As the snow finally gives up and the thermometer begins its slow climb, maple trees wake from their winter nap and get to work. Sap starts running, buckets start filling, and we’re reminded that it takes a whopping 30 to 40 litres of sap to make just one litre of syrup—proof that Canadians are nothing if not patient. When those perfect temperatures arrive (a crisp -5°C at night and a balmy 1°C during the day), the sugar bushes spring to life.
Suddenly, it’s maple season. The air smells sweet, boots get muddy, and weekends are made for pancakes dripping in liquid gold or maple taffy rolled on fresh snow.
Luckily, the Ottawa area is spoiled with fantastic sugar bushes; places where kids can race from tree to tree searching for sap, and adults can happily insist they’re “just here for the scenery.”
Here are nine of our favourite Ottawa-area destinations to celebrate spring’s sweetest tradition.
300 des Pères-Blancs Avenue
Open:
February 15th to April 19, 2026
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday — 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (no reservations)
Wednesday-Friday – open for group reservations
Restaurant: Yes
What to expect:
Tucked just 5 km from downtown Ottawa, the Vanier Sugar Shack is Canada’s only urban sugar shack, a true hidden gem you can even reach by bus. This 17.5‑acre pocket of forest has been keeping the maple‑syrup tradition alive since 1939, thanks to the White Fathers missionaries who first tapped the trees here.
Today, visitors can wander this unexpected woodland escape, enjoy a hearty maple‑smothered meal, and learn how syrup is made right in the heart of the city. It’s the perfect blend of urban convenience and rustic charm.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
5.9 km
Approximate location: On the grounds of Vanier Museopark
Sugar season and sugar shack | Vanier Museopark
Photo: Via Museopark Facebook
Feb 28 to Apr 19, 2026
Monday -Friday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday, Ontario March Break, Good Friday & Easter Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Step into six generations of maple‑making magic at this premium, organic, single‑source family farm. Whether you prefer a peaceful walk or an energetic cross‑country ski, you’ll find 8 km of scenic trails winding through a gorgeous sugar bush — perfect for nature lovers, weekend wanderers, and anyone who just wants to breathe in that sweet maple‑scented air.
On weekends, hop on a horse‑drawn sleigh ride, warm your hands by the outdoor fire, and treat yourself to maple taffy rolled on fresh snow. It’s the kind of classic Canadian experience that makes spring feel like a celebration. Note that there is an admission fee, which helps support the farm and maintain the trails.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
72.8 km
Approximate location: About 12 km south of Pakenham
Fulton’s Sugar Bush and Maple Shop – Fulton’s Sugar Bush and Maple Shop
Photo: Fultons_via facebook
1700 Ferguson’s Falls Road, Lanark
Open:
March 4th to mid-April, 2026
Wednesday to Sunday — 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Restaurant: Yes
What to expect:
In the heart of Lanark County sits Temple’s, a beloved family‑owned maple farm where tradition runs as deep as the roots in the sugar bush. This working maple operation is home to a spectacular two‑hundred‑seat pancake house, built in a soaring timber‑frame structure crafted by local artisans. Styled after the majestic barns of early settlers, it’s considered one of the finest examples of post‑and‑beam architecture in the country—and it’s every bit as impressive in person as it sounds.
For the 2026 season, the pancake house is serving up a hearty breakfast buffet, making it the perfect spot to fuel up before (or after) exploring the sugar bush. Warm syrup, rustic charm, and a building that feels like a maple cathedral. Temple’s is a springtime must.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
71.8 km
Approximate location: South of Ferguson Falls
Temple’s Pancake House – Temple’s Sugar Bush
Photo: Courtesy Temple’s Sugar Bush
2452 York’s Corners Rd., Edwards
Open:
February 8 until April 12, 2026
Saturdays & Sundays — 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (no reservations)
Restaurant: Yes
What to expect:
Hop on a tractor and enjoy a scenic ride through the sugar bush before stopping in at the Heritage Sugarshack, where you can learn exactly how maple syrup makes its sweet journey from tree to table. The farm’s charming animal barn is always a hit—goats, sheep, and other friendly faces are ready to greet visitors—and the small on‑site museum has artifacts and stories that celebrate the area’s rural heritage.
