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Vermont’s World Famous Maple Syrup and Sugar Houses to Visit

Vermont is known for its high-quality maple syrup , which has been an important part of the state's culture and economy for centuries. The history of maple syrup production in Vermont dates back to the indigenous peoples who inhabited the region. These early inhabitants, including the Abenaki, Iroquois, and Algonquin tribes, discovered that maple trees produced a sweet sap that could be collected and transformed into syrup or sugar. They used the syrup as a sweetener and as a trade item with other tribes and European settlers.

Famous Vermont Maple Syrup

Maple syrup production became more widespread in Vermont in the 19th century, as settlers learned how to tap the trees and collect the sap. The process of making maple syrup involves drilling a hole into a maple tree and inserting a spout, or tap. The tap is connected to a bucket or a plastic tubing system that collects the sap as it flows out of the tree. The sap is then boiled down to reduce its water content, resulting in maple syrup.

Vermont's maple syrup industry has grown significantly over the years, and today the state is one of the largest producers of maple syrup in the United States. Vermont's maple syrup is known for its high quality and distinctive flavor, and it is enjoyed by people around the world.

Vermont maple syrup is known for its rich, smooth flavor and high quality

It is produced in the state of Vermont, which is known for its maple trees and maple syrup production. Vermont maple syrup is made by tapping maple trees and collecting the sap, which is then boiled down to create the syrup. Vermont is known for producing some of the best maple syrup in the world, and many people consider it to be a specialty product. The flavor of Vermont maple syrup is often described as being rich and complex, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and nuts. It is often used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer in a variety of dishes, including pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, and other breakfast foods. Many people also enjoy using Vermont maple syrup as a topping for ice cream, yogurt, and other desserts.

These are a few popular Vermont maple syrup farms in northern Vermont for you to visit this Spring

In no particular order, these are five of the best Vermont maple farms that you will find while driving around northern Vermont. To be fair, there are many others including some small, family farms such as the Thompson Family Farm in Colchester which is certainly one of the best! We will be expanding this article to feature more sugar makers in the future but for now, these truly are some of the best places to visit. An older article about Vermont maple sugaring and maple syrup can be found here .

Here are just a few of the Vermont maple syrup farms that offer a wide range of maple products, gifts and fun things to do for the entire family.

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

Visit the Morse Sugarworks a few miles on the outskirts of Montpelier, Vermont for walk-through tours, tasting, multimedia displays, a nature trail, an authentic country store, and outdoor activities on the grounds of a rural farm experience. Visit an outdoor Vermont farm life museum making up the Morse Farm experience. Sprinkled throughout the property, are whimsical carved folk life characters created by Burr Morse.

Morse Farm is open daily year round, but their hours do vary with the seasons. June 12 – August 29 open 10 AM to 7 PM August 30 – December 31 open 10 AM to 5:00 PM New Years Day – June 11 open 10 AM to 5 PM

Goodrich's Maple Farm

Nothing tastes better than the taste of True Vermont Maple Syrup . This is the most loved natural sweetener from the Green Mountains of the state. Checkout maple syrup and maple recipes at Goodrich’s Maple Farm Facebook Page .

A 40,000 tap operation. Enjoy free educational tours of the maple process & their sugarhouse. Bus tours welcome. Large groups welcome. Learn all about Vermont maple from their trees to your table. Gift shop, taster's table. Retail, Wholesale & Mail order. Maple syrup, candies & confections. Local Crafts & Gifts. Conveniently located on US RT 2, in Cabot, VT, just minutes from other local Northeast Kingdom attractions. Handicapped accessible. Sugar on snow parties in season.

Bragg Farm Sugar House & Gift Shop

Visit their Maple Ice Cream Parlor, Gift Shop, and Tasting Table to view a great selection of Vermont items and specially selected maple products and cheese. Shop their retail gift shop and ice cream parlor.

Vermont Maple Syrup Recipes

You can order Vermont maple syrup here and get started with some of the following recipes below, which are from the May 3, 1922, issue of the Orleans County Monitor : Courtesy of the Vermont Northland Journal

• Maple Candy Two cups maple honey, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoonful soda, lump of butter half as big as an egg. Boil until brittle when dropped in water and then take off and cool on plates. When cold, pull and cut up.
• Maple Cream Two cups of maple sugar, one-half cup of cream. Let it boil until it hairs [forms threads off the side of the spoon] and then stir in one cup of nuts, butternuts preferable. Pour into buttered tins and when nearly cold cut in squares.
• Maple Sugar Fudge Two cups of white sugar, one cup of maple sugar, two-thirds cup of sweet milk. Cook 12 minutes after it begins to boil. Remove from stove and add a piece of butter the size of a walnut and 1 cup of walnut meats. Stir until it thickens then pour into a buttered tin. When nearly cold cut in squares.

A few More Maple Syrup Recipes – Order Vermont Maple Syrup here

• Maple syrup pudding: Combine 1 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour into individual serving dishes and chill in the fridge until set.
• Maple syrup cookies: Cream together 1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1/2 cup of maple syrup. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined. Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
• Maple syrup ice cream: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of whole milk, 3/4 cup of maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool. Once the mixture has cooled, churn it in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze until firm.
• Maple syrup granola: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of chopped nuts (such as almonds or pecans), 1/2 cup of maple syrup, 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Spread the mixture out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and fragrant. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
• Maple syrup bread pudding: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together 4 cups of stale bread cubes, 2 cups of milk, 1/2 cup of maple syrup, 1/4 cup of butter, 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pudding is set and the top is golden brown.
• Maple syrup fudge: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of maple syrup, 1 cup of sugar, and 4 tablespoons of butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of mini marshmallows and 1 cup of chocolate chips until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the fudge into a greased 8×8-inch pan and refrigerate until set.

A Sweet Bit of History – Making Maple Syrup in Vermont

The following article is from the December 20, 1873, issue of the Essex County Herald:

Maple Sugar Making

The manufacture of Maple Sugar is an important interest to farmers in this vicinity, and the idea of making a superior article is getting to be of greater moment every year.

Now is a good time to think and get ready to act. The first requisite is neatness or cleanliness, in everything pertaining to the business.

Harvesting Maple Sap

In tapping the tree one-half inch hole is big enough, cut with an instrument that will cut as smooth and with as little bruising as possible so as to leave the grains open. As to the depth, the outside grains are the best, but the sap circulates freely so far as the wood is white some time during the season.

To bore through to where the wood is colored is injurious. Some kind of spout or conductor with a small aperture fitting the hole nicely so as to make tight without marring the tree unnecessarily and prevent the hole from seasoning, which very quickly checks the flow of sap. Catch in wooden buckets, kept clean and sweet by washing and scalding. Tin buckets will make white sugar, but as the season advances sugar made from sap caught in tin buckets will have terribly repulsive and disagreeable taste, caused by the action of the sun on the tin. If one wishes to make a nice article be must gather often, even if sap runs slowly. Boil quickly in shallow pans with skimmer in hand; have a hand to stand right over it and give his or her whole attention to it, and you can have the sap in your boiling pan quite shallow and boil very rapidly, putting in cold sap often and skimming continually.

Boiling Maple Sap

Boil small batches, washing your boiling pan often. The heater with tubes is saving of wood, does the work rapidly, but boils in the scum and so colors the sugar. We prefer fine even threaded cotton cloth for strainer, running it through before it gets so sweet as not to go through readily.

Now for some of the things we have to contend with. One of the worst is silex or silicia [silicic] acid, more or less pervading the sap as it comes from the tree, colorless and kept nearly so if you are particular; if careless, a black gritty substance on the boiling pan and in the sugar. This substance is not discernable till near the granulating point or very thick molasses. It can be got rid of in this state by settling. Another difficulty is the grit or dust blown from the bark and lichens on the trees, some of which will go through almost any filter or strainer; the remedy for this is skimming and settling.

Another thing to contend with is rinsing from maple bark in stormy weather, which not only colors but is better when it is very bad. I throw it away sometimes and sometimes boil it but do not put it into the market. After all, sourness or acidity is the most troublesome thing in the manufacture of sugar to contend with. Washing and scalding are my remedies. Those using the patent evaporators, so far as I have been acquainted, come very short of making as white sugar as we are able to with the common pan. When the Vermont State Fair met at St. Johnsbury , the specimens presented there from the evaporator were decidedly inferior to what we are able to manufacture with common pan. Cooling and heating have a tendency to color the syrup.

If there is anything in the sap before it is boiled that can be filtered out, it is well to do so. If these few hints shall help anyone to improve the quality of their sugar the desired object of the writer will be gained.

Lunenburg, Vt., Dec. 15, 1873

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Visit These 13 Vermont Sugar Houses to Learn How Maple Syrup is Made

By Author Tara Schatz

Posted on Published: February 5, 2024

If not for maple syrup, March in Vermont would be all about mud season.

Thank goodness that the grey days and muddy roads of early spring go hand-in-hand with one of Mother Nature’s most wonderful inventions!

