buckets collecting sap from trees at a maple syrup farm in the Kawartha Lakes

Maple syrup farms you can visit in the Kawarthas

Between February and April, it’s maple syrup season in the Kawartha Lakes region. As temperatures begin to fluctuate between freezing nights and warm days, the conditions become perfect for harvesting sap from sugar maple trees. A maple syrup farm or sugar bush is a magical place to see how this process unfolds.

Why visit a sugar bush?

Visiting a sugar bush is a chance to immerse yourself in nature while learning about the fascinating process of making maple syrup. From seeing the tapped trees and the evaporation process, to tasting freshly made syrup, an excursion to a maple syrup farm is a unique opportunity to see what goes into every bottle of this golden treat. Families, couples, and solo adventurers alike will enjoy the sights, smells, and flavors of a sugar bush outing.

3 maple syrup farms in the Kawartha Lakes you can visit

The Roost Farm

Location: 3314 Kirkfield Rd. 6, Dalrymple, Ontario, L0K 1B0
Tour: Enjoy a wagon ride through their sugar bush while learning how maple sap is harvested and processed into syrup. The tour concludes with a sampling of their maple syrup.
Cost: $15 per person. Children 3 and under are FREE.
More Info: Visit The Roost Farm

KawarthaMaple.com

Location: 260 Sugar Bush Road, Norland, ON K0M 2L0
Tour: Explore the largest maple syrup producer in the Kawarthas, with over 6,000 taps. Tour includes a demonstration of tree tapping, the history of syrup making, and a visit to the evaporator house to see the sap-to-syrup process. Syrup tasting is included.
Cost: Contact Kawartha Maple Syrup farm to confirm.
More Info: Visit KawarthaMaple.com

Red Mill Maple Syrup

Location: 1232 Deyell Line, Millbrook, Ontario, L0A 1G0
Tour: Take a guided tour during the harvest season and learn how this farm crafts their wood-fired, award-winning syrups, including their signature bourbon barrel-aged variety. The tour takes you on a tree-to-table journey of the syrup-making process. Stops include the tapped trees in the sugar bush and the sugar house where the boiling process takes place.
Cost: $25 per person
More Info: Visit Red Mill Maple Syrup

How is maple syrup made?

Maple syrup production is both an art and a science. It begins with tapping sugar maple trees, typically in late winter or early spring. Farmers insert spouts or spiles into the trees, allowing sap to flow naturally due to the fluctuating temperatures.

The sap, which contains around 2% sugar, is collected and boiled in an evaporator to remove water, which concentrates the sugars into syrup. The process is complete when the syrup reaches a temperature of 104°C (219.2°F) and a sugar content of 66%.

Astonishingly, it takes approximately 40 litres of sap to produce just one litre of maple syrup. Visitors to a sugar bush can witness this process, from the initial tapping to the final boiling stage.

A brief history of maple syrup making

Maple syrup has a rich history rooted in Canadian culture. Indigenous peoples were the first to discover the sweet sap of sugar maple trees, using it as a natural sweetener and sustenance. They developed techniques to tap trees and boil sap, which were later refined by European settlers using metal spiles and kettles.

Today, modern advancements like vacuum tubing and energy-efficient evaporators have streamlined production, though many sugar bushes in the Kawarthas still embrace traditional methods to provide visitors with an authentic experience.

What makes the Kawarthas ideal for making maple syrup?

The Kawartha Lakes region’s landscape and soil conditions create the perfect environment for sugar maple trees. The region’s cold winters and mild springs provide the necessary temperature fluctuations to encourage sap flow. The limestone based soils are ideal for sugar maples, ensuring healthy trees that produce high-quality sap.

Plan your visit to a maple syrup farm in the Kawarthas

A trip to a maple syrup farm is a delightful way to spend a few hours, offering education, entertainment, and, of course, a taste of Canada’s sweetest tradition. Whether you’re a local resident or visiting the Kawarthas, exploring a sugar bush is a memorable experience for kids and adults alike. Plan your visit to a maple syrup farm in the Kawartha Lakes today.