If you’re planning a trip to New Hampshire, you won’t want to miss out on one of the state’s most iconic and delicious traditions: visiting a maple syrup shack. New Hampshire is known for producing some of the finest maple syrup in the world, and during the spring, the state’s maple trees come to life with the sound of sap dripping into buckets.
From the smell of boiling sap to the taste of fresh syrup, there’s nothing quite like the experience of visiting one of New Hampshire’s sugarhouses. Here are some of the best farms and shacks to visit during maple syrup season.
The Rocks
Experience the ultimate sweet adventure in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, at The Rocks. Not an ordinary forest reservation, The Rocks is a 1,400-acre land of wonder that is home to a Christmas Tree Farm and a maple sugaring production facility. Check out
The New Hampshire Maple Experience – a hands-on tour that will take you behind the scenes of a working maple sugar house. You’ll discover the secrets of the sugaring process from start to finish, including how to tap a tree and boil the syrup. And that’s not all; you’ll also explore an interactive museum filled with historic maple sugaring tools from none other than celebrated sugar maker Charlie Stewart himself.
But the best part? You’ll get to sample the sweet and sticky final product – pure maple syrup and candy that will leave your taste buds begging for more.
Fadden’s General Store & Maple Sugarhouse
Travel back in time and taste the sweetness of history at Fadden’s General Store & Maple Sugarhouse in downtown North Woodstock. This family-owned store has been churning out some of the state’s finest maple syrup since 1896, and they’ve got the awards to prove it. Step inside the authentic 18th-century General Store and explore the sugarhouse and maple museum. The experienced staff will take you on a journey detailing how maple syrup was made in the past and how it’s made today – from the harvesting process to the luscious, golden final product. You’ll even get to sample the syrup at the end of your tour. Or better yet, head over to Peg’s Restaurant right next door and try it on a stack of fluffy pancakes.
After your tour, take a stroll through the store and discover a wide range of maple products, New Hampshire-made items, and kitschy souvenirs. And don’t forget to check out the museum featuring artifacts, old photographs, and memorabilia related to the Fadden family’s long history in maple sugar production.
Fuller’s Sugarhouse
Are you ready to indulge in a sweet adventure? Look no further than Fuller’s Sugarhouse, nestled in the heart of New Hampshire’s northern White Mountains. For 50 years, this family-owned business has been making award-winning maple products that will have you begging for more. Dave Fuller and his wife Patti started this venture as a labor of love, and today, the whole family is involved in the sugaring process – even Dave’s grandchildren! With more than 26,000 trees tapped every spring, Fuller’s Sugarhouse produces some of the purest New Hampshire maple syrup that is transformed into maple candy, maple cream, and maple sugar. Visit Fuller’s family-owned Country Store, where you’ll find unique offerings like their maple BBQ sauce and maple kettle corn.
Benton’s Sugar Shack
Benton’s Sugar Shack is one of the sweetest spots in Thornton, New Hampshire, producing top-notch maple syrup for six generations. You can swing by the sugarhouse for a behind-the-scenes tour of the syrup-making process, complete with tastings. Benton’s also has a shop stocked with all kinds of maple products and gift items. You might just find your new favorite pancake topping (or gift for your favorite foodie) in there!
But here’s where things get really exciting: Benton’s is not your average sugarhouse. Nope, these folks know that the best way to enjoy maple syrup is by pairing it with a hearty breakfast. So they’ve got a restaurant on site, serving up fluffy buttermilk pancakes, crispy French toast, omelets, and egg sandwiches every Saturday and Sunday. And, of course, they’ve got plenty of syrup to go around.
Bonus: Pfeil Family Maple Farm
Located in the quaint town of Lyndeborough, Pfeil Family Maple Farm is a family-owned business crafting pure New Hampshire maple syrup for over twenty years, using a wood-fire evaporator to bring out the best flavor. If you want to get a taste of the action,
you’ll have to visit during maple season on select weekends. You’ll tour the sugarhouse, chat with the friendly Pfeil family, and witness the magic of maple syrup-making firsthand. Of course, if you can’t make it during maple season, don’t worry – the sugarhouse has got you covered year-round. Swing by to stock up on their signature syrup, available in jugs of all sizes. They’ve also got a variety of maple candies and even maple-infused coffee for you to try.