Drive any back road in Vermont during February and March, and you will undoubtedly come across metal buckets hanging on roadside maple trees and lines of plastic tubing running from sugarbush to sugar shack, where clear maple sap is magically converted into pure maple syrup.

Vermont’s 600+ sugarmakers produced 2.5 million gallons of maple syrup in 2022, leading the country in production.

What’s even more exciting is that many Vermont sugar shacks open their doors to the public so that the rest of us can learn how maple syrup goes from tree, to tap, to table each spring.

Table of Contents

2024 Vermont Maple Open House Weekend

The sweetest weekend in Vermont will celebrate the 2024 crop of maple syrup. Visitors will dig into pancake breakfasts, try sugar-on-snow, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, and learn about the maple sugaring process with sugarhouse tours.

This is an ideal weekend to visit Vermont, celebrate a time-honored tradition, and stock up on maple syrup and maple products for the coming year.

This year’s two Maple Open House Weekend will be March 2t3h and 24th, 2024. The Vermont sugar shacks listed below are all taking part in the festivities, and you can find even more participants at Vermont Maple Sugar Makers .

What’s more, many of these Vermont sugar houses are open to the public during maple sugaring season (outside of Maple Open House Weekend).

Ready to take advantage of Vermont’s sweetest season? Put these 12 Vermont sugar shacks on your must-visit list!

Vermont Sugar Shacks Map

There are Vermont maple syrup farms and sugar shacks to visit all over the state, but the ones listed below are generally open to the public for tours and farm visits.

Stop in during Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, or anytime you’re visiting Vermont!

The Sugar Shack in Arlington, Vermont

Not only can you witness maple sugaring in person at The Sugar Shack in Arlington, but you can also indulge in delectable maple creemees (or maple waffle sundaes!), purchase real maple syrup and other goodies, and check out the onsite Norman Rockwell exhibit.

The Hawley family has more than 90 years of experience producing award-winning maple syrup, which they sell in four different grades. Samples are available every day, and you can also purchase Vermont products and souvenirs, cheddar cheese, jams, jellies, and fudge. Fresh-baked goodies, including cider donuts, pies, and maple-frosted cookies, are created daily.

During Maple Open House Weekend (March 23 and 24), The Sugar Shack will be giving tours and free samples, as well as free silver dollar pancakes from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be syrup giveaways and plenty of maple products for sale.

The Sugar Shack is currently open Thursday through Saturday, from 9 am to 4 pm. Visitors are welcome to pop into the sugar house to watch the maple-sugaring process firsthand.

Green Mountain Sugarhouse in Ludlow, Vermont

Located on beautiful Vermont Route 100 in North Ludlow, Vermont, Green Mountain Sugarhouse is open year-round. The red-roofed sugarhouse is perched on the edge of Lake Pauline, and there’s no better place to relax with a maple creemee.

In addition to pure maple syrup, Green Mountain Sugarhouse produces other maple specialties including maple cream, maple candy, and maple nut brittle.

Green Mountain Sugarhouse will participate in Vermont Maple Open House Weekend on March 23 and 24, 2024. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., they will serve sugar on maple creemees and donut holes with maple cream.

Outside of Maple Weekend, the Sugarhouse is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center in Rupert, Vermont

A visit to Merck Forest & Farmland Center is an experience that can’t be duplicated. This nonprofit working farm and forest in Rupert, Vermont includes sixty acres of farmland that are managed using low-impact, ecologically sensitive practices.

Visitors to the farm can say hi to the animals and purchase farm products, including pick-your-own blueberries (in the summer), pastured pork, grass-fed lamb, fleece products, and of course, real maple syrup.

Merck Forest is comprised of more than 3,100 acres surrounding the farm, with 30 miles of trails in the Taconic Mountains. The terrain is perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.

This forest also provides an abundance of maple syrup. Merck Forest taps approximately 2,900 trees and invites the public to learn more about the process.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center will celebrate Maple Open House on Saturday, March 23, from 11 am – 3 pm. Visitors will be treated to tapping and boiling demonstrations, storytelling, children’s activities, farm animals, and more. A $5 suggested donation per person is appreciated.

Read Next: Delightfully Rustic Cabin Camping at Merck Forest & Farmland Center

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in Montpelier, Vermont

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks , Vermont’s oldest sugarhouse, is an 8th-generation farm in Montpelier that loves visitors.

They offer free sugar house tours and tastings throughout the season, as well as multimedia displays, a nature trail, a country store, and an outdoor Vermont farm life museum.

Morse Farm is open daily year-round. Visitors can walk the “maple trail’ winding through the sugarbush and visit Rex and James, the Morse Farm goats.  Pieces of folk art and antique farm implements can be found throughout the property.

Be sure to try one of Morse Farm’s famous maple creemees, which are available all year long.

Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, Vermont

Sugarbush Farm is located on 550 beautiful acres outside of Woodstock, Vermont. Not only does the Luce family make wonderfully rich maple syrup, but they also specialize in award-winning cheese, including extra sharp cheddar and smoked maple cheese.

Sugarbush Farm is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. During sugaring season, you can visit the sugar house and learn more about the art of making maple syrup. During other times of the year, you are free to walk the sugarbush and watch a short video about how maple syrup is made.

You will likely find delicious cheese samples to savor and farm animals to visit with. The views are gorgeous no matter what time of year you choose to visit.

During Maple Open House Weekend, Sugarbush Farm will be offering tours and providing samples.

Read Next: Plan a Fall Weekend in Woodstock, Vermont

Bragg Farm Sugarhouse and Gift Shop in East Montpelier, Vermont

With more than 2,200 traditional sap buckets and a wood-fired evaporator, Bragg Farm Sugarhouse and Gift Shop in East Montpelier has been making syrup the old-fashioned way for eight generations.

The Bragg Farm sugarhouse is open year-round, not to mention the enticing maple ice cream parlor and gift shop, which carries a large selection of Vermont crafts, gifts, and specialty foods.

During Maple Open House Weekend, Bragg Farm will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop in for a maple creemee or milkshake, maple-frosted donuts, or sugar-on-snow sundaes before visiting the farm goats.

Take a free guided tour of the sugarhouse and sample Vermont’s finest maple syrup before choosing a bottle to bring home for your pancake breakfasts and maple lattes.

Baird Farm in North Chittenden, Vermont

Established in 1918, Baird Farm encompasses 560 acres of forest and fields in North Chittenden. This Vermont farm is known for its certified organic maple syrup, as well as maple syrup infused with either mint or spruce tips (great for cocktails).

Baird Farm is participating in Vermont Maple Open House Weekend on March 23 and 24 from 10 am to 4 pm with free sugarhouse and sugarbush tours, maple tastings, free rosemary waffles, outdoor maple activities and giveaways, and tree tapping demonstrations at 1 pm.

Mount Holly Beer Co. will be serving maple-themed beer, and the farm store will be open to purchase all of your maple goodies.

Outside of Maple Open House Weekend, Baird Farm is open year-round from Wednesday to Monday, 9 am to 5 pm. Free tours must be booked in advance.

Bread Loaf View Farm in Cornwall, Vermont

Bread Loaf Farm maintains a 30-acre sugarbush in Cornwall, Vermont, just three miles from Middlebury College. Head sugar maker Kenn Hastings manages the sugarbush and produces intensely flavorful maple syrup and maple products for all to enjoy.

Bread Loaf Farm is dedicated to combining time-honored maple sugaring practices with cutting-edge technology to produce the richest, most delicious syrup imaginable.

Throughout the year, Bread Loaf View Farm hosts numerous community-wide gatherings including pancake breakfasts, group tours, and special events.

Mahar Maple Farm in Middletown Springs, Vermont

Welcome to Mahar Maple Farm, where the Durfee and Mahar families have created a small Vermont maple sugar farm together in the beautiful, picturesque mountains of Middletown Springs. Mahar Maple Farm combines traditional sugaring techniques with modern technology to make flavorful, award-winning Vermont maple syrup.

The Sugarhouse will be open for Vermont Maple Open House Weekend. Visitors are welcome to visit the state-of-the-art, wood-fired evaporator in a spacious sugarhouse. There will be free samples, maple snacks, and specialty maple products for sale.

You are welcome to visit Mahar Maple Farm outside of Maple Weekend, but appointments are suggested as boiling times and days are weather-dependent.

Silloway Maple in Randolph Center, Vermont

Silloway Maple , located just off Interstate 89 in Randolph Center, Vermont, has been boiling sap into syrup since the 1940s. Their award-winning Vermont maple syrup is made using solar power and a traditional wood fire.

Visit Silloway to witness the process of boiling sap into syrup, or visit year-round to learn about the history of maple syrup, tour the sugarbush, enjoy maple creemees, and stock up on maple products.

Judd’s Wayeeses Farms in Morgan, Vermont

Formerly the Wayeeses Boys Camp that operated from 1923 until World War II, Judd’s Wayeeses Farm in Morgan is a fourth-generation sugaring operation specializing in pure maple syrup and maple sugar.

