National Orienteering Championship Brings Corn Maze Showdown Near Aurora

Orienteering competitors, outdoor lovers and families from across North America are headed to Northeast Ohio the weekend of September 25 through 27 for the 2026 Orienteering Masters Nationals and Corn Maze Challenge. Organizers expect more than 250 participants, and the event sits close enough to Aurora to make it an easy day trip for local outdoor enthusiasts. The weekend combines two formats. Friday's Corn Maze Challenge has been designated the US National Corn Maze Championship, and it will be held at Derthick's Farm in Mantua. Saturday and Sunday shift into traditional forest orienteering at The West Woods and Big Creek Park in Geauga County. What happens at the corn maze championship The Corn Maze Challenge will send competitors through multiple courses inside a sixteen acre maze. Participants navigate using a specialized corn maze map and must visit a series of checkpoints. Electronic timing equipment confirms each checkpoint visit, so there is no shortcutting the course. Event Director and Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club President Jonathan Boyer said the championship designation will not change the event's welcoming feel. "Even though the corn maze challenge is now a championship level event, we want people to come out and have fun," Boyer said. "You don't have to be an athlete to participate and we are keeping the entry costs low. The corn maze challenge, along with the forest events on Saturday and Sunday, is a great way to get outdoors for a mini adventure with friends and family." Why organizers call orienteering the thinking sport Forest orienteering asks competitors to do more than run. They read topographic maps, study terrain and make fast route decisions while moving. Courses are color coded by difficulty, ranging from beginner routes that stick to main trails to advanced routes that require competitors to leave the trail entirely and find their own path. Boyer said that skill often matters more than raw speed. "Unlike a road race, in orienteering, you essentially make your own course on the fly," Boyer said. "Intermediate and advanced orienteering courses are designed to test navigation skills, not just fitness. Someone that finds the best route through the woods will often finish ahead of a faster runner with less experience." Schedule and locations The full weekend runs across three sites and includes options for beginners as well as advanced competitors. Friday, September 25: US Corn Maze Championship at Derthick's Farm in Mantua. Check in runs from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, September 26: Day one of the Masters Nationals at The West Woods in Geauga County. Beginner, intermediate and advanced courses are offered, and volunteers will help beginners get started. Check in runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, September 27: Day two of the Masters Nationals at Big Creek Park in Geauga County. Advanced, intermediate and beginner courses are available, with volunteers again on hand for beginner instruction. Check in runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The weekend also marks the 50th anniversary season for the Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club. Registration details Regular registration stays open through August 30. Late and walk in registration will be available on a limited basis but comes with higher fees, so early sign up is strongly recommended. Full details and registration links are available at neooc.com/2026-Masters-Nationals. About the Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club The Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club is celebrating its 50th year in 2026. The nonprofit promotes outdoor navigation through events held throughout the greater Cleveland area and is a member of Orienteering USA.