March 3 to April 6!
Tap into Maple hits the sweet spot!
It’s that sweet time of year again, as the days and nights get warmer, and sap starts flowing through maple trees, the sweetest trail you’ll find in Central Ontario is the one that will lead you to all things maple in Orillia & Lake Country. Running March 3 to April 6, Tap into Maple is an opportunity to visit the region’s maple syrup producers, enjoy special maple-themed experiences, and indulge in local maple-inspired cuisine.
This year’s program truly showcases the deep roots of maple in our region with 20 participating locations including 8 maple producers offering an array of sugar bush experiences. Take a self-guided tour through lesser-traveled routes to working sugar shacks that offer a firsthand view of the maple syrup process, from harvesting and boiling to enjoying. Additionally, experience the many ways maple is celebrated by shopping for maple products, enjoying a maple infused craft brew or dining out on maple featured menus.
Plan your route using the map below and check out what each location has to offer!
Meet the Producers
Parking
Public Washrooms
Accessible Entrance
Maple Producers
At Elsie’s Creek Farm, Quality and Flavor are the number one concerns. Carl and his wife Rebecca started producing maple syrup in 1999 and have since expanded their operation to over 1200 taps on their farm. Enjoy self-guided tours of the sugar bush, watch the evaporator in action (weather permitting) and take home delicious maple products.
Hours of Operation:
Advanced bookings preferred call or text 705-737-6339
Hewitt’s Farm Market & Bakery has maple goodies for visitors to their store in Warminster. Enjoy Hewitt’s Pure Maple Syrup, maple pecan muffins, lollipops, suckers, toffee and maple sugar, as well as maple barbecue sauces, bacon, sausages, butter, fudge and loaves.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday 9am – 6pm
Sunday 10am – 5pm
Experience maple syrup being produced from tree to bottle. Enjoy self-guided walking trails, tours of the sugar shack and maple syrup and other maple sugar products available for purchase.
Hours of Operation:
Daily 9am-5pm
Call ahead to see if the sugar shack is boiling! Contact them via phone, e-mail, Facebook, or Instagram.
Shaws is a multi-generational family business that has been making maple syrup for 121 years. A local hotspot, Shaws offers self-guided sugar bush tours and an opportunity to see how syrup making in Ontario has changed over the decades. Families can enjoy the taste of maple in Shaws Pancake House where they serve a variety of treats including pancakes, baked goods and more. Horse-drawn wagon rides run 10am – 2pm every Saturday and Sunday for the maple season. Guests can contact Shaws via Instagram and Facebook.
March Break Special: Horse-drawn wagon rides daily during March Break from 10am-2pm
Hours of Operation:
Open daily from 8 am to 4 pm until April 13th.
Making syrup since 1980, Sugar Sweet Farms invites you to see the maple process, from sap to syrup, on their farm in Oro-Medonte. Open seven days a week, look for the big maple syrup sign off of Old Barrie Road! Selling maple syrup and Ontario honey – Free maple samples available! Boiling has started for the 2025 season, come by for fresh maple syrup.
Hours of Operation:
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm for front porch sales
Limited Parking
Dining with Maple
Enjoy a maple inspired menu at Blue Moon Junction, just off of Hwy 11 in Washago. 2025 Tap into Maple Features:
Baked Maple Chili Atlantic Salmon filet served on a bed of coconut rice topped with garlic butter grilled asparagus. The dish is finished with a balsamic glaze and served with toasted rosemary garlic-buttered Naan bread. $28
In-house prepared Maple chili glazed Pork Back Ribs served with Baked Beans, fresh-cut Parmesan dusted Fries, and our homemade roasted garlic aioli.
Half Rack – $19.95 Full Rack $28.95
Dessert Feature: Hot Maple Bacon Walnut Cheesecake $9
Come in and enjoy a delicious maple themed meal!
Hours of Operation:
7 Days a Week 8am-9pm
In the heart of the Village of Coldwater, Em’s Cafe is a cozy spot with famous grilled sandwiches, specialty lattes and hot chocolate and local products. Don’t miss their special feature the french toast ice latte with vanilla cold foam and topped with maple sugar.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday: 9am-3pm, Sundays: 10:30am-3pm
You Chill, We Grill! Family-style dining in Orillia. Featured Menu Item: Maple Chili Rib special served with Sweet Potato Fries, Chipotle Aoili and Fresh Coleslaw. Dessert feature includes a Maple Crème Brulee!
Hours of Operation:
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm, Friday & Saturday: 11am-10pm
Licensed Newest Pizza + Eats destination located at Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, just off Highway 11. Stop in for delicious hand-crafted pizza along your maple route!
Featured Items:
Maple bacon goats cheese pizza with cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, and arugula $19.11
Maple bourbon chicken tenders served with choice of green salad or potato wedges $18.11
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday 11am-2pm
Wednesday & Thursday 11am-7pm
Friday 11am-7:30pm
Saturday 12pm-7:30pm
Visit Quayle’s Brewery and don’t miss Tap Into Maple’s featured craft maple beer on tap. To compliment this, we have a delicious butternut squash soup, maple beer, and maple coffeecake for dessert! Come in and get the Maplelicious bundle for all three!
Hours of Operation:
Thursdays-Saturdays 12pm-8pm
Sundays 12pm-5pm
Support Local, Shop Local
Visit Susie Q Fudge and Gifts for a delightful selection of maple treats! Featuring store-made maple and maple walnut fudge as well as locally produced maple syrup, maple butter and maple candy. Find us downstairs through Mariposa Market.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday 9:30am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
Enjoy many sweet treats at Chelsea Chocolates! Indulge with our Maple Madness Bar or our Bourbon Maple Gourmet Bar, both made with locally sourced flavours. You can also pick up beautiful amber syrup from Backwoods Maple Syrup.
Come by for in-store shopping, or visit us online at www.chelseachocolates.com during Tap Into Maple.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
A delectable, delightful adventure in chocolate in Downtown Orillia! During Tap into Maple, enjoy an Old Fashioned Dark Chocolate Bar, signature Maple Toasted Almonds, Forest Bar, and Cinnamon Toast Bar with maple infused flavours! Also featuring Hutchinson’s Maple Syrup for purