8pm, Saturdays 9am-8pm and Sundays 9am-7pm. The Marana Pumpkin Patch is a great place to make fall memories with your family.

Check their website for admission; you can save a little money by purchasing tickets ahead of time on their website. The price of admission covers a lot; there’s no extra charge for the corn maze or the jumping pillow; hop a ride on the diesel train or some of the other rides, like the Swings or the Corn Flyer or race your family on the giant Trikes. Where else can you see pig races? With so much to do, don’t forget to grab some pumpkins on your way home!

Schnepf Farms

A little further to drive if you’re heading out from Cochise County, find Schnepf Farms at 24810 E Rittenhouse Road in Cave Creek. Open Thursdays through Sundays, be sure to check the website, as the hours vary depending on the day. The price of admission is a little steeper than Apple Annie’s or The Marana Pumpkin Patch, but there is an exciting cornucopia of activities and some generous discounts for active military and veterans, and first responders. Schnepf Farms has many of the attractions the other farms have, but they also have a rollercoaster, carousel rides, a rock-climbing wall and more. My last visit to Schnepf Farms was about three or four years ago and I was impressed by how much they’d grown over the last 20 years. Plan a day with your family, be sure to take lots of photos, and don’t forget the reason you visit: be sure to pick up your fall pumpkins and get in the spirit of fall in the desert.