You can visit the farm anytime and purchase syrup at the onsite cannery or strap on snowshoes to trek about a mile to the sugarhouse. To find out if they are boiling in the spring, give them a call at (802) 895-4418.

Want to spend more time in the region? Rent the nearby cottage on Seymour Lake in the summer months for $125 a night.

Shelburne Sugarworks in Shelburne, Vermont

Shelburne Sugarworks is a third-generation operation that started during World War II when Marjorie Palmer began making maple syrup when traditional cane sugar was rationed.

Since those humble beginnings, the Palmer family has expanded the sugarhouse and incorporated new technology, including a natural gas-fired evaporator, expanded tubing and vacuum systems, and a reverse osmosis system for more efficient processing.

Shelburne Sugarworks opens the doors to its post-and-beam sugarhouse every weekend from early March to early April, from 12 – 5 pm.

During Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, they will offer free samples, maple cotton candy, maple ice cream, and guided tours. Don your snow boots (or snow shoes) for a walk in the sugarbush.

The 170 acres of woodland trails around Shelburne Sugarworks are open for hiking and mountain biking all year.

Trapp Family Lodge Sugarhouse in Stowe, Vermont

In the early 1940s, the von Trapp family toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers before eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont. Today, visitors are welcome to come stay in their Austrian-style lodge on 2,600 acres. Trails crisscross the property, and there are several restaurants and a brewery onsite.

Every March, when the days become longer and warmer, maple sugaring begins at Trapp Family Lodge , where 800 gallons of maple syrup are produced the old-fashioned way, using sap buckets and a wood-fired evaporator.

Visitors can book a Maple Sugar Tour during their visit. It’s a casual, one-mile hike around the property where you learn about maple sugaring before enjoying a tasty treat. While you’re there, you can visit with the lambs and cows, hike or bike a trail, or dine in one of the fantastic restaurants or the Von Trapp Brewery.

Read Next: Easy and Moderate Day Hikes Near Stowe, Vermont

More Vermont Maple Events to Check Out in 2024

Vermont Maple Open House Weekend may be the most anticipated maple event of the year, but it’s not the only one! Here are a few more ways to indulge in and learn about Vermont’s liquid gold!

• March 11, 2024: Governor’s Annual Tree Tapping : Join Governor Phill Scott at  Buck Family Maple Farm  in Washington County for this year’s tapping to kick off the maple season. The ceremony begins at 11 am.
• March 23, 2024 : 16th Lunenburg Maple Festival : Enjoy a pancake breakfast, a student sugaring demonstration, raffles, door prizes, maple cotton candy, tours of six sugarhouses, and pie!
• March 30, 2024: Lambing and Maple Sugaring at Shelburne Farms : Shelburne Farms invites you to their spring event! Visit the sugarhouse and taste this year’s syrup, then visit the new lambs. Ages 6 and up. $5.
• April 20, 2024: Kingdom Maple Festival in St. Johnsbury : Celebrate St. Johnsbury’s history as the “Maple Center of the World.” The festival will showcase local maple history and producers, along with delicious treats and fun activities for the whole family.
• April 26-28, 2024: 57th Annual Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans : This huge celebration of all things maple includes live entertainment, tours of Vermont sugar shacks, an annual sap run, a maple parade, maple photography and cooking contests, and a Fiddler’s Variety Show.

Follow us on social media for more Vermont inspiration!

Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers , an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.

Saturday 9th of March 2024

Hi everybody! This year between 8/16; 17(my 59th Birthday); 18/24, I'm planning on visiting the best Vermont Sugar Shack! Out of the 12 Vermont Sugar Shacks that's listed on this website, which is the best one to visit that has all the amenities? Thank you.

Wednesday 13th of March 2024

@Tara Schatz,

I understand!

I Googled Merck Forest as well as Shelburne Sugarworks.

What I'm seeking is the best near by hotel lodging; tour of the grounds on what it has to offer to give the best experience possible; a decent breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant as well as a souvenir shop. If possible, all close to the proximity of each establishment!

I'm just looking for a complete package to give my Birthday the most enjoyable experience as possible!

Tara Schatz

This is a hard question to answer as they are all so different! Merck Forest is has a great sugaring operation, plus they have farm animals and hiking trails, so that would be my pick in Southern Vermont. I love Shelburne Sugarworks up north and Baird Farm. So hard to choose!

• Visit a real-life sugarhouse on these Vermont maple syrup tours

Each fall, thousands of travelers journey to Vermont for its rolling hills dappled with autumn colors. Much of the vibrant foliage belongs to the sugar maple, Vermont’s state tree and the source of its famous maple syrup. From the first metal sap spout in the 19th century to the local sugarhouses still thriving today, the tradition of harvesting maple syrup every spring is deeply woven into Vermont’s history. Be sure to experience it with a sugarhouse tour when you book one of our Vermont vacation rentals.

Baird Farm – Chittenden

Tucked away on 560 acres, Baird Farm harvests some of Vermont’s finest syrup. The farm produces certified organic syrup via strict USDA and VOF (Vermont Organic Farmers) guidelines. Learn about the process on a guided tour, which you can schedule on their website.

Baird’s gift shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and the sugarhouse offers free samples anytime. It’s a family operation in a gorgeous corner of the state!

Vermont vacation rentals near Baird Farm

K. Ruane Maple Farm – Tinmouth

K. Ruane Maple Farm is a small, family-run operation where guests are welcome year-round. They love giving tours of their farm and produce a whopping 3,200 gallons of maple syrup every year. If you make it out during open house weekend, you’ll be treated to fresh pancakes topped with their signature syrup.

Sugarbush Cheese and Maple Farm – Woodstock

Around 8,500 trees produce the Luce family’s famous maple syrup at Sugarbush Farm , open to tourists nearly every day of the year. Taste four different grades of syrup as you learn about the sugaring process, and sample some homemade cheddar while you’re at it.

A nature trail winds through the woods, taking you past the farm’s animals and trees. Every part of the year offers something different here, from peak sugaring season to the bustling summer months to enchanted snowy holidays.

Green Mountain Sugar House – Ludlow

Make Green Mountain Sugar House a destination on your quest for the best maple syrup. This down-home operation educates visitors about sugaring and, of course, offers samples.

Visit the gift shop for all manners of maple products, including a crowd-pleasing pancake mix and syrup combo package. Order a maple creemee—Green Mountain’s signature maple soft serve in a cone—and enjoy it on the spacious lawn.

Vermont vacation rentals near Green Mountain Sugar House

Mitch’s Maples – Chester

A sugaring staple for over 70 years, Mitch’s Maples opens their sugarhouse daily to the public, selling their wares and showing off the sugaring process. During the harvest season in the spring, they offer tours on the weekends while the syrup is boiling.

Maple syrup isn’t the only treat to come from trees here—maple candy and maple cream fill the shop’s shelves, too. If you’re craving their sweets after a visit, Mitch’s products can be purchased online, so you can restock your maple stash from anywhere.

Goodrich’s Maple Farm – Cabot

Ever been to a sugar on snow party? Goodrich’s hosts them during the sugaring season when there’s snow on the ground. Here, hot syrup (231 degrees, to be exact) meets fresh snow and instantly caramelizes, turning into chewy taffy candy.

Goodrich’s offers group tours of the farm, too. Just be sure to call in advance to make your reservation. Pick up some of their maple products on the way out as a souvenir for anyone who wasn’t lucky enough to come along.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center – Rupert

Merck Forest and Farmland Center teaches visitors the importance of sustainable farming and forestry, which includes the production of their delicious organic maple syrup. Tour the farm’s 40-acre sugarbush, where about 3,000 taps produce syrup yearly.

Visitors can explore the grounds and even hike on-site. Family-centered events are available year-round, so stick around for farming demonstrations, hiking opportunities, festivals, and more. Of course, sweet syrup can be purchased in their gift shop on your way out.

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The Bragg Family has been producing Vermont Maple Syrup for 8 generations. Our pure maple syrup is made the traditional way, using buckets and a wood-fired evaporator. We invite you to visit our farm store and sugarhouse year-round! Enjoy our Maple Ice Cream Parlor and Gift Shop with a large selection of Vermont crafts, gifts, specialty foods and of course all kinds Vermont Maple products and cheeses.

Take a free guided tour of the sugarhouse and find your favorite grade of syrup at the tasting table.

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Vermont maple syrup farms to visit

Southern Vermont is home to some of the most beautiful maple syrup farms in the country. With their rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, these farms are a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. If you're looking for an authentic Vermont experience, there's no better way to do it than by touring a local farm. 

Photo: Kris Radder — Brattleboro Reformer

In this guide, we've put together a list of the best maple syrup farms in Southern Vermont. Specifically, we'll be focusing on the Windham and Bennington counties, where you'll find some of Vermont’s finest maple syrup around. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these farms are sure to leave a lasting impression. So without further ado, let's dive in and explore the world of Vermont maple syrup. 

