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Bowden Sunmaze – Find Your Happy Place in Sunflower Paradise

Bowden Sunmaze – Find Your Happy Place in Sunflower Paradise

Perhaps it’s their bright cheery petals, but there’s something about sunflowers that makes me smile. Stand in the middle of a field of them and you might just find your happy place. In Alberta, the Bowden Sunmaze is the best place to get a sunflower selfie and experience the joy of these humble flowers.

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An image of a young woman surrounded by sunflowers at the Bowden Sunmaze in Alberta, Canada.
The Bowden Sunmaze is a great place to get a sunflower selfie or do a family photo session. Photo by Greg Olsen.

Bowden Sunmaze – World’s Only Certified Organic Sunflower Maze?

Cool fact – There are hundreds of corn mazes and at least a dozen sunflower mazes in North America, but the owners of the Bowden Sunmaze are pretty sure they have the world’s only certified organic sunflower maze. The entire farm is certified organic.

Related: If you’re looking for more great family-friendly photo-op spots, check out our post about Canmore’s Grassi Lakes hike.

An image of a young woman walking through a field of sunflowers at the Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta.
Being surrounded by sunflowers is an amazing experience. Photo by Greg Olsen.
An image of a field of Sunflowers at the Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta Canada.
There are more than 100,000 sunflowers at the Bowden Sunmaze. Photo by Greg Olsen.
An image of a man standing near a tall sunflower in a sunflower field at the Bowden Sunmaze near Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
Occasionally a sunflower grows taller than all the others. Photo by Greg Olsen.

Bowden Sunmaze – Built for the Sunflower Selfie Craze

Instagrammers have been known to get a little crazy trying to capture the perfect sunflower selfie. In 2018, a sunflower farm in Millgrove, Ontario opened their farm to visitors and it nearly ruined their business. Fortunately, the Bowden Sunmaze is set up for visitors. They plant the sunflower maze specifically for that purpose. Bring your camera and get ready to have fun photographing the flowers!

An image of a group of people with their heads poking through the Bowden Sunmaze sign in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
Be sure to get a family shot at the Bowden Sunmaze sign!
An image of a girl poking her head through a sign at the Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
We love silly signs! Photo by Greg Olsen.

Useful Equipment

You’re going to want good pictures of the sunflower fields. You should bring a selfie stick or a tripod, so you can set your phone up with a timer to get better shots. This selfie stick/tripod performs both functions.

A close-up image of a sunflower at Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
“Advice from a sunflower: Be bright, sunny, and positive. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise, shine, and hold your head high. ” – Unknown

Sunflower Quotes

The humble sunflower has inspired a lot of writers and artists. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

  • “A sunflower field is like a sky with a thousand suns.” – Corina Abdulahm-Negura
  • “True friends are like bright sunflowers that never fade away, even over distance and time.” – Marie Williams Johnstone
  • “Light-enchanted sunflower, thou Who gazest ever true and tender On the sun’s revolving splendour.” – Pedro Calderon de la Barca
  • “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” -Helen Keller
An image of a mother a daughter in a sunflower field at Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
You just can’t go wrong taking family photos in a sunflower field! Photo by Greg Olsen
An image of a couple standing in a sunflower field at the Bowden Sunmaze in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
A rare photo of Greg and Debbie Olsen together at the Bowden Sunmaze – usually one of us is behind the lens. Photo by Kelsey Olsen.

The Best Time to go to Bowden Sunmaze

The annual sunflower bloom usually begins around the first or second week of August and can stretch into mid-September. It’s completely dependent on the weather. The mazes open in early August and close in early October. Call ahead to find out if the sunflowers are blooming.

An image of the Bowden corn maze in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
The Bowden Corn Maze is great for smaller children. The corn is the shorter variety, so taller adults have a definite advantage. Photo by Greg Olsen.
An image of the tree maze and Eagle Creek Farms in Bowden, Alberta, Canada.
This is what a tree maze looks like. It takes a long time to grow one. Photo by Greg Olsen.

Other Attractions at the Bowden Sunmaze

The fields of sunflowers are the main attraction at the Bowden Sunmaze, but they aren’t the only thing to see and do. There is a tree maze, a corn maze, farm animals and organic u-pick vegetables, flowers and strawberries grown onsite at Eagle Creek Farms. Bring a picnic lunch or dinner and enjoy it at the farm’s picnic area. Note: There is a charge for admission if you want to enter and photograph the mazes. There’s no charge to purchase u-pick veggies and flowers.

Related: Drumheller is another fantastic Alberta travel destination. Read our article, 14 Fun Things to do in Drumheller.

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