March is New Hampshire Maple Month, and we couldn’t be more excited! While every day of the year is perfect for fat stacks of pancakes and hearty pours of maple syrup, when the snow starts thawing and the sap starts flowing, life in the White Mountains is even sweeter. This year, the perfect time to visit is March 16th & 17th (aka Maple Weekend).
In honor of this special season, we’re extending the tastiest of challenges: tap into a new tradition and visit some of the best sugar shacks in New Hampshire! Here is our round up for the best Maple Month activities in the White Mountains.
FADDEN'S GENERAL STORE & MAPLE SUGARHOUSE (Woodstock, NH)
While Maple Month extends all the way through March, many local maple syrup producers celebrate in earnest on Maple Weekend. This includes the iconic Fadden’s General Store & Maple Sugarhouse in North Woodstock, NH, family owned and operated since 1896.
Over the years, Fadden’s has garnered many “Best Of” blue ribbons and trophies for its maple syrup. Walking through the general store, with its old floorboards, vintage photos, and maple-themed products, is like taking a step back into NH’s history. Expect taxidermy moose, heaping piles of kettle corn coated in maple syrup, and fanciful souvenirs, as well as a friendly pup eager for a few scratches before you take you maple tour.
During Maple Weekend, visitors will learn how tree sap becomes maple syrup and also sample some exclusive Maple Weekend treats. Sugar on Snow, maple cotton candy, and plenty of syrup tastings make this North Woodstock stop well worth the trip. The general store in North Woodstock is open 7 days a week for all your favorite maple needs.
Photo Credit: Colleen Eliason
FOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT THE ROCKS (Bethlehem, NH)
For some visitors, maple treats are the main draw. For others more inclined to the story behind the syrup, a visit to the Forest Society North at the Rocks in Bethlehem, NH is a must. This working farm isn’t just a place to cut your own Christmas tree – it’s also a great local producer of the sweet stuff!
If your schedule is looking open for the last three weekends in March (or the first weekend in April), book your tickets for The Rocks’ signature event, the NH Maple Experience. Learn the history of maple sugaring and maple tree identification. Take a horse-drawn tour of the maple lines, ride a tractor to the sugar house, and enjoy a maple tasting, complete with donuts and even sour pickles!
The NH Maple Experience tour takes about 2 hours. We recommend securing your tickets online ahead of time if you’re making a special trip just for this activity, but walk ins will be accommodated if there is room – be sure to call ahead to check!
If you are planning a weekend stay, the Rocks has partnered with some of the area's hotels for a sweet accommodations package.
Photo Credit: Colleen Eliason
FULLER'S SUGARHOUSE (Jefferson & Lancaster, NH)
Venture a bit further north to Fuller's Sugarhouse in Lancaster, NH. This family-owned and operated business has over 50 years in the maple biz, boiling and selling delicious maple syrup. Visit their country store in Lancaster throughout the month of March for a sweet souvenir.
Photo Credit: Fuller's Sugarhouse
BELIEVE IN BOOKS SUGAR SHACK (Intervale, NH)
You may have taken a ride on their Journey to the North Pole train excursion, walked their Storybook Trail, or jammed out to live music during one of their seasonal Entertainment Series, but if you haven't checked out the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation's 100-Acre Wood Sugar Shack, you are missing out on of their sweetest activities. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (11am - 5pm), stop in for a yummy maple sample, maple popcorn, and a hot beverage, and purchase some of your own maple products made right onsite. Stay for a walk on their Maple Storybook Trail or bring cross-country skis for a trek.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Believe in Books
Ready to plan your visit? Maple Weekend (March 16 & 17) is the highlight of New Hampshire’s Maple Month, and the majority of sugarhouses will be open. Click through our website to explore all the best places to stay in the White Mountains and ideas for spring adventures; chances are, a sugarhouse is just a short drive away!
Discover the NH Maple Experience at the Forest Society North at the Rocks! Click the video below.