Vermont maple farms to visit in Windham County 

Hidden springs maple .

Nestled in Putney, Vermont, Hidden Springs Maple Farm is a family-owned maple farm that offers an authentic maple syrup experience. Visitors can visit their sugarhouse farm store and learn about the traditional methods of tapping maple trees and boiling sap into delicious maple syrup. 

Currently, The Hidden Springs Maple Farm store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays to Sundays from May 26 to Nov. 26. Their store is located at 162 Westminster Road in Putney, Vermont. There, visitors can enjoy a maple syrup tasting session and explore their gift shop, which offers an array of maple products, including syrups, candies and creams. For more information on touring and purchase options, visit https://www.hiddenspringsmaple.com/ .

Robb Family Farm

Located in Brattleboro, Robb Family Farm is a picturesque maple farm with a rich history of maple syrup production. The Robb Farm produces 100% pure & natural maple syrup with nothing added, free of contaminants – that means no formaldehyde, pesticides, or chemicals. 

Currently, Robb Family Farm boasts an impressive 8,500 taps. Shop visitors can visit year-round at 822 Ames Hill Road in Brattleboro, Vermont, to discover the process of collecting sap, boiling it down, and crafting pure maple syrup. Explore their sugarhouse and witness the art of maple syrup production firsthand. Don't forget to try their famous maple soft-serve ice cream and pick up some of their delectable maple nuts to take home.

To purchase Robb Family Farm maple syrup directly online, visit https://robbfamilyfarm.com/shop/vermont-maple-syrup/ .

Heritage Maple Farm

The Heritage Maple Farm, located in Brattleboro, Vermont, has been keeping the tradition of maple syrup making alive for five generations. The farm sells maple syrup, grade B maple syrup , sugar, and candy will delight visitors to the wintertime treat of maple “sugar on snow.” 

The Heritage farm is located at 60 Cooke Rd in Brattleboro and is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. As it turns out, the best time to visit is in late winter and early spring, when visitors can see the production process and witness the creation of maple syrup.

To contact the Heritage Maple Farm, call (802) 579-3546 . 

Vermont maple farms to visit in Bennington County

Glastenview maple farm.

Located at 571 Glasten View Drive in Shaftsbury, Vermont, Glastenview Maple Farm is a family-owned and operated maple farm that invites visitors to witness the art of maple syrup production. Visitors can take a guided tour of their sugarhouse and learn about the intricate process of tapping maple trees, collecting sap, and transforming it into pure maple syrup. The farmers are passionate about sharing their expertise and indulge in a tasting session to savor the distinct flavors of their maple syrup varieties.

The farm is open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Weekends. As with most syrup farms, the best season to visit is late winter and early spring when the boilers are in full steam. For more information, visit http s://www.glastenviewmaplefarm.com/ . 

Sugar Shack 

Located in Arlington, Vermont, The Sugar Shack stands proudly on Historic RT7A, also known as Sugar Shack Lane. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays at 29 Sugar Shack Ln in Arlington, Vermont. 

The establishment takes great pride in producing pure maple syrup right in their on-site sugar house, allowing visitors to sample the delightful syrup on a daily basis. Alongside the maple syrup, a variety of Vermont food products are available, including jams, mustards, cheese, fudge, and more. Visitors can also browse through a selection of Vermont-themed sweats and tees, souvenirs, and indulge in delectable treats such as maple frosted sugar cookies, fresh baked pies, and their renowned homemade cider donuts.

The Sugar Shack is also home to the Norman Rockwell Exhibition, showcasing an extensive collection of Rockwell's works, accompanied by a 15-minute film and a charming gift shop. It is worth noting that Norman Rockwell resided in Arlington from 1939 to 1953, and his masterpieces often depict the local community.

Bonus: Southern Vermont Natural History Museum 

The Southern Vermont Natural History Museum at 7599 Route 9 East in Marlboro offers visitors a comprehensive understanding of the natural history and ecology of the region. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each week. Although not exclusively centered around maple syrup, the museum provides valuable insights into the symbiotic relationship between maple trees and the production of this cherished sweet treat. 

Visitors can explore the museum's captivating exhibits to learn about the biology of maple trees , the significance of the sap extraction process, and the  special historical context of maple syrup production in Vermont . Delve into the fascinating world of maple syrup and gain a deeper appreciation for the natural processes and cultural heritage that contribute to its creation.

Why visit southern Vermont maple syrup farms?

Southern Vermont offers a range of enticing maple syrup touring destinations where visitors can immerse themselves in the world of maple syrup production. Visitors can these destinations, learn about the production process, sample exquisite maple syrup, and embrace the natural beauty of Vermont. A visit to these maple syrup touring destinations in Windham and Bennington Counties will leave tourists with a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and flavors that define Vermont maple syrup.

Vermont Maple Syrup makes the best organic Vermont maple syrup, maple sugar, and maple candy you will taste. In classy, nostalgic packaging that puts Vermont first. Organic, pure small-batch maple syrup and maple sugar — tapped, collected, and made available from our 1,200-acre farm in the small town of Guilford, Vermont, USA.

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Organic, pure small-batch maple syrup–tapped, collected, and made in the small town of Guilford, Vermont, USA.

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Best Maple Syrup Farms in Vermont

Vermont is famous for its high-quality maple syrup , and there are several notable maple syrup farms in the state. Each of these farms offers a unique experience, from sugarhouse tours to tastings.

Have you been to any of these maple syrup farms in Vermont? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of them!

Here are some of the best maple syrup farms in Vermont:

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks (Montpelier):

Website: www.morsefarm.com

Morse Farm has been producing maple syrup for over 200 years and is a family-owned business. Visitors can take a guided tour of the sugarhouse to learn about the maple syrup-making process, participate in tastings, and explore nature trails. The farm also features a country store with various maple products.

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Sugarbush Farm (Woodstock):

Website: sugarbushfarm.com

Sugarbush Farm is a picturesque farm known for its award-winning cheeses and maple syrup. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the farm, including the sugarhouse, where they can see how maple syrup is made. The farm also offers cheese tastings, making it a delightful destination for both maple and cheese enthusiasts.

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Dakin Farm (Ferrisburgh):

Website: www.dakinfarm.com

Dakin Farm is a well-known Vermont institution that produces a variety of maple products. While visiting the farm, you can explore their sugarhouse, participate in tastings, and shop for a wide range of Vermont-made goods. Dakin Farm often hosts events and festivals throughout the year.

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Runamok Maple (Cambridge):

Website: runamokmaple.com

While not a traditional farm, Runamok Maple is a modern and innovative maple syrup producer known for its creative infused and barrel-aged syrups. They offer tours and tastings where visitors can explore their production facility and sample a variety of unique maple syrup flavors.

Mount Mansfield Maple Products (Underhill):

Website: vermontpuremaple.com

This family-owned farm focuses on producing high-quality, pure Vermont maple syrup. Visitors can take a tour of the sugarhouse, witness the sugaring process, and sample different grades of maple syrup. The farm also offers an online store for those unable to visit in person.

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Couture’s Maple Shop and B&B (Westfield):

Website: www.maplesyrupvermont.com

Couture’s is a maple farm that offers more than just syrup – it also operates as a bed and breakfast. Visitors can experience the sugaring process, enjoy homemade meals featuring maple products, and stay overnight in a charming Vermont farmhouse.

Shelburne Farms (Shelburne):

Website: shelburnefarms.org

While primarily known for its cheese and dairy products, Shelburne Farms also produces maple syrup. Visitors can explore the farm, participate in educational programs, and purchase maple syrup in their farm store. The picturesque setting overlooking Lake Champlain adds to the overall experience.

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These maple syrup farms offer a taste of Vermont’s rich agricultural heritage and provide an opportunity to learn about maple season and the time-honored tradition of making maple syrup.

Sources: Plummer, Todd. “How to Make the Most of Vermont’s Maple Syrup Season.” Conde Nast Traveler, 2 March. 2022, cntraveler.com/story/how-to-make-the-most-of-vermont-maple-syrup-season

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Welcome to Palmer’s Sugarhouse—a family run Vermont maple syrup business for over 50 years.

Open all year, groups welcome. Call us to schedule your event.

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Special Events

Sugar on snow, live music, farm barn and more.

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"The Best Place to Experience Winter in New England Is at This Vermont Sugarhouse" - Travel & Leisure

Palmer’s Sugarhouse is a family run business for over 50 years. During Sugartime, March and April at Palmer’s Sugarhouse you will find maple demonstrations, free maple samples, maple products including traditional sugar on snow, a farm barn, nordic trail system, horse rides (weather permitting) with views of the Adirondacks, and live music. Comfortable, family fun for everyone with plenty of parking and is handicap accessible. We are open year round at Palmer’s Sugarhouse. Please call ahead off season to schedule an informal appointment for a tour of our family run business. Palmer’s Sugarhouse welcomes Group tours and Private functions. Please call to schedule today at (802) 985-5054. Come visit us in Shelburne, Vermont!

