A 250+-year-old pick-your-own institution with daily hours, an opening-day corn-maze ceremony, and a strong apple-picking program—ideal for multi-activity family days and visitors who value established, well-run operations.
Lyman Orchards is a Connecticut institution with 250+ years of family operation. Voted the state’s best pick-your-own farm, it’s a full-service autumn destination in Middlefield (Hartford County), offering corn maze, pumpkin picking, apple picking, farm cider, and a full farm stand—all on a daily schedule that runs 9 AM to 6 PM throughout the fall season.
Lyman’s strength is the ability to build a full day here. You can pick apples, select pumpkins, navigate the corn maze, and browse farm-pressed cider and other fall products. For families with varying ages and interests, this flexibility is valuable.
Corn Maze: Opens September 5 with a farm-wide celebration honoring “250 Years of America” (a nod to the nation’s 250th birthday). The maze is a signature draw, typically available through October.
Pumpkin Picking: Sugar pumpkins and carving varieties are harvested mid-September through October. Availability varies week to week, so calling ahead (or using the PYO hotline) saves a wasted trip.
Apple Picking: A major draw in its own right. With 20+ apple varieties and thousands of producing trees across the farm, you have real choice in what you pick and when. Fall picking runs September through October.
Farm Stand and Cider: The farm produces its own cider and sells it alongside farm stand staples, snacks, and seasonal goods.
The farm opens daily at 9 AM and closes at 6 PM, which is convenient if you have a flexible weekday or want an early-morning head start. Pumpkins and apples have limited harvests—early visits get the widest selection before afternoon crowds and daily picking reduce what’s available.
Peak foliage weekends (early-to-mid October) bring heavy foot traffic, though daily hours distribute visitors somewhat across the day.
The farm’s PYO hotline (860) 349-6015 lets you check what’s harvestable before you drive out—a real timesaver if you have a specific apple variety or pumpkin type in mind. The September 5 opening day will be packed; if you prefer a quieter visit, come mid-week or later in September.
This is a well-run, large-scale operation, not a small family farm. That means crowds on peak days, but also infrastructure and consistent quality. Pricing and activity bundles are not published online, so call (860) 349-1793 for current rates.
Families wanting multi-activity days, apple enthusiasts, groups, and visitors who appreciate established, long-running farm operations. If you’re looking for a quiet, exclusive farm experience, you’ll find more solitude at smaller patches. If you want variety and proven quality, Lyman delivers.
Late September through mid-October. Visit early in the day on weekdays or weekends to catch the best pumpkin and apple selection before crowds pick through the patch.
2–3 hours for apple picking, pumpkin picking, and maze; longer if you browse the farm stand or cider offerings.
Moderate on weekday mornings; moderate-to-heavy on afternoons and weekends, especially peak October weekends. Daily hours (9 AM–6 PM) spread visits across the day.
Farm parking; standard for rural Connecticut operations.
Contact the farm for specific accessibility information. Farm stands and some areas should be accessible; pick-your-own orchards may have terrain challenges.
About 8 miles south: Bishop's Orchards in Guilford, another large multi-activity farm with hayrides and a Little Red Barn attraction. You could combine both in a full-day autumn trip around central Connecticut.
Pumpkins are typically available mid-September through October. Sugar pumpkins and carving varieties are offered. Check their website or call the hotline for current availability.
Yes. Fall apple picking runs September through October. The farm has 20+ apple varieties across thousands of producing trees.
The farm hosts a corn-maze opening celebration on September 5, 2026, with a '250 Years of America' theme. This is a farm event—expect crowds on that day.
For group visits or inquiries, contact the farm directly. The PYO hotline (860) 349-6015 provides availability info; call the main number (860) 349-1793 for group planning.
September 5 – October 31, 2026. Daily. Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Admission pricing was not published when we last checked.
32 Reeds Gap Rd, Middlefield, CT 06455, in Hartford County. It is one of 4 patches we track in Hartford Region.
We track 4 patches in Hartford Region. The farm has not published a gate price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.
Its season runs about 57 days against a regional average of 68, so it is a shorter window than most of its neighbours — miss it and the nearest alternatives will still be open.
What sets it apart locally: it has a corn or crop maze, a market, bakery or taproom, which most Hartford Region patches on our list do not.
There are 2 other patches we track in Hartford County. All Hartford Region patches →
lymanorchards.com
Checked August 2026.