Search and read my blog index, which contains every blog post I have written.
Each Saturday I post a new hard maze with all of them sitting in the Hard Maze Archive. I will try to post a variety of maze types to keep things interesting.
Weekly Hard Maze #20 - Pipes Maze
This is a double pipe maze. It combines a heart and a fish in the plumbing ! Solution will be in the archive. Download is below.
If you solved that maze quickly and want to try some of my archival hard mazes, these posts should do the trick:
This is a continuation of my maze design experiments. Read about it in post #1, One Maze - Many designs, and so on with a new post every Friday.
The original maze:
I used Inkscape and played with layers again this week, but added some colors. 2 of these I really like, let’s see if you agree.
The first maze I did a grey background while layering the maze from darker to lighter colors. I like this one!
The second maze is a similar concept but using blues to give it more color interest. I prefer the greys !
The third maze I made all of the walls white over a blurred black wall to give it a faint black glow. I think it looks cool.
The fourth maze takes the 3rd maze and gives it a blue ombre centered blue background.
The fifth maze takes the 3rd and gives it a yellow to dark yellow ombre background.
The third and first mazes are my favorites. The glow of black under white gives it a unique look.
I’ve shown you how to draw square labyrinths using the same seed pattern as the classical labyrinth. Today I will take you through the steps to draw a 9 Circuit Square Labyrinth that has a large square center. In practice this could become a place for meditation or ceremony if built in the real world. Follow this 7 step process and make your own ! You also have the option to make this without the large center square. To see how to do that you can read - How to Draw an 11 Circuit Square Labyrinth and adjust the # of circuits.
Here are the sections of this post:
PART 1: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
PART 2: ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION
PART 3: REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
PART 1: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
Step 1: Draw the center goal
Draw a box in the center of your paper with a one unit opening at the bottom. To help guide your future lines make a box to represent the outline of the labyrinth size you would like to make. Mine is green, but note that this will be deleted at the end, so color does not matter.
Note: IF you are using a grid, and I suggest you do, the walls of the green square should allow for 9 lines between the edge and the center goal. The total size of the grid network is 21 x 21 when you include the center goal.
Pro Tip: The math on the grid size being 21 x 21 is 9 circuits on one side + 3 grids for the goal + 9 circuits on the other side = 21 grids needed. If you are making a 15 circuit square square labyrinth you can use the same method shown here the guide grid would need to be 15 + 3 + 15 = a 33 x 33 grid. Follow all the steps below and you will create the same style labyrinth but larger !
Step 2: Draw the Outer Wall
Draw a the outer wall using the left path from the center, drawing to all way down to the edge and then moving around counterclockwise. Stop when you get one unit away from the edge line as you move around the entire box.
Step 3: Make the next internal line
Repeat the same step as above using the right side of the goal, leaving one unit of distance between this and the previous line to create a pathway. End the line one unit short of the previous line just above it.
Step 4: Make the next internal line
From here on out the process will repeat. Go back to the previous line you made and make a counterclockwise wall around the labyrinth, keeping one unit from the previous line. Notice this includes moving around the center goal.
Step 5: Make the next internal line
Same as above with the next line.
Step 6: Make the next internal line
Same as above with the next line.
Step 7: Make the next internal line
Same as above with the next line. If everything has been done correctly this is the final line.
Step 8: Clean it up
Delete the background guide and the grids and enjoy your new square labyrinth !
That completes the drawing of a 9 Circuit Square Labyrinth.
9 Circuit Square Labyrinth
PART 2: ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION
The above version is one of many versions of the 9 circuit labyrinth you may find. You may also break the labyrinth into sections similar to concentric circle labyrinths. Here is a 4 sectioned square version as an example (it happens to be an 11 circuit, but the concept remains the same):
Although I did not construct them here as an example, with some work you could make many different number of sections. Here is an example using circular labyrinths that could be adapted to squares (although I would not suggest odd numbers because of the shape). We have already seen 1 and 4 sections (above) and could easily make 2 and 8 section versions.
I think most people would consider it a different category of labyrinth, but there is a square spiral labyrinth also (yes they are typically circular). Here is a 9 circuit square spiral labyrinth. It is easy to make. Start in the center and work your way out until you reach the desired size !
PART 3: REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
Here is an example of a 9 circuit square labyrinth you can find in the US:
The Hunter Presbyterian Church Labyrinth in Lexington, KY is a 9 circuit square labyrinth in a Roman Style made from painted concrete.
These are all well made square labyrinths with less than 9 circuits:
The St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church Labyrinth in South San Francisco, CA is a 7 circuit Medieval square labyrinth made with brock pavers.
The New American Castle Labyrinth from Middlefield, MA is a wonderful 50 foot diameter 7 circuit labyrinth that features the small center variation. It is a classical labyrinth, also made with brick pavers.
The St. John’s Preparatory School Labyrinth in Danvers, MA features 6 circuits and has a larger center goal. It is 33 foot in diameter and made with pavers.