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Indulge in Nature’s Sweetness at Sugartree Maple Farm

Welcome to Sugartree Maple Farm, where nature’s finest elixir flows straight from our trees to your table. We invite you to savor the pure essence of Vermont in every drop of our 100% natural maple syrup.

2024 Spring Open House!

Open house part two: saturday, march 30th, get ready to immerse yourself in a symphony of maple delights at sugartree maple farm’s annual 2024 maple open house..

Maple house tours, maple samples, sugar on snow, maple cotton candy, maple hotdogs, music, and of course lots of maple products to purchase. Scrumptious pancake, savory sausage, and bacon breakfast all topped with our irresistibly delicious maple syrup 9-1 by our friends Stine Orchard. Plus, maple-infused adult cocktail drinks 11-4 by BEVO and and fresh-squeezed maple lemonade for the kids.

Don’t forget to satisfy your sweet tooth with maple cotton candy and experience the magic of sugar on snow.

Join us for our open house filled with maple-infused joy, laughter, and the warmth of community. See you there!

Discover More Statewide Maple Events Across Vermont

Our Maple Open House Weekend is just a slice of the statewide maple celebration. Visit vermontmaple.org for a sneak peek into the various events across Vermont during this sugaring season.

A Family Tradition, A Vermont Legacy

Our story unfolds with the rhythmic pulse of the sugaring season, a symphony in which every family member and friend plays a vital role. From the rhythmic hum of chainsaws cutting and stacking firewood to the sweet finale of boiling sap into liquid gold, each step is a labor of love.

While our sap dances through modern plastic pipelines connecting tree to tree, our commitment to tradition remains unwavering. The heart of our operation beats with a new, wood-fired evaporator, a nod to generations past and a promise of the authentic flavor that defines Vermont maple syrup.

Unwrap Sweet Memories:

Unique maple gift ideas.

Delight in gifting with Sugartree Maple Farm’s exquisite maple products. Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, curating corporate gifts, or marking a special occasion, our maple treasures are the perfect choice. Let us turn your ideas into personalized wonders that fit your budget seamlessly.

Maple Trees:

Our pride, your delight.

Beyond being the source of our sweet treasure, the abundance of sugar maple trees in Vermont is why our state boasts vibrant fall foliage. At Sugartree Maple Farm, we cherish these majestic trees for their syrupy secrets and the beauty they paint across our backyard.

If you find yourself in Williston, Vermont, during the sugaring season’s peak, follow the wisps of steam rising from our sugarhouse—it’s a sign of the magic happening within. Take a moment to stop, visit, and indulge in a complimentary sample of our Vermont gold maple syrup.

Navigating the Maple Spectrum:

Understanding vermont’s new grading standards.

Embark on a flavorful journey as we guide you through Vermont’s maple syrup grading system to offer syrup enthusiasts a more precise understanding of each bottle’s unique taste experiences.

Testimonials

"you get a very personalized experience. it is a small family run business and you can see their passion and enthusiasm they put into the products. most importantly, the maple syrup (and maple cream) was amazing it's a must do thing to do in vermont", "went for maple open house weekend - even though it was packed, the whole family was there with smiles on their faces. delicious homemade treats, super friendly people and delicious syrup. awesome", "it was such an amazing experience to see the maple farm in full swing i loved our tour of the maple making process and walking around the farm to see the drips of maple come from the trees. thank you".

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Vermont Maple Syrup Tours and Activities

Posted on Oct. 31, 2022

Come spring, as the days get warmer and the snow turns to corn, Vermonters start to boil the sap from maples into sweet syrup.

Vermont Maple Sugaring: A Community Tradition

Find vermont maple syrup tours.

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Let's take a tour — trapp style.

Trapp Family Lodge is more than just a hotel; it’s a family home with years and years of history in its walls. Explore our property, visit Vermont's largest brewery at von Trapp Brewing, learn about our family’s extensive history, and go behind the scenes of our day-to-day operations on one of our many tours.

Please note that all tours and experiences are not available for purchase until 30 days in advance.

Reservations are required for all tours and they do sell out frequently, so we suggest you sign up online to reserve your spot. We look forward to seeing you!

Tour Pricing

Hotel guests.

Our public tours are included in the resort fee that Trapp Family Lodge hotel guests pay. There is a fee for non-hotel guests.

Public Tours

Adults for von Trapp History tour - $30.00*

Adults for all other tours - $20.00*

Children 6-12 - $5.00*

Children 5 and under - Free

*Plus 6% VT sales tax & 1% Stowe tax 

Private Tours (Based on 20 or More Guests)

$30 per person for von Trapp History Tour*

$20 per person for all other tours*

To book a private tour, call the sales department at 802-253-5769 . A private tour may be booked for less than 20 guests, but will be billed at $600* for a von Trapp History Tour and $400* for any other tour. 

Click here for a list of all of our seasonal tours and activities that you may add to a group visit or stay! 

*Plus 6% VT sales tax, 1% Stowe tax & 20% service fee

von Trapp History Tours Learn about the family's true story from Austria to Stowe, Vermont!

This hour and a half experience gives you insight to the truth's and imagined story lines in the Sound of Music and gives you an in depth look at how the von Trapps escaped Austria and ended up here in beautiful Stowe, Vermont. Watch a 20-minute documentary about Maria's last trip to Salzburg and if you are lucky, you will even get to meet a family member and hear what their experience was like growing up with Maria. By far our most popular tour, this does tend to sell out frequently, so we suggest purchasing your tickets in advance to ensure a spot!

Maple Sugaring Tours

Join us at the Trapp Family Lodge sugarhouse as we renew the centuries-old tradition of making pure Vermont maple syrup. Every March, when the days become longer and warmer, we start the process of maple sugaring.

Our Maple Sugar Tour is a casual, 1-mile hike around the property where you learn about our process and enjoy a tasty maple treat. Meet at the Outdoor Center 15 minutes prior to your tour time.

Von Trapp Brewing Tours

Johannes von Trapp wondered why lagers were so under-represented in the states. Discover how his dream for Austrian-inspired crisp, clean, traditional lagers came to life in a world of IPA’s right here on our 2,600-acre property. Brewery tours are included with your resort fee and are Tuesdays 6pm and Saturdays 1pm. Tours do sell out!

Meet the Cows Tour

Join our Vermont farmers on a property hike to meet our friendly Scottish Highlander herd. We have extensive history with this herd, so don’t be shy in asking questions. Come and see all the new cute calves in the Spring months! Meet at the Outdoor Center a few minutes early. Proper footwear and weather-appropriate clothing required. The herd may be located up to a mile away from the Outdoor Center depending on which of our seven pastures they are grazing, so it may require using your vehicle to get there.

Hike with the Goats Join Teton, Loki, Potter and Weasley on a 2-mile hike!

Enjoy an approximately 2 mile hike with the goats, Teton and Loki or Potter and Weasley, as we trek on our scenic and wooded trails.  We will stop to enjoy some snacks along the way to include Goat Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, and bottled water.  Be one of the first to enjoy this new activity.  Proper footwear is a must. Hope to see you there!

Meet the Sheep

Learn about our cute and friendly flock of Katadhin sheep, named after Mount Katadhin in Maine. Our sheep are on property all season long and love to be hand fed by our guests when they come to visit with treats.

Bird Watching Walk

Join us for an early morning Bird Watching Walk at 7:30 am with Karen Nielsen, who has 35 years of birding experience. Karen received a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in Applied Biology, and teaches Ornithology for the University of New Hampshire.

Signup in advance is required by 7 pm the night before the tour and can be made at our Fitness Center.

Meet at our Fitness Center at 7:30 am and have sturdy footwear, as we may be walking the meadows and forests on property.

Learning the Forest

Sitting on 2,600 acres of pure Vermont, Trapp Family Lodge is home to numerous wildlife and plant life species. Take a guided hike through our picturesque forests this afternoon to learn what makes these woods unique and sustainable. Be prepared with sturdy footwear and proper clothing.

Hike to the Chapel

Enjoy a short (but steep) hike to the chapel that Werner von Trapp and other members of the family built. We’ll head into the lovely woods behind our Lodge to explore this important von Trapp landmark. Meet at the Outdoor Center and arrive a few minutes early. Proper footwear and weather-appropriate clothing required. 

Wildflower Walk

Join us for a scenic stroll with our Staff Naturalist through the Trapp Family pastures and trails exploring tremendous biodiversity of wild forest plants and flowers. Hiking boots are always recommended!

Hike to the Bierhall

Enjoy a guided hike to the Bierhall from our Outdoor Center.  This adventure ends at our famous Bierhall when you can celebrate over a meal and a cold von Trapp lager (or two).

Guide to Vermont Maple Syrup Tours and Sugaring

Posted January 13, 2023

Sugaring may only happen in the spring, but you can visit Vermont’s maple syrup farms and sugar makers year-round at these places near Okemo.

