​Autumn in Great Falls brings changing leaf colors, cooler air, and the occasional early snow dusting the foothills. With four mountain ranges, three rivers, two wilderness areas, and a wildlife refuge within reach, this stretch of Montana makes a scenic backdrop for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fall festivals. Whether you're local or passing through on your way between Glacier and Yellowstone, this guide rounds up pumpkin patches near Great Falls, MT worth visiting this season. Hours, dates, and pricing change year to year, so confirm details directly with each venue before you go.
Fall Is Here: Best Pumpkin Patches Near Great Falls, MT
A pumpkin patch outing here usually involves hayrides and corn mazes, with pumpkins waiting to be picked. If you're planning several stops this fall and want your vehicle ready for gravel roads and shifting weather, our team at Great Falls Subaru is happy to help. Reach out anytime with questions about your ride before you head out.
Great Falls sits at roughly 60,000 residents, giving it a small-town feel with big-sky surroundings. That central location makes it an easy home base for exploring patches both in town and out toward Craig or Hobson.
Top Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes to Visit
Between in-town options and farms a short drive away, there's a good mix of corn mazes scattered around this part of Montana.
Applestem Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch (Craig, MT)
Applestem is the most detailed and reliably documented pumpkin patch in the region. The 2026 season runs September 19 through November 1, 2026, at 2987 Craig Frontage Rd., Craig, MT 59648. This year's maze design is new, created in partnership with The MAiZE, a professional maze design company.
Tickets are sold at the on-site booth, with discounted group pricing available for groups of 10 or more; contact the farm ahead of time to arrange larger group visits. Beyond the maze itself, the farm offers the Grain Train ride and a Cow Train for younger kids, plus a Giant Tunnel Slide, Steer Head Roping, a Sand Box, and a Hay Jump. Plan for a full afternoon, not just a quick walk through the stalks.
Hours can shift depending on weather, since Montana falls turn on a dime this time of year. If conditions look rough, check the Applestem website or contact the farm directly before you drive out to Craig.
Other Local Patches and Farms
If you're looking for farms with corn mazes closer to town, a few other spots round out the list. Tilleraas Landscape & Nursery in Great Falls runs its pumpkin patch October 10 through 31, 2026, with hayrides on select days rather than daily, plus scarecrow stuffing, fall photo backdrops, party packages, and school group visits. Nursery hours run Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing at 2 p.m. on Halloween. Confirm pricing and hayride days at the gate.
Closest to home, The Great Pumpkin Patch runs Sunday, October 11, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. at Anaconda Hills Golf Course, a few minutes across the river in Black Eagle. Pumpkins are $5 each, and the day includes a carving contest with categories and prizes for all age groups, plus a Touch a Truck with fire trucks, police cars, and military vehicles. It's a one-day event put on with Great Falls Park & Recreation, so it doesn't need a drive or a plan, just a free Sunday afternoon.
Farther out in Hobson, Stevenson Angus Pumpkin Patch at 350 JRS Lane runs just two days this year, September 26 and 27, 2026. It's worth planning around: live music and wagon rides alongside a petting zoo, face painting, corn hole, a corn maze, and a pick-your-own patch with more than 20 pumpkin varieties. Confirm on their Facebook page before making the drive, since a two-day window leaves no room for a wasted trip.
Fall Festivals and Family-Friendly Events Around Great Falls
Beyond pumpkin patches, Great Falls fills its October calendar with festivals, fairs, and community gatherings that round out the season.
Great Falls October Events and Seasonal Fairs
The Good Wood Guys Pumpkin Patch has become a recurring fall tradition, with past seasons featuring games like Apple Toss and Ghost Golfing. Giant Springs State Park has also hosted a Fishing for Pumpkins Festival in recent years. Both events tend to return each fall, but exact dates and formats can change, so check the Good Wood Guys Facebook page and the Giant Springs State Park page closer to your visit.
Hayrides, Haunted Attractions, and Community Celebrations
For those who want a little more chill in their fall fun, Great Falls has a handful of recurring haunted and family-friendly events. The Grim Tales Walking Tour departs from The History Museum at 422 Second Street South, while the Great Falls Symphony hosts a Halloween Family Matinee at the Mansfield Theater.
Nightmare on Newberry Street and the Halloween Spooktacular, now held at The Newberry on 420 Central Avenue, cover the spookier side, and Fright Fest at the Montana ExpoPark Exhibition Hall has been a popular stop for younger trick-or-treaters. These events return most years, but formats and times shift, so check the Visit Great Falls events calendar or the city event calendar before you go.
