The size? Twelve acres. The theme? Washington state. Traipse the four and a half miles of corn-crowded pathways at Swans Trail for an IRL lesson on local geography, landmarks, and historical facts. Every so often, wooden platforms rise above the stalks, giving you a peep of the way out.

Olympia's corn maze draws from local lore; last year, the maze formed former Seahawk Marshawn Lynch...as a Kraken player. This year's theme is top secret until the annual Fall on the Farm festival unveils the creation. 

The Kent Valley maze is designed by a bonafide corn maze company for an expert-level, super-challenging track with an artistic design. A giant pumpkin weigh-off provides a different type of competition, and u-pick pumpkin patch lets everyone take home a trophy of sorts.

Several acres of themed corn mazes attract fall fanatics to Craven Farm; the beer garden, classic fair food, and nighttime maze tickets keep folks around even longer. Keep an eye out for characters from well-known stories, clamber over a few obstacles, and tally how many pumpkins you find along the way. At the very end, your newly acquired farm knowledge is put to the test as the only way to get out is to get a farm-specific question correct (no pressure, though).

Simple is the name of the game at Auburn's Mosby Farms. A harvest-style pumpkin patch pairs with a corn maze and a few gargantuan pumpkins on display. 

Carved through 12 acres of dense corn fields, the maze at Bob's outpost is grown alongside two kiddie mazes, a gem-mining sluice, and a combine slide. Need an extra challenge? Night mazes start in late September for a spooky after-dark adventure. 

Each year brings an elaborate theme to Stocker Farms' corn maze; this year, the fifth-generation farm honors local firefighters, EMTs, and police with its hero theme. But beware: The farm's more sinister alter ego Stalker Farms comes out to play in October with haunted corn trails straight out of a horror film.