All About Maple Sugaring in Vermont

Sugaring is hard work. During the winter, Vermont’s roughly 1,600 commercial sugar makers work around the clock to drill new taps in the sugar maples in their plot, or sugarbush. They canvass the woods, visiting each and every tree, assessing its health and drilling a new hole to allow last year’s taphole to heal. Then they connect that “tap” to a network of plastic tubes that runs down to a main line that connects with their sugarhouse.

Come spring, the same cycles of freezing cold nights and warm, sunny days that turn November’s hard-pack base into March’s mashed potatoes and perfect corn snow kick the state’s sugar maples into action; when the sap starts to flow a tree can produce gallons upon gallons, which are then collected by pipe or bucket.

Sugarers (as they are called) visit each maple tree in the forest, inspect the taps and make sure they are flowing. In the old days, metal buckets were used to gather the sap. Today, plastic tubes link the trees, creating a maze in the forest. They feed the sap into a large barrel or container that is then brought to the sugarhouse. In some cases, the sap flows right to the sugarhouses.

Before the watery, liquid sap is introduced to a massive evaporator, most commercial operations run it through a reverse osmosis machine, which allows as much as 75 to 80 percent of the water to be extracted before it is boiled in the evaporator, saving time and energy. As a rule of thumb, it takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to produce a single gallon of pure maple syrup. Over the course of a season, the color and flavor profile of the syrup shifts, from the lightest “ Golden Color and Delicate Taste” at the start, to “Dark Color and Robust Taste” to “Processing Grade ” at the end. Though modern technology like reverse osmosis allows larger commercial operations to either boil until just after dark, when the sap stops running, or to automate the process through the night, many sugar makers, whether backyard hobbyists or small-scale producers, still man their evaporators through the wee hours of the morning as Vermonters have done since the 1700s. They may invite friends and family to stack wood and feed the fire that fuels their evaporator (larger operations use gas). Kids skim foam off the surface of the hot sap. Some serve big meals and feed their neighbors as thanks for their help, inviting them to gather in the steamy, gently sweet air of the sugarhouse.

Vermont Maple Syrup Tours and Tastings

A Vermont maple syrup tour is a great opportunity to talk with sugar makers, learn how the process works and, if it is spring, to watch the boiling process in action. Each spring and fall, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association (an organization that has been around since 1893) hosts open houses at sugaring operations around the state. Visit vermontmaple.org for a list of dates of those Open House weekends and which sugaring operations are open to visitors.

The Ludlow area is rife with sugar makers that open their operations to the public each spring during sugaring season. But if you want to buy direct, you can also visit these three year-round.

Right in Ludlow, on Route 100 North, a second generation of Harlows is operating Green Mountain Sugarhouse . The sugarhouse was built in 1967 by David and Marjorie Harlow and their daughter Ann and husband Douglas now run it and do most things themselves, from tapping the trees and collecting the sap to boiling it and packing it into bottles and jugs. They also make their own maple cream, maple candies and nut candies. Their store sells crafts as well.

Smith Maple Crest Farm, Shrewsbury

Sugaring has been going on for more than 200 years, mainly in the same family, at the Smith’s Maple Crest Farm in Shrewbury, about 14 miles from Ludlow. In 1805 the land was cleared to make way for a dairy farm. In 1850, the farmers planted sugar maples four feet apart along the roadside, maples that still produce sap for syrup today. Willard “Jeff” Smith, a seventh-generation Vermonter, has been keeping this Vermont maple syrup farm since the 1970s and learned the art of sugaring from his grandfather. The farm was visited by poet Robert Frost in 1957, and its 27-room farmhouse now welcomes overnight guests from May through October. The farm has converted from dairy to beef and in addition to its maple products, sells its grass-fed beef and homemade sausage at the farm store.

Stewart Maple, Shrewsbury

Located just 13 miles northwest of Ludlow on Route 103 in Cuttingsville, Stewart Maple is truly a family-run operation. Co-owners and brothers Elliott and Tanner Stewart have been sugaring since they were young boys and now tap trees on more than 1,200 acres. Their father Mark runs the evaporator and mother Gina and Elliott’s wife Alyssa make many of the maple recipes for things like maple candies or hard brittle that they sell in the Stewart Marketplace.

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The Vermont Maple Farm is located in Corinth, Vermont, in the heart of the Green Mountains.  We have been producing Pure Vermont Maple Syrup since 1979.  In 2010 we built a new sugar house and recently renovated and added an addition in 2014.  Our goal is to produce a deliciously sweet product we can share not just here in Vermont, but anywhere.  Our Certified Organic Pure Vermont Maple Syrup is rich in ANTIOXIDANTS, VITAMINS, MINERALS, and NECESSARY AMINO ACIDS. Maple syrup or maple sugar makes a  great substitute for conventional sweeteners.  Please read and hear our story .

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Maple Sugaring

Spring’s arrival marks the start of maple sugaring season. Anytime from late-February through April, billowing white clouds of maple steam, rolling off the evaporators of nearby sugar houses, fill the air with a faint trace of sweetness. Stowe offers a few options for visitors hoping to watch the sugaring process. Local sugar farms will open their business for viewing and offer tours throughout the season. Take in Vermont’s sweetest season during the statewide Maple Open House Weekend, typically held in late-March, organized by the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association, one of the oldest agricultural organizations in the United States.

Sugar houses in Stowe

Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm Each spring since 1980, the Coty family has tapped sugar maple trees in the foothills of Mt. Mansfield. The mountainside sugarbush slopes up from Nebraska Valley in Stowe, six miles from the village and part of the scenic view from Trapp Meadow. Visitors are welcome year-round (all-wheel drive recommended in winter). Their retail room features maple products for sale at sugarhouse prices and a display of photos and artifacts.

Stowe Maple Products Owners Robin & Stephen Pierson boil some of the finest syrup in Vermont. Located at 2616 Waterbury Road (Route 100, just across from the Fly Rod Shop), this family-run operation produces syrup in the spring months, but is open year-round for retail. You’ll enjoy 100% pure Vermont maple syrup at farm prices, and they’ll even ship your syrup for you! Hours do vary seasonally, so it’s best to call ahead to make sure Stowe Maple Products is open: (802) 253-2508.

Trapp Family Lodge Join the Trapp Family Lodge at their sugarhouse. Every March, when the days become longer and warmer, they start the process of maple sugaring. They still “sugar” the old-fashioned way, using buckets to collect sap and a sled and a team of draft horses to gather sap. Then, the sap is boiled down to syrup in a very large, wood-fired evaporator. The sap and the sugaring process are completely organic; no chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides.

The Maple Sugar Tour is a casual, 1-mile hike around the property where you learn about the process and enjoy a tasty maple treat. Meet at the Outdoor Center 15 minutes prior to your tour time.

Related Blog Posts

Maple sugaring season in vermont, maple sugaring: the sweetest season in vermont, a taste of stowe: craft beverages and vermont food specialties, stowe sugar slalom: a celebration of spring on skis since 1939, spring activities in stowe, related businesses, stowe maple products, trapp family lodge tours & activities, nebraska knoll sugar farm.

Welcome to Sugarbush Farm!

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Our 4 generation Luce Family Farm is famous for its excellent waxed cheeses and pure Vermont maple syrup made right on the farm.  

The 500 acre farm is located on a scenic road in central Vermont outside Woodstock.  You'll find free samples of cheese and maple syrup and the farm store is full of jams, mustard's, spreads and meats made locally.  Maple syrup is made in the Spring but folks can enjoy the self tour to see where it is actually made.  Watch a video on the syrup making process and walk in the maple woods to see how Jeff and Ralph tap our trees.  Make friends with our goats during the warmer months.  Free admission and open year round daily from 9am-5pm.  See more at  Visit The Farm  

If you can't make it to the farm, we invite you to order our fabulous products online.  We offer same day shipping and guaranteed satisfaction from a family farm with over 75 years of mail order experience.  

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What to see in Our Sugarhouse: Our Sugarhouse has been used to boil sap every season for over 58 years! Inside the Sugarhouse, you will see a 3” x 10” King Style Maple Syrup Evaporator, which is used to boil the sweet sap from local Hardwood Sugar Maple trees into Maple Syrup, and a Springtech Reverse Osmosis Unit, which boils sap more efficiently – on display!

View a short video about the history of Maple Syrup and a rotation of photos which capture the art of maple syrup making, from collecting the sap to boiling it down in sugar shacks, deep in the Maple Sugar Groves of Vermont.

See this all, plus a display of the various tools used to collect sap dating back to the late 1800's!

What to see in the store: In the same building, you can visit our 6,000 square foot retail store.

We’ve hand selected some of the best Vermont-made products and proudly sell them in our store – from Goat’s Milk to Clothing to Lotions and Kitchenware – you’re sure to find a piece of Vermont to take home with you.

Browse all grades of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup, and while you do, learn more viewing a short educational video about the making of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup – from tree to table!

