From the East Mountains, the best pumpkin farm trip isn’t down in the valley at all. It’s east, out I-40 to Moriarty, where one of the area’s longest-running patches is open weekends through Halloween. The valley farms are worth the drive too, but it helps to know which is which.
The Albuquerque area has a real fall-farm scene, but it’s spread out. There’s the Rio Grande valley, with its old farming villages. There’s the East Mountains side, with a few bigger operations out on the plains past Edgewood. And a lot of the corn mazes you’ll see advertised in New Mexico are hours south or southeast. Here’s how it breaks down from a base in Tijeras.
Closest From Tijeras: McCall’s Pumpkin Patch, Moriarty
McCall’s is the one that makes the East Mountains the right starting point. According to McCall’s own site, the 2026 season, billed as “29 seasons of harvesting fun,” runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September 19 through October 31, plus Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. on October 9, 16, 23 and 30. Moriarty sits further east along I-40, so you’re heading away from the city, not into it.
What to expect, based on past coverageOlder local coverage describes McCall’s as an all-day farm outing, with hayrides, pedal karts, a large corn maze and a giant slide. I haven’t seen a 2026 attractions list or admission prices, so treat that as a sense of the experience and check the site for what’s included this year.
The Albuquerque Journal’s September roundup also lists a McCall’s Farm haunted attraction, and a separate New Mexico haunted-attractions guide lists a haunted farm on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight from September 25 through October 31. Those listings don’t spell out age limits or what’s scary, so ask before bringing younger kids. The daytime patch and the nighttime haunt are two different experiences.
Go early. Dress for the Tijeras end of the trip, where mornings run cooler than in Albuquerque, then shed layers by the afternoon on the plains. A weekday Friday visit, when the farm’s listed open, is a good way to avoid the weekend crowd.
Across Town: Wagner’s Farmland Experience, Corrales
On the other side of Albuquerque, in Corrales, Wagner’s Farmland Experience at 6445 Corrales Road is one of the best-known fall farms in the metro area. A LocalHarvest listing describes a corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting zoo and farm-themed play, with a night maze on Saturday nights in October. Yelp, updated in September 2026, shows it open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
That LocalHarvest listing is older, and older write-ups cite admission prices that are surely out of date, so I’m not quoting any. Call the farm at 505-459-0719 before you drive across town. The Wagner family also runs Wagner Farms nearby, with an orchard, which ties in to our guide to apple picking near Albuquerque, where I explain why the timing for u-pick apples in Corrales is later than many people assume.
Two Addresses, One Family
It’s easy to mix up the farm and the fall attraction. Listings put Wagner Farms, the market and restaurant side of the operation, at 5000 Corrales Road, and the Farmland Experience, the corn maze and pumpkin patch, at 6445 Corrales Road. Yelp describes Wagner Farms as a business that’s been harvesting for over 100 years, run through four generations of the same family, and now includes a farm market, a restaurant, a corn maze and petting zoo, and school tours that reach thousands of children a year. If you’re combining a market stop with the maze, plan on two addresses a couple of minutes apart.
A Free Option: The Agri-Nature Center Fall Festival
If you want something low-cost, the Albuquerque Journal’s roundup lists the Agri-Nature Center Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Larry P. Abraham Agri-Nature Center, 4920 Rio Grande Blvd., in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. It’s listed as free. It’s not a corn-maze farm, so think of it as a community fall event with a farm setting rather than a full pumpkin-patch day. The Journal’s full list has more detail.
Other Mazes: Close, Far, and Unconfirmed
Rio Grande Community Farm Maize Maze, AlbuquerqueA North Valley farm at 1701 Montano Road NW that has run a fundraising Maize Maze in October in past years. I couldn’t confirm 2026 dates or hours, so check with the farm.
Farms further southSeveral mazes in the Journal’s list, including La Union Maze and Heirloom Acres, are in southern New Mexico, and Heirloom Acres is in Artesia, in the southeast part of the state. They’re not realistic day trips from Tijeras, so I haven’t built a plan around them.
October at a Glance
Putting the confirmed dates on one calendar makes planning easier. McCall’s has Friday hours on October 16, 23 and 30, plus weekends. Saturday, October 17 is the Agri-Nature Center Fall Festival, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 31 is Halloween and McCall’s final day of the season, so if the haunted farm is part of your plan, the last two weekends are the ones to circle. And remember that clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, which makes that Saturday night a good one to stay out a little later.
