Words by Delaney Rea | Photo by Sierra Pedro
Fall has officially…fallen. With the cooler air around you and the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, there’s an inescapable feeling brought on by the season. How do you take advantage of the changing weather? You guessed it, you’re headed straight to a pumpkin patch. With the year-long state of bountiful harvest that is Oregon, there’s no shortage of places to explore both near and far. Here’s your cheat sheet on the best pumpkin patches Oregon has to offer.
Johnson Farms
For the widest array of pumpkin varieties in the area, be sure to check out Johnson Farms. They simply have every kind of pumpkin you could ask for, including miniatures, pumpkins grown specifically for baking, and even 200-600 pound behemoth pumpkins. Not only that, but Johnson Farms also features Walt’s Wild Wagon Ride, where visitors hurl mini pumpkins at scarecrows and other targets as they hurtle through the pumpkin patch. Also featured are the pumpkin-launching bungee range and an enclosed greenhouse hay maze. The farm is open at 87933 Armitage Road in Eugene on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices and more information can be found at JohnsonFarms.com.
Bella Organic
Spanning across 100 acres of Oregon’s gorgeous Sauvie Island, this certified-organic farm is entirely run on solar energy. When it comes to their pumpkin patch offerings, Bella Organic are known for their haunted corn maze. This year, the maze has been painstakingly shaped to resemble Portland’s own Damian Lillard. With nearly three miles worth of pathways, this maze is a real beast — it will take you at least an hour to escape. Bella also hosts duck races, animal viewing and hayrides to the patch, which are available daily and come at no charge. Bella is open at 16205 NW Gillihan Road in Portland from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday during October. See their website for full event and pricing information at BellaOrganic.com.
The Pumpkin Patch
Based on the name alone, you could arguably stop your never-ending search for wholesome fall activities here. After all, this is THE Pumpkin Patch. Also located on Sauvie Island, the so-called Original Pumpkin Patch has been operating for over 50 years, making it a mainstay among the Oregon pumpkin farms. They offer hayrides, a hay pyramid, corn maze, and of course, quality pumpkin picking. Best of all, their activities are free. The Pumpkin Patch is located at 16511 NW Gillihan Road in Portland, is open at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be found online at ThePumpkinPatch.com.
Lone Pine Farms
Lone Pine Farms hosts a unique spin on the pumpkin patch experience with the Pumpkin Patch Express, which takes visitors on a guided tour through Lone Pine’s impressive selection of pumpkins. The array of seasonal festivities at Lone Pine Farm in October also includes a haunted corn maze, a locally harvested farmer’s market and a petting zoo. Lone Pine’s October events run from the beginning of the month through Halloween. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 91909 River Road in Junction City. Prices are available online at LonePineFarms.com.
Thistledown Farms
Also located in Junction City, Thistledown Farm provide even more autumn pleasures. Their pumpkin patch is accessible by horse drawn wagon for just $3.75 per person. Thistledown is well known for their wide range of offerings made from harvested crops, including homemade apple cider donuts, warm apple cider, apples, winter squash, hazelnuts and other seasonal crops. Their grounds, located at 91455 River Road in Junction City, are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Sierra Pedro

Oregon’s Top 5 Pumpkin Patches