Located on the far-right side of Dakin Farm’s retail store, just follow the maple leaves and head through the door into the theatre. Have a seat and enjoy! The video is approximately 9 minutes long and tells the story of Dakin Farm’s century old traditions, proud heritage, and history.

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James and John Buck, Founders

Our Sugar House

Where we make syrup from the 2000 trees on our maple farm located in Washington Vermont.

Certified Organic Maple Syrup

Buck Family Maple Farm is a certified organic producer of single-source maple syrup.

Welcome to the Buck Family Organic Maple Farm

Thank you for visiting our website. We are a family owned and operated maple syrup farm in Washington, Vermont who takes great pride in producing pure Vermont Grade A maple syrup.

Buck Family Maple Farm is a  single-source maple syrup producer . That is to say, our entire production process, from the sap of our maple trees to the packaging of the finished maple syrup, to you the consumer, takes place entirely on our farm. Even our sugarhouse, where all the syrup is made and packaged, was constructed by us from trees we felled and milled from the spot where the sugarhouse now stands.

We invite you to tour these pages to learn about how we make our maple syrup, how we care for the forest where the maple trees live, and the many ways to include natural maple syrup as a regular part of your daily food choices. Enjoy!

Now offering local pick up in Waterbury Center.

Shop All Maple Syrup Sizes Here

Maple Syrup - Gallon

Maple Syrup - Half Gallon

Maple Syrup - Quart

Maple Syrup - Pint

Maple Syrup - Half Pint

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Specialty gifts

Maple syrup is a healthy and natural alternative to processed sugar and it makes for an excellent gift for holidays and special occasions. We regularly fill special orders for weddings and conventions. For pricing please call 802-244-8792 or email us at [email protected]

Heather Palmer

Our Maple Farm. A Century of Maple Syrup Traditions.

Buck Family Maple began over 25 years ago with a large roasting pan and two maple trees in the yard of our Waterbury, Vermont home. Today, we make syrup from 2000 trees on our Washington, Vermont maple farm that has produced maple syrup since the 19th century. As we continue the maple sugaring history on our land, we hold a special place in our hearts and minds for the people who cared for this land long before us. Without their care and thoughts of future generations, the trees they tapped all those years ago would not be part of our forest today.

About the Farm

Buck Family Maple began over 25 years ago with a large roasting pan and two maple trees in the yard of our Waterbury, Vermont home.

Our Award Winning Maple Syrup

Pure maple syrup comes from maple trees, period. There is no added ‘maple flavoring’, brown sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or any other ingredient.

Making Syrup

Making maple syrup is the simple process of removing most of the water from the natural maple sap to concentrate the remaining sugar into syrup.

Meet the Family

Each family member brings a unique talent that helps keep our machinery running, our forests sustainable, and our maple syrup delectable.

James is continually optimizing operational reliability and time and energy efficiencies. Modern-day maple syrup production involves numerous and sophisticated electrical and plumbing systems. Each of these systems must function interdependently and trouble-free at all times of the day throughout the season. Although his mechanical engineering background provides him with the right skill set for this aspect of the farm, he will tell you he simply loves to make maple syrup.

John’s career among Vermont's forests as a professional wildlife biologist has afforded him the knowledge to oversee the forest management decisions required to seamlessly integrate sap production with a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. John loves spending time amongst the trees and the wildlife that call it their home. If maple syrup would make itself he might spend all of his time in the forest. But his greatest joy is working with his family at every aspect of managing the farm..

Cathy handles the income and expenses bookkeeping while overseeing sugarhouse sanitation standards as though it were the cytogenetics laboratory she manages by day.

Lauren Buck

Lauren is the family’s principal epicurean. When not teaching high school history, she applies her love of cooking to discover and develop the wide array of uses for maple syrup/sugar as a sugar alternative in everyday cooking.

Hayley Buck

When she isn’t multi-tasking with her high school physical education students, Hayley can be found working on all aspects of maple syrup production. She might be in the woods on one of the tapping crews or fixing pipeline leaks or in the sugarhouse keeping the fire stoked at a constant temperature or drawing syrup at just the right density and flow.

Sustainability in the 21st Century

As we plan for the future, our descendants are very much in our thoughts. Operating our sugaring business is deeply tied to being naturally sustainable and renewable. As we have grown, we have made many time-saving improvements, from sap gathering and storage to syrup production and canning. But, in the end, sustainability comes from a healthy forest. By keeping this mantra ever present we have never strayed from our family’s personal commitment to the environment at all levels of maple syrup making. This is why we keep a watchful eye on all of the trees, the soil, the water, and the precious wildlife that make our woods their home.

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Vermont’s Sweetest Export

Vermont Maple Products

When c old nights and warm spring days trigger the flow of sap in Vermont’s sugarbushes , they experience their very own gold rush. Vermont makes more than half the country’s maple syrup, more than any other state. In 2022, Vermont’s sugar makers produced a record of 2.5 million gallons – enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools! All that maple is processed in more than 3,000 sugarhouses statewide, from smaller family-run operations to industrial syrup producers, and ends up as part of cocktail infusions, dry rubs, hot sauces, candy, and on shelves as syrup and sugar.

Find a Vermont Sugar Maker

F rom touring a sugarhouse in the spring as sap boils down to grabbing a maple creemee by the side of the road, Vermont maple is an immersive experienc e.

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

Visit this Montpelier sugarhouse, open to the public, to learn how pure Vermont maple is made, sample different grades, and enjoy a maple creemee.

April’s Maple

Visit 800 acres of sugaring forest in Canaan, tour the reverse osmosis syrup production facility, and sample syrup grades as well as sauces, rubs, and creemees.

For more than 100 years, Baird Farm has produced pure Vermont maple on 560 acres in North Chittenden. Visit year-round to learn about the process and sample the goods.

Merck Forest and Farmland

This Rupert farm is free and open to the public every day year-round. Their sugarbush contains 2,900 taps.

Palmer Lane Maple

This local-loved Jericho spot sells creemees and pure Vermont maple syrup, cream, sugar, candy, and more.

Runamok Maple

This sweet spot makes honey and cocktail mixers as well as its signature sparkly maple syrup with edible glitter.

Bourdon Maple

This generational Woodstock farm uses up to 10,000 taps each season, making them a sugaring powerhouse.

Slopeside Syrup

Located near Cochran’s Ski Area, these individual packets of pure Vermont maple offer a quick, healthy energy source, whether you’re shredding on skis or a bike or just need a boost.

Vermont Maple Open House Weekend

For two weekends in late winter and early spring , sugar makers around the state open their doors and invite the public in for tours and samples. Follow the sweet steam around the Green Mountains.

The sugar-making process has evolved from sap buckets carried through the woods on a horse-drawn sleigh to today’s ultra-modern reverse osmosis technology. Vermont’s sugar makers use a diverse mix in their operations.

Maple is a Natural Kitchen Powerhouse

Nestled in Woodstock, Vermont, Cloudland Farm chef Mike Boraccio finds cooking to be a form of moving meditation. His philosophy is “What grows together goes together,” which means he can design an entire menu around pure Vermont maple.

Butternut Mountain Farm’s maple syrup made it onto the International Space Station in squeeze bottles as part of astronauts’ rations.

Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association

Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association is the online home of Vermont’s maple industry. Buy syrup online, learn more about what the different grades mean, and find recipes, including a guide to substituting maple sugar for granulated white .

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Goodrich Maple Farm: Vermont Maple Syrup, Vermont Maple Products, Maple Producer’s Equipment

***  We have added lots of new & wonderful products & other goodies just in time for the holiday season!  ***

Hours:  Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm   Saturdays till Noon,  Closed Sundays 

 LEARN ALL ABOUT MAPLE FROM OUR TREES TO YOUR TABLE!

            See our facebook page for recipies   Check our all our NEW PRODUCTS!

In our gift shop we have a wide variety of maple confections, syrup, seasonings & More! 

Bus Tours: advance reservations preferred.  Ample parking for 8 coaches.  Approx. group tour time: 50 min.  Call to reserve your spot today!  Sugar on Snow available for $6 per person for group tours!  

 If you have any issues with ordering online please call us at:    800-639-1854      Or email:  [email protected]

HANDICAPPED PARKING AVAILABLE & HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE             Harvest Hosts member – call ahead to reserve a spot!

VISIT OUR GOODRICH’S MAPLE FARM Youtube Channel!  

RECIPES!  on our Goodrich’s Maple Farm Facebook Page

Questions? call us at 800-639-1854 or email us at [email protected]

From our Trees to Your Table!  Pure Maple Syrup ~ Taste the Difference!  All Natural, No Preservatives, No Additives  ~  Fat Free, Gluten Free, High in Antioxidants & Minerals.  Wonderful for baking and in place of other sweeteners.  A Healthy, Wholesome food.

Nothing compares to the taste of Pure Vermont Maple Syrup. The perfect gift. All natural sweetener from the Green Mountains of Vermont!

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As vermont maple fest kicks off, local sugar makers reflect on an unusual tapping season.

