Sweet Vermont Traditions: Maple Sugaring Season is Here!

As winter melts away and the temperatures start to rise, Vermont's maple trees are preparing for their annual debut: sugaring season. This time of year is a beloved tradition in Vermont, and for good reason. Not only is it a delicious season, but it's also an opportunity to witness a cultural phenomenon that has been a part of the state's history for centuries. 

Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States, and there's a good reason for that. The state's cold winters and warm spring days create the perfect conditions for maple trees to produce sap that is high in sugar content. During sugaring season, visitors can watch as the sap is collected and boiled down to make the delicious syrup that Vermont is famous for. The syrup is so good that many people stock up on it during their visit, so they can enjoy it long after they've returned home.

But it's not just the syrup that makes sugaring season so special. It's also a time when Vermonters come together to celebrate their heritage and community. Many sugarhouses offer tours and tastings, giving visitors a chance to learn about the history and science of maple syrup production while enjoying the sweet smell of boiling sap. And in many towns throughout the state, sugaring season is marked by festivals and events like the Maple Open House Weekends, March 25-26 and April 1-2.

This quintessential Vermont tradition marks the beginning of spring and we invite you to visit some local businesses to enjoy it first hand:

Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm

Located in Stowe, Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm is a family-owned and operated sugar house that produces organic maple syrup. During sugaring season, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the sugar house, watch the syrup-making process, and sample different grades of syrup. Four wheel drive vehicles are recommended.
256 Falls Brook Lane, Stowe, Vermont

Stowe Maple Products

Turning Vermont traditions and a 150 year old evaporator into a family business, Steve and Robin Pierson opened Stowe Maple Products in 1987. The sugarhouse is open year round but offers a chance during sugaring season to get up close and personal with the process as they boil sap from 4 different sugarbushes in Stowe.
2618 Waterbury Road, Stowe, Vermont

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks is located in nearby Montpelier, Vermont, and has been producing maple syrup for generations. Visitors can take a guided tour of the sugar house, learn about the history of maple syrup production in Vermont, and taste different grades of syrup. Morse Farm also offers a maple creemee (soft-serve ice cream) stand, a gift shop, and hiking trails.
1168 County Road, Montpelier, Vermont