Pure maple syrup is a favorite local treat in the ADK. In fact, New York State is the second-largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S. What I hadn’t fully appreciated before living in the Adirondacks is the different grades and types of maple syrup — from light to dark. Spring is the perfect time for a taste testing trip when sugar shacks are producing in full force.

You see, the maple tree sap flows only when the daytime temperatures rise above freezing and the overnight temps drop below freezing. Typically this happens in March and April. To collect sap, maple producers rig plastic tubing from tap to tap, allowing sap to flow directly into a storage tank at a nearby sugar shack for processing. Smaller producers may use buckets to collect the sap. Once collected, the sap is boiled down to remove excess moisture. What remains is pure maple syrup. Yum!

Maple Weekend (actually two weekends) in late March provides a great opportunity to plan a driving tour of farms and sugar shacks. Participating farms often offer free tastings and demonstrations. For 2023, these weekends are March 18-19 and March 25-26.

Here are the operations closest to Lake Placid and what they offer. Not all participate in Maple Weekend activities, but are still worth a stop!

Cornell’s Uihlein Maple Research Forest: Only 5 miles from the cottage, there’s no reason not to visit this shop any time of year, and especially in the spring it’s a must-do. Maple Weekend activities include tours of the maple sugaring process, research process, tastings and live demonstrations. The Uihlein Maple Research Forest also taps birch and beech trees which you will get the opportunity to sample and learn all about. They sell maple syrup and offer tours at this location year-round. So even if you miss the official Maple Weekend, stop by to support the students and learn more about their syrup operation.

Heaven Hill Farm: Open Maple Weekends for tours, tastings and a tree tapping experience. And it’s right down the road from Cornell’s Uihlein forest. I don’t think these guys are open to the public normally, so March is your best chance to catch them.

Mark Twain Mapleworks: Up the road in Saranac Lake is the Mark Twain Mapleworks farm. Their Maple Weekend activities highlight not only maple syrup but a lot of other products they produce — maple cotton candy, maple spread, maple mustard, maple hot sauce, and maple soda. Tours of the maple syrup making process will also be available. During maple season (March & April) they’re typically open 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM although they recommend you text or call before you stop by. The rest of the year, you can call to arrange a visit by appointment only.

Paul Smith’s VIC: Of course you’ve got to know Paul Smith’s VIC will host activities during Maple Weekend. They’ll have tapping demonstrations, information about tubing and buckets, and if the snow is still good you can work off the calories with a little nordic skiing or hiking in the afternoon. Over on the college campus during Maple Weekend you can learn more about maple syrup production, the science of sap flow, the boiling process and the reasoning behind the unique maple flavors, and try your hand at making maple leaf sugar candies. Corn fritters will be available served with traditional maple syrup or bourbon barrel syrup at the campus event. On April 15, the college is hosting their annual Sugar Bush breakfast! Prepared by the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department using maple syrup sourced by Paul Smith’s Forestry students. Now that’s a good way to taste test syrup! Tickets for the breakfast are $10 (free for kids 12 and under), but you need to register online.

Black Rooster Maple: Located in Keene, these guys aren’t participating in Maple Weekend, but you can stop by their farm store anytime and buy their syrup. It’s hands down our favorite in the region. What makes them a little different is they age their syrup in bourbon and brandy barrels that give it a little extra zip! Plus, it’s fun to visit their farm stand, which operates on the honor system.

Whitney’s Maple Spring Farm: Whitney’s is also in Keene, not far from Black Rooster, and unfortunately they aren’t participating in Maple Weekend either. But like the Black Rooster, you can stop by their farm stand anytime. The Green Goddess in Lake Placid also sells Whitney’s maple syrup. Doing a side-by-side with Whitney’s and Black Rooster is interesting because they’re quite different. Whitney’s is much lighter in taste and color, but still delicious.