Hayrides, Pumpkins and Pricing
If you’re searching for hayrides near Albuquerque, the two main candidates are McCall’s and Wagner’s, and both have described hayrides in past coverage. Confirm that hayrides are part of this year’s admission, since some farms charge for them separately. A few things are worth asking before you go: whether pumpkins are included in admission or priced separately, whether the maze is open at night, and whether the farm takes cards. I couldn’t confirm any of those for 2026.
Choosing a Good Pumpkin
For carving, look for a firm pumpkin with a flat bottom so it sits level, an intact stem, and no soft spots. Carry it by the base, never the stem. If you plan to cook with it, ask for a smaller pie or sugar pumpkin, since the big carving varieties tend to be stringier. And carve close to Halloween, since a cut pumpkin doesn’t last long in warm weather.
What to Ask When You Call
A two-minute phone call saves a wasted trip. Ask whether the farm is open that day and until what time, what general admission covers, whether pumpkins are priced separately, whether hayrides run on a schedule, and whether they accept cards. For McCall’s, ask what the haunted farm involves if you’re thinking of going after dark.
For Families With Little Ones
A shorter maze or a patch with play areas is easier on small kids than a big maze, so ask the farm which option it has. Bring a stroller or wagon only if you’ve confirmed the ground allows it. Farm fields can be uneven and dusty, so closed-toe shoes beat sandals.
A Simple East Mountains Day Plan
Start with a slow breakfast in the East Mountains, then drive east to McCall’s for a late-morning arrival. Spend a few hours on the maze and the patch, grab lunch, and head back toward Tijeras in the afternoon with the pumpkins. If you want a second stop, the drive back through the Tijeras area makes a natural place to wind down. If you’re up for a bigger outing, save the Corrales trip for a separate day, since it means crossing the city.
Planning a Stay Around It
If you’re visiting from out of town and want to turn this into a weekend, the explore the area guide covers other things to do nearby, and the pricing page shows current rates. If you’d rather base yourself south of the city for farm trips along the Rio Grande valley, the Los Lunas RV park page covers that area.
Closest from Tijeras: McCall’s Pumpkin Patch, Moriarty. 2026: Sat/Sun 10-6 (Sept 19-Oct 31); Fridays noon-6 on Oct 9, 16, 23, 30. The Journal lists a McCall’s Farm haunted attraction, and a separate guide lists a haunted farm Fri/Sat nights, 7 p.m.-midnight (Sept 25-Oct 31); ask about age limits.
Across town: Wagner’s Farmland Experience, 6445 Corrales Rd., Corrales. Listed daily 9-6; night maze on Saturdays in October per an older listing. Call 505-459-0719.
Free option: Agri-Nature Center Fall Festival, Sat Oct 17, 2-6 p.m., 4920 Rio Grande Blvd., Los Ranchos (listed as free).
Unconfirmed: Rio Grande Community Farm Maize Maze (2026 dates).
Too far for a day trip: La Union Maze and Heirloom Acres (Artesia).
Not confirmed for any farm: 2026 admission prices.
For an October weekend that combines a pumpkin farm with the East Mountains, Albuquerque RV Park is where to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the closest pumpkin patch to Tijeras?
McCall’s Pumpkin Patch in Moriarty, further east along I-40. According to its site, the 2026 season runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 31, with Friday hours from noon to 6 p.m. on October 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Where can I find a corn maze near Albuquerque?
Wagner’s Farmland Experience in Corrales is the best-known, with a corn maze and a night maze on Saturdays in October according to a listing. McCall’s in Moriarty has a large corn maze according to past coverage. Confirm this year’s details with each farm, since I couldn’t verify 2026 prices.
Where can I find hayrides near Albuquerque?
McCall’s and Wagner’s Farmland Experience have both offered hayrides according to older coverage. Check whether hayrides are included in this year’s admission before you go.
Is there a free fall event near Albuquerque?
The Agri-Nature Center Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is listed as free, according to the Albuquerque Journal. It’s a community event rather than a pumpkin-patch farm.
Are there haunted options at these farms?
The Albuquerque Journal lists a McCall’s Farm haunted attraction, and a haunted-attractions guide lists a haunted farm on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight. Ask about age limits and what to expect before taking younger kids.
What should I wear to a pumpkin farm in New Mexico?
Layers and closed-toe shoes. Mornings in Tijeras run cooler than in Albuquerque, and farm fields can be dusty and uneven by afternoon.
