There are a few places I have to visit when fall in Ohio rolls around, and Szalay’s Farm & Market in Peninsula, Ohio, is always near the top of my list. If you’re searching for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, or fun fall things to do near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, this family farm is a great place to start.
You know the kind of fall day I’m talking about.
Pumpkins piled everywhere. Cornstalks and gourds. Fresh Ohio apples. That first cup of apple cider. Families walking around in sweatshirts. And, if you time your visit just right, the hills of the Cuyahoga Valley are bursting with Ohio fall foliage in shades of red, orange, and gold.
THIS is fall in Ohio.
One of the best things about visiting Szalay’s Farm & Market in the fall is its location near Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You can easily turn a trip to the farm into a full Ohio fall day trip filled with pumpkins, a corn maze, farm-fresh food, spectacular fall colors, hiking, and even a scenic train ride aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
If you’re planning a fall getaway to Northeast Ohio, Szalay’s Farm & Market and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park should definitely be on your Ohio fall bucket list.
Start Your Fall Day at Szalay’s Farm & Market
Szalay’s Farm & Market opens for the season in June, and its sweet corn alone is enough reason to visit during the summer. But come September and October, the entire experience changes.
Fall takes over.
The market fills with apples, pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, cider, and all those things that make you want to go home and immediately decorate your front porch. Szalay’s has been part of the Cuyahoga Valley since 1931, so this isn't a pop-up fall attraction. It's a working family farm with generations of history behind it.
And during fall, it becomes one of those places where you can easily spend a few hours without realizing how much time has passed. Walk through the market. Pick out your pumpkins. Grab some apples and cider to take home.
And COME HUNGRY.
The outdoor food stands are part of the experience. Grab some roasted sweet corn, a grilled sandwich, fresh-squeezed lemonade, or an ice cream treat and find a spot to sit for a while. Honestly, give me roasted corn, a sweatshirt and a crisp Ohio afternoon, and I'm pretty happy.
You Have to Do the Corn Maze
Then it's time to see who in the family has the best sense of direction. Szalay’s three-acre corn maze is one of the highlights of fall at the farm. For 2026, the maze is scheduled to open September 19 and continue through October 31.
The challenge isn't simply finding your way out. There are eight wooden pumpkins hidden throughout the maze, so you're searching for those while also attempting to remember which direction you came from. They say it takes around 30 minutes. That probably depends entirely on your family.
You get a map, but personally, I think trying to figure it out on your own is half the fun. The experience also includes the Spinning Barn, making this an easy activity to add to your farm visit.
Pro-tip: Don't wear your favorite shoes. Corn mazes and Ohio fall weather can make for some serious mud.
Then Chase the Fall Colors
Here's what makes Szalay’s such a great fall destination: you don't have to get back in the car and drive an hour to find your next adventure. Cuyahoga Valley National Park already surrounds you. And when those leaves start changing? WOW.
The park is beautiful year-round, but something special happens in October. The wooded hills turn shades of yellow, orange, and red, and suddenly every winding road makes you want to pull over for another picture. Peak fall color in the Cuyahoga Valley is typically around the third week of October, although Mother Nature obviously gets the final say.
You don't need to plan a five-mile hike to enjoy it, either. Take a scenic drive. Walk a portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Stop at one of the overlooks. Find a waterfall. That's one of my favorite ways to experience this area anyway. Don't over-plan every minute. Pick a few places you want to see and leave some room to stop when something catches your eye.
Or Let Someone Else Do the Driving
There is another way to see the Cuyahoga Valley in the fall, and this one doesn't require you to drive at all. Hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
A train ride through Cuyahoga Valley National Park is fun any time of year, but imagine it with the landscape covered in fall color. You can sit back, look out the window, and actually enjoy the scenery instead of trying to watch the road at the same time. The train follows the Cuyahoga River through the national park, taking you through areas you may completely miss when exploring by car.
And keep an eye out for wildlife. You never know when you might spot deer, a great blue heron, or even a bald eagle.
Pro-tip: Train schedules and excursions change throughout the season, so check the schedule and grab your tickets before your trip.
This Is What an Ohio Fall Day Should Look Like
Sometimes we make travel more complicated than it needs to be. You don't always need a week-long vacation or a packed itinerary. Sometimes you just need a Saturday in October.
Start at Szalay’s.
Get lost in the corn maze.
Buy too many pumpkins.
Eat the roasted corn.
Grab the cider.
Then head into Cuyahoga Valley National Park and chase those gorgeous Ohio fall colors.
Pro-tip: October weekends in the Cuyahoga Valley can be BUSY, especially when the fall colors are at their peak. Start your day early, give yourself plenty of time, and don't try to cram too much into one visit.