Planning Your Fall Outing: Weather, Layers, and Timing
Montana fall weather doesn't hold still. October in Great Falls averages a high near 55°F and a low around 38°F, but daily highs swing widely, sometimes into the low 40s, other days climbing near the low 70s, and lows can dip into the high teens on a cold night. Rain falls on about six days in a typical October, and snow is entirely possible too, with roughly three snow days and about an inch of accumulation typical for the month. Great Falls picks up 58 to 63 inches of snow over a full year, and the first flakes usually arrive in October.
Daylight also shortens quickly. Early October gives you close to 10 hours and 50 minutes of daylight, with sunrise around 7:24 a.m. and sunset near 7:05 p.m., but by month's end sunrise has slipped to about 8:07 a.m. and sunset to roughly 6:09 p.m. Worth keeping in mind if you're planning a full day at a patch or festival.
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekend afternoons, and early October usually offers the best foliage before leaves start dropping. Dress in layers, since a warm morning can turn into a chilly evening fast. Waterproof boots are a smart call too, since farm fields and mazes get muddy after rain or an early snowmelt. A light rain jacket or small umbrella tucked in the car doesn't hurt either.
Getting There: Scenic Drives, Parking, and Cargo Space for Fall Hauls
Craig sits about 60 miles south of Great Falls, an easy run down I-15 with the Adel Mountains rising to the west, while Hobson is roughly 75 miles southeast through the Judith Basin. Both drives are worth the time in October, when the cottonwoods along the river bottoms turn gold. Farm parking is typically an open field or gravel lot, so expect uneven ground and give yourself room to turn around. Applestem runs its Grain Train from the parking area to the entrance, which tells you something about the walk. Arrive early on a Saturday if you'd rather not park at the far end of the field, and if rain or an early snow has come through, a spot near the lot entrance saves you from churning through soft ground on the way out.
Cargo space matters too, especially if you're bringing home a carload of pumpkins, gourds, and farm stand finds. The Outback offers up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, while the Forester gives you up to 74.4 cubic feet with the 60/40-split seats lowered, or 69.1 on trims with the panoramic moonroof. Behind the second row, where most of us actually stack pumpkins, the Forester holds 27.5 to 29.6 cubic feet depending on trim. Both are practical choices for hauling fall finds without leaving anyone squeezed in the back seat.
If your current vehicle isn't quite up to gravel roads and cold mornings, it might be worth a look at what's available locally. Browse new Subaru inventory or check out the used inventory at Great Falls Subaru before your next farm trip.
Before You Go: Verifying 2026 Dates, Tickets, and Admission
Every patch and festival mentioned here has its own quirks when it comes to hours, admission, and ticketing, and those details tend to shift from one season to the next. Applestem's dates for 2026 are set, but weather can still affect daily hours. Tilleraas and Stevenson Angus follow patterns that repeat most years but aren't guaranteed to match exactly. The same goes for in-town festivals like Fright Fest or the Halloween Spooktacular.
Ticketing varies by venue. Applestem sells at the gate with online purchase required for large groups, while some in-town events use advance tickets that sell out. Check each venue's site for 2026 pricing, and ask about weather policies too, since Applestem adjusts its hours when conditions turn.
Before you commit to a plan, a quick check of each venue's website or Facebook page saves you from showing up on the wrong day or missing a ticket requirement.
Make It a Great Falls Fall Road Trip
Add a Stop at Giant Springs
Pairing a pumpkin patch visit with a stop at Giant Springs State Park rounds out a solid day trip. The park sits along roughly 14 miles of Missouri River shoreline and includes more than 30 miles of trails, plenty of room for games, a hike, or just walking off a big lunch. It's also home to one of the largest freshwater springs in the country, producing more than 156 million gallons of water a day, worth seeing even if you're not much of a hiker.
If you're downtown afterward, the River's Edge Trail system runs nearly 60 miles along both sides of the Missouri River through Great Falls, offering an easy way to stretch your legs between stops. Add in a walk through downtown Great Falls and you've got a full day that combines a pumpkin patch visit with some of the area's best scenery.
Get Your Vehicle Ready First
Before you set off on a longer fall road trip, it's worth having your vehicle looked over, especially if you're covering gravel roads or facing colder mornings. Our factory-trained technicians can handle everything from oil changes to alignments, so schedule a service check or reach out with questions before you head out.
Whatever patches and festivals make your list this year, we hope you enjoy the season, and if you need a hand getting your vehicle road-ready, Great Falls Subaru is here to help.