"It's been a weird year, but I think it's been overall, production has been great," said Cecile Branon, owner of Branon Family Maple Orchards.

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The 54th annual Maple Festival kicks off in Saint Albans Friday. The three-day event draws thousands to Vermont to celebrate local sugar makers.

Cecile Branon is a co-chair for Maple Fest and a sugar maker who's spent decades in the industry.

Branon and her husband have run Branon Family Maple Orchards for 40 years. She said it was a pretty small operation when they first bought the orchard in 1984.

"We started out with about probably 7,000 taps, maybe. And we used to gather them by buckets with horses," Branon said.

Now the team hand taps around 90,000 maple trees each year. But, Branon said growth has also come with some challenges.

"Last year was a year nobody wanted to remember," she said.

An unexpected early warm up last year left many Vermont sugar makers missing out on a large part of the tapping season. It usually begins around February and March, but Branon said this year, she made sure to be ready early.

"Our first boil here we started tapping the first of December and our first boil was the week before Christmas," she said.

And now that the season is wrapping up, she said planning has paid off.

"It's been a weird year, but I think it's been overall production has been great," Branon said.

Anson Tebbetts, Vermont's secretary of agriculture, said many maple makers around the state had similar experiences, finding more success by starting early this year.

"They do not want to miss that first run because there's sort of hit or miss whether the weather is going to cooperate or not," he said.

Tebbetts added a few early spring snowstorms also helped.

"[They] really slowed things down. It was getting too warm, we didn't have a lot of snow cover. So, I think that probably saved the season for a lot of folks," Tebbetts said.

• Vermont's 8 Most Underrated Towns To Visit In 2024

Boxed in by Maine , New York , Massachusetts , and America’s northern neighbors in Canada is a state commonly known as the Maple Syrup state. It’s no surprise that Vermont has some underrated towns that fail to get the recognition they deserve, as the state itself is often underappreciated. But those who visit are often rewarded with enjoying the scenic beauty of Vermont’ s great outdoors, the small-town hospitality of towns, and the extensive history that is hidden throughout the state. So, in 2024, you might not want to wait too long because it’s only a matter of time before tourists realize what they are missing in this hidden oasis in the Northeast.

Whether you are planning to arrive in Stowe during the heat of a summer day or to watch the Vermont foliage change from green to the perfect blend of orange, red, and yellow, this small town has you covered regardless of the season.

Stowe is mainly known for its world-class skiing , which is offered at local resorts such as Stowe Mountain Resort, which has an abundance of trails groomed for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. As the weather warms and the snow begins to disappear, these mountains become the perfect place for outdoor hiking or biking. The town has even earned the title “The Mecca of Mountain Biking.” So rent from a local shop or bring your ride, and head out to popular trails such as the Cady Hill Forest or Adams Camp trails.

If you prefer the comfort of paved roads and scenic architecture, stay on your own two feet and explore the exciting attractions the town offers. Explore local history at the Stowe Historical Society Museum, which showcases the town's heritage. You can even take some time to yourself and get pampered at the Calm Company Spa, which offers a variety of relaxing treatments that will surely make your stay in Stowe a memorable one.

Unbeknownst to many, this charming community also sits as the current capital of Vermont. The town was founded in 1791, thus meaning that there are over 233 years of history awaiting exploration in Montpelier.

The first thing you should do upon arrival is to take a glance at the golden-capped State Capitol building. Whether you want to schedule a tour to explore Vermont’s political history or simply walk amongst the well-manicured grounds, a stop here is a must. Montpelier is also known as the heartbeat of Vermont’s arts scene, so take in a show at the Grand Lost Nation Theatre or browse T.W. Wood Gallery & Art Centre to see some of Vermont’s best creations.

Visitors can quench their thirst by visiting some of the local breweries in the town as well. Head over to the Three Penny Taproom to sample some delicious local brews. If you prefer a glass of wine, then Stow has you covered as well. Venture to the scenic grounds of North Branch Vineyards and capture that perfect photo, as the vast vineyard serves as the perfect backdrop.

Hidden amongst the region’s natural lakes, towering hills, and dense forests is a well-kept secret known as Rutland. The town has plenty of activities to keep visitors busy, rain or shine.

The surrounding outdoors is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Visitors can choose from exciting adventures such as kayaking or canoeing on the calm waters of the Chittenden Reservoir or enjoy a leisurely walk through Giorgetti Park, which has a trail for every type of personality. For the extremely few, nearby Killington Mountain Resort is the largest ski area on the East Coast and can provide some exhilarating runs.

The town also has its fair share of indoor activities. Settle in with a good book at the grand Rutland Library, which resembles something like a castle. If you want to witness an actual castle, venture to the nearby Wilson Castle, renowned for paranormal activity. If you’re feeling brave, schedule a tour of the castle and explore the haunted past of the magnificent structure.

If you’ve never seen a bridge with a roof, then Middlebury has you covered…no pun intended. Vermont is renowned for its covered bridges. The state possesses over 100 to date. Luckily, Middlebury features two of the most famous. So, seek some shelter under the picture-perfect Halpin Covered Bridge and the Pulp Mill Covered Bridge.

If you want to explore the oldest community museum in the entirety of America , head to the Henry Sheldon Museum, which tells the story of the town’s origins to the present.

If you consider yourself more of an artsy type, then be sure to get your hands on the hottest ticket in town. The Town Hall Theater is a hidden gem in the state and is known for a variety of productions, but the most sought-after is an opera performance by the Opera Company of Middlebury. Before arriving in Middlebury, be sure to check out local calendars, as there is always something exciting going on, ranging from the town’s well-known farmers market to the Festival on the Green.

Lying just a stone’s throw away from the open expanse of Lake Champlain, St. Albans is one of Vermont’s last must-see destinations along the I-89 before you give Canada a visit. Often overlooked by those heading towards Montreal, the town makes a case as to why it’s worth the detour.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the historic downtown core is the shoreline of Lake Champlain , the lake is the perfect place to beat the heat so be sure to plan a visit to St. Albans Bay Town Park to enjoy the sandy beach. If you prefer to stay dry, choose the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, which showcases a different perspective of Vermont’s natural beauty.

The town also features an impressive local museum. The St. Albans Museum is housed in a massive historic Victorian building and features seasonal exhibits along with featured galleries that tell the legacy of the town.

If the town resembles something you have seen on a hallmark card, that’s because you probably have. Known for its charming beauty, you’re going to want to bring your camera to this picture-perfect town.

Start your visit by learning about one of the main industries within the town, head over to Billings Farm & Museum. Witness how a dairy farm operates first-hand through an interactive tour of the farm, after learning about how past generations produced food for the town’s population without the use of modern technology. If you’re enjoying the farm lifestyle, head over to sugarbush farm. The Farm produces high-quality maple products such as maple syrup and savory cheeses, so bring your appetite as well.

It wouldn’t be a true Vermont town without having some covered bridges, head out to witness the Middleville Covered bridge which looms above the rapids of the surging Ottauquechee River below. After, go see one of the best views in the entire state by hiking to the top of nearby Mount Tom which has an amazing view of Woodstock and the surrounding area.

Hidden amongst the vast expanse of dense forests in the Northeast corner of America is a town that has been able to preserve its unique history while continuing to develop to keep up with the times.

Despite only having a population of 14,000 people, it is still the 6 th largest city in the state. Begin your exploration of the town by simply getting a feel of its charming ambiance. Walk along the Old Bennington trail that takes you through the town’s oldest landmarks, such as the Jedidiah Dewey House. If you’re contemplating whether to visit an art or history museum, then accomplish both with one visit to the Bennington Museum. The museum houses everything from historic artifacts to brilliant pieces of art curated by local artists.

If you want to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing your exploration of Vermont’s history, then pay a visit to the Bennington Battle Monument and stroll on the same grounds where one of America’s most famous battles occurred. For a more secluded experience, hike along one of the longest trails as you march down Vermont’s Long Trail.

What began as the perfect place for a summer retreat for the affluent families of New York City soon developed into a year-round destination for all. Whether you want to begin your day by sipping on a coffee at Nipper’s Café or prefer to watch the sunrise from atop Mount Equinox's scenic byway, both prove to be excellent ways to kickstart your visit to Manchester. After, pay a visit to the elegant Hildene Mansion, which Abraham Lincoln’s only son built. Take a tour of the grand mansion or simply walk through the well-manicured courtyards surrounding the estate.

Explore one of Vermonters' favorite pastimes, and visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing, which explores the tradition of fly fishing’s transition from a source of survival to a sport. If you’re more hands-on, schedule a fly-fishing lesson with Orvis Fly Fishing School for your chance to reel in the big one.

Strap on the hiking boots, or the ski boots, or even that fancy pair of shoes, as there is something for every type of traveler in America’s 14 th state in 2024. Whether you want to soar down the slopes of Stowe or stand knee-deep in the calm rapids of Manchester, a visit to Vermont’s most underrated towns is sure to leave you happy with your decision to take a chance on these hidden retreats.

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