After exploring the walking trails, treat yourself to maple taffy on the snow (because it’s not maple season without it). And when hunger strikes, head to the Pancake House, where pancakes, sausages, homefries, eggs, and beans are all served pay‑by‑weight—perfect for both the “just a taste” crowd and the “stack it high” enthusiasts.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
39 km
Approximate location: Northeast of Metcalfe
Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm | Weddings & Events | Edwards ON
Photo: Courtesy Stanley’s Old Maple Lane, via Facebook
670 Cedarview Road, Nepean
Open:
February 28 – April 6th
Saturdays and Sundays: 9:00 am -4:00 pm (reservations required)
Restaurant: No
What to expect:
Step back into the 1860s at The Log Farm, a charming pioneer‑era homestead where guided tours show what life looked like long before smartphones and drive‑thru coffee. Hop on a wagon ride out to the sugar bush to see how maple syrup is made the old‑fashioned way, then wander the trails lined with sugar maples. If the weather cooperates, you can even help gather sap — a surprisingly satisfying springtime ritual.
Kids will be in heaven here: there are friendly farm animals to feed, hay‑bale play structures to climb, and corn tables that keep little hands busy. And of course, no visit is complete without maple taffy on the snow — the sweetest reward after a day outdoors.
To keep the experience relaxed and enjoyable for everyone, The Log Farm sells advance tickets and limits capacity, so you’ll never feel like you’re battling crowds. Click here to access The Log Farm’s reservation portal.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
20 kilometres
Approximate location: Barhaaven
Photo: Courtesy The Log Farm
17190 Sand Road, Moose Creek
Open:
March 8th until March 15th — Saturday & Sunday — 9:00 am-2:30 pm
March 20th until April 18th: Friday, Saturday & Sunday — 9:00 am-2:30 pm
Restaurant: Yes
What to Expect:
Sand Road is a fully operational family farm that comes alive each spring with the sweet bustle of syrup season. Start your visit with their maple farm buffet—a hearty spread with plenty of choices to fuel your day—then head outdoors to explore nature trails that wind through the sugar bush. On weekends (weather permitting), you can hop on a horse‑drawn wagon ride for a classic maple‑season experience, or let the kids burn off energy at the play structure.
Educational tours offer a peek into how syrup is made, and the best part? There’s no admission fee to visit the camp, making it an easy, affordable outing for families looking to soak up some springtime fun.
Distance from downtown Ottawa:
74.4 kilometres
Approximate location: North of Monkland and West of Maxville
Sand Road Traditonal Maple Farm and Sugar Shack
Photo: Courtesy Sand Road Sugar Camp, via Facebook
1909 County Road 21, Spencerville, ON K0E 1X0
Open:
February 28th until April 26th
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (kitchen closes at 2:30 pm)
Restaurant: Yes
What to Expect:
For more than 50 years, Hunter’s Maple Products and Pancake House has been a beloved spring tradition in the Spencerville area. It’s a tradition sugar shack, the kind of place families return to year after year. After enjoying a hearty meal at the pancake house, wander over to the working sugar bush to check out the sap buckets, and (weather permitting) watch sap being boiled down into syrup right before your eyes. It’s simple, sweet, and wonderfully old‑fashioned; everything maple season should be.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
80.4 kilometres
Approximate location: East of Spencerville
Home | Hunter’s Maple Products & Pancake House
Photo: Hunter’s Maple Products via Facebook
2442 Wolf Grove Rd, Almonte
Open:
From Saturday, March 7, until April
Open daily from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Restaurant: No
What to Expect:
The Fortune family has been crafting maple syrup for six generations, and their Lanark County farm remains one of the region’s most charming and educational sugar bush destinations. During the week, visitors can wander the peaceful forest trails and stock up on every maple treat imaginable. Come the weekend, the farm really comes alive: explore the full spectrum of syrup‑making, from pioneer‑era techniques to traditional and modern methods, complete with maple syrup samplings and taffy on the snow. It’s a sweet blend of history, hands‑on learning, and classic Canadian fun.
Don’t miss their Maple Weekend celebration on April 6 and 7, 2024, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
70.2 kilometres
Approximate location: West of Almonte, South of Clayton
Photo: Courtesy Fortune Farms website
1865 O’Toole Road, Ottawa
Open:
March 1st until April 12th.
Saturday and Sunday: Farm and sugar bush are open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm
March Break: open all week long 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Restaurant: Yes (Last seating is at 2:00 pm)
What to Expect:
The Proulx family has owned and operated their farm since 1920, and it remains one of Ottawa’s most beloved year‑round destinations for families. During maple season, the farm comes alive with a rustic pancake house, guided maple tours that include a stop at the production shack, a maple taffy stand, friendly farm animals, play structures, slides, and even a maze. On weekends, visitors can climb aboard a tractor‑drawn hayride (or a horse‑drawn one when the weather cooperates) for a classic sugar‑bush experience.
Celebrate with them during Ontario Maple Weekend, on April 6 and 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a perfect excuse to welcome spring the sweetest way possible.
Distance from Parliament Hill:
27.9 kilometres
Location: Cumberland
Photo: Courtesy Proulx Maple & Berry Farm Facebook
