Maple Leaf Mazes for Autumn
A maple leaf maze in two levels: 101 cells of 8 mm for ages 6 to 8, or 258 narrow cells and a 96-cell route for ages 9 to 12. Free, with answer keys.
Choose a level
Five lobes, five pockets of path
A maple leaf has five pointed lobes, and in this leaf maze each one becomes a pocket of corridors, because the walls follow the zigzag edge in small square steps. A pair of arrows outside the outline marks the way in and the way out, each beside a short channel cut through the edge. Both levels put them in nearly the same places. The line goes in below the left lobe and comes out under the bottom edge, left of the short stem, without crossing a wall. The solution is marked on page 2 of each PDF.
Where the two routes go
The medium leaf is for ages 6 to 8. Its 101 cells are 8 mm across and the route is 34 cells long, climbing into the left lobe and running right across the middle before it winds down to leave beside the stem. The stem stays outside the walls. The hard leaf, meant for ages 9 to 12, fits 258 cells only 5.5 mm wide into the same shape. Its 96-cell route swings through the middle toward the right lobe before it comes back. A narrow dead-end path runs down into the stem for anyone who heads straight for the bottom. Those thin paths close up if the A4 or US Letter PDF is shrunk to fit, so the hard leaf is best printed at 100 percent.
Autumn uses
This one suits a fall nature unit, a quiet corner at a Thanksgiving gathering or a few calm minutes before lunch. Afterward, children can color the leaf in autumn shades.
Skills practiced & tips
- Find Start and Finish first; on both pages Start is below the left lobe and Finish is below the bottom edge, left of the stem.
- Each lobe can hide a dead end, so peek ahead before going deep into one.
- Trace the medium route with a finger before drawing it in pencil.
- Keep a sharp pencil for the 5.5 mm paths on the hard leaf.
- Color the leaf red, orange or yellow once the route is done.
Leaf fun facts
- Many trees drop their leaves in autumn to save water and energy through the cold months.
- Fallen leaves break down on the ground and add nutrients to the soil for new plants.
Classroom ideas
- Grade 1: work in pairs on the medium leaf, one partner drawing and the other naming each turn.
- Grade 2: after solving the medium leaf, children mark each dead end with a small x and count them.
- Grades 4 to 6: compare the route lengths, 34 and 96 cells, and work out about how many times longer the hard route is than the medium one.
More leaf activities
More mazes
Frequently asked questions
Do the lobes hide dead ends?
Any of them can, so it helps to peek ahead before going deep into one. The medium leaf has 101 cells of 8 mm and a 34-cell route. The hard leaf has 258 cells of 5.5 mm and a 96-cell route that swings through the middle toward the right lobe before it comes back.
Why is there no easy leaf maze?
The walls always stay inside the outline, and the leaf's narrow lobes and deep notches leave too little room for wide 12 mm paths. So the leaf maze comes in two levels, medium and hard. For ages 3 to 5, the maple leaf dot to dot is a gentler choice.
Do both leaf levels start and finish in the same places?
Almost. On both pages Start is below the left lobe and Finish is below the bottom edge of the leaf, left of the stem. On the medium page Finish sits right beside the stem, and on the hard page it is a little further left.
Does the route go into the stem?
Not on the medium leaf, where the stem stays outside the walls and is free to color. On the hard leaf a narrow path runs down into the stem, but it is a dead end.
Which colors suit the finished maple leaf?
Red, orange or yellow, once the route is done. Page 2 of every PDF marks the solution, so a parent can check the route before the crayons come out.
About this printable
- Made with AI assistance (vector drawing authored by a language model) and checked by automated tests and an AI reviewer.
- Checked by automated tests and an AI reviewer on 22 Oct 2026.
- Free for personal and single-classroom use. See the license. Read the license · How these are made · Report a problem.
- Vector PDF, 2 pages, 186×254 mm art box — prints edge-safe on A4 and US Letter.
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