Additional blog posts you may like:
A Comparison of 3 different types of 11 Circuit Labyrinths
10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers
Drawing a classical 3 circuit square labyrinth is both easy and fun once you learn the starting pattern and the rules of building the pathways. Follow this simple 5 step process and draw your own 3 circuit classical square labyrinth.
Before we get into the step by step process let’s look at the 2 different square labyrinth versions you can learn in this post. The main difference between the 2 options are the size of the center goal. The walls, pathways and circuits are all basically the same. The small center version also is not a symmetrical square. The 2 labyrinths use different seed patterns. Personally I prefer the right, perfectly square version. We will learn how to make that first in Parts 1/2.
Here is the structure of blog post:
PART 1: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (LARGE CENTER VERSION)
PART 2: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
PART 3: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (SMALL CENTER VERSION)
PART 4: MAKING AN ALTERNATIVE SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
PART 5: REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
PART 1: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (LARGE CENTER VERSION)
Step 1: Draw the starting seed pattern.
The starting seed pattern for this labyrinth is not the typical plus sign you may be used to. Instead it is 3 vertical lines, with 2 horizontal lines. The horizontal line on the left aligns with the bottom of the 3 vertical lines, while on the right side it aligns with the top of the vertical lines. Each line is the same length. See below:
3 Circuit Labyrinth Square starting seed pattern
Step 2: Draw the center goal
At the 2 rightmost vertical lines draw a line up one grid. This will become the opening to the center goal. Draw a square centered on top of this. Grid-wise this is a 3x3 square.
3 Circuit Square Labyrinth - Step 2 - Draw the Goal
Step 3: Draw the next level
Connect the top of the remaining left vertical line to the far corner of the right horizontal line. It is an upside-down squared U shape started with a small horizontal move on the left side. See below.
3 Circuit Labyrinth - Step 3 - Draw the next arch
Step 4: Draw the next level
Connect the left side of the horizontal line around the structure clockwise until it reaches the end of the rightmost vertical line. Again this creates an upside-down square U shape plus a horizontal connection in the last section. See below.
3 Circuit Square Labyrinth - Step 4 - Draw the next arch
Step 5: Connect the final arch from the left
Connect the ends of the bottoms of the final 2 vertical lines around the structure to complete the labyrinth.
3 Circuit Square Labyrinth - Step 5 - Draw the final arch
That does it. The final 3 circuit classical square labyrinth after 5 easy steps !!!
3 circuit classical square labyrinth
PART 2: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
And here is the same labyrinth shown being made with grids so you can understand the shape better. Use the controls to build the labyrinth step by step.
PART 3: MAKING A SQUARE LABYRINTH (SMALL CENTER VERSION)
Alternative construction option: You have the option to use the more traditional starting seed pattern to create a 3 circuit square labyrinth, but this is not the most common construction. This version does not have a large square center and ends up not even being a perfect square. Here is the 5 step process to create it.
PRO TIP: this is the same construction and instructions as a 3 circuit classical shaped labyrinth but instead of curving the corners you draw the lines and corners at 90 degree angles !
Step 1: Draw the starting seed pattern.
The starting seed pattern is a plus sign with four dots in each of the four corners in the space apart from the lines to form pattern below.
Step 2: Connect the first “arch”
Draw an upside -down U shaped line from the top of the plus sign to the dot in the top right corner of the starting pattern. The top of the arch should peak halfway between those two points. This line will form what will become the goal of the labyrinth.
Step 3: Connect the next “arch” from the left
Draw an upside down U shaped line from the left corner dot to the end point on the right side of the plus sign. Space the line an equal distance from the wall to the inside. Notice that you have moved one point to the left and connected that to the next point on the right.
Step 4: Connect the next “arch” from the left
Draw another clockwise line from the end point of the left side of the plus sign around to the dot on the bottom right side of the pattern (Again, the next on the left to the next on the right). Space the line an equal distance from the wall to the inside as you draw the line. Again this looks like an upside-down U plus the connections to the appropriate ends.
Step 5: Connect the next “arch” from the left
Same process as before but this time you connect the bottom left dot from the seed to the bottom of the plus sign.
That completes the process for this alternative version.
PART 4: MAKING AN ALTERNATIVE SQUARE LABYRINTH (GRIDS SHOWN)
And here is the same labyrinth shown being made with grids so you can understand the shape better. Use the controls to build the labyrinth step by step.
PART 5: REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
Here are some examples of some 3 circuit square labyrinths you can find in the US:
The North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Labyrinth is located in North Andover, MA and is a contemporary labyrinth version. This labyrinth is made with pavers and looks great.
The Kapp and Kappy B&B – Violet’s Venom Brewery Labyrinth is located in Kissimmee, FL and uses the large center version you learned to make in parts 1/2 of this post. This one is also made of brick pavers.
Other posts you may like:
The 8 best books about mazes, labyrinths and their history
10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers
