Maple Sugaring Tours

Ever wonder how maple syrup is made? Take one of these fun and informative maple sugaring tours at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll not only learn how, but you’ll see real, life sugaring happening. These naturalist-guided tours will teach you how to identify a sugar maple and let you observe tapping and sap collection methods. You’ll also see the sap being boiled down in the sugarhouse, and get a sweet taste of the final product. Afterwards, warm up by the woodstove in the Barn. There will be hot beverages, hot dogs cooked in maple sap, and delicious soups and desserts available for purchase.

The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maple. This causes buds to swell and results in sweet-smelling, billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse.

Tours last about an hour and run in all weather. Dress warmly and wear warm waterproof boots because the walk is entirely outdoors.