The corn doesn't have to be as high as an elephant's eye for it to a-maze you. Just above human eye level will do. And this time of year, if Long Island corn isn't already that high, it's only because the stalks have been picked and plowed under. Lately, farmers have found an alternate corn harvest, besides those sweet kernels - the cash and customer flow of a fall-season maze. You'd be surprised how many dead ends a farmer can create in one cornfield.
Most local mazes are on working farms where you can also bring home a bounty of pumpkins, beans, berries, apples and, yes, corn. Others, such as "The Amazing Maize Maze" in Queens, are part of a museum, or farm/amusement park, such as the Schmitt Brothers' daytime and nighttime mazes, plus haunted mansion, in Melville. Don't ask the actors there for directions. They're paid to send you deeper into a dead-end tangle.
Most mazes are open weekends only, through Oct. 28, but also Columbus Day (Oct. 8) and on Halloween. If not otherwise noted, the mazes below are already open.
When & Where:
Andrews Family Farm and Greenhouses - Corn maze for younger kids; $3, 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., 1038 Sound Ave., Calverton; 631-929-5963.
F&W Schmitt Brothers - Starting Oct. 5 and 6, haunted mansion ($15) and night corn maze ($10; $21 for both), 7-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday; maze for younger kids ($7), noon-5 p.m. weekends; 26 Pinelawn Rd., Melville; 631-271-3276,
schmittfarms.com.
Fairview Farm - "The Maize Maze," 8 acres, 2-6 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 4; $10, $7 ages 11 and under; Horsemill Lane, Bridgehampton; 631-537-6154.
Hank's Pumpkin Town - Starting Saturday, 8 1/2-acre maze, plus wagon rides, kiddie playground; $7, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Montauk Highway, Water Mill; 631-726-4667.
Harbes Family Farm - Starting Saturday, fall festival featuring 10-acre interactive maze with hay-bale maze, actors, pony rides, tractor train rides, straw fortress; $11.95 adults, $9.95 kids 3-12, including hayride and other activities; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.;Main Road, Jamesport, opposite Jamesport Vineyard; 631-722-2022.
Kaufold's Country Florist & Farm - Starting Sept. 29, maze, hayrides, playground; $5; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 724 Middle Country Rd., Ridge; 631-924-1265.
Middle Earth Pumpkin Farm - Starting Saturday, 5-acre maze with actors; $9.95 adults, $7.95 kids 3-12, including hayride; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; night maze open 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27; 137 Sound Ave., Riverhead; 631-298-0800.
Queens County Farm Museum - 3-acre "Amazing Maize Maze," hayrides; $7, $4 for ages 4-11, 3 and under free, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., night maze Oct. 14 until 9 p.m.; 718-347-3276,
queensfarm.org.
Seven Ponds Orchard - 5-acre maze and wagon rides; admission, $3.99, includes access to Toyland play area; 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; 65 Seven Ponds Rd., Water Mill; 631-726-8015.
Stakey's Pumpkin Farm - Starting Saturday, maze, hayrides and bounce house; $5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; West Lane, Aquebogue; 631-722-3467,
stakeyspumpkinfarm.com.
"Wizard of Oz" corn mazes - Two 2-acre mazes; 715Sound Ave., Mattituck; $4adults, $3 kids 3-12; 631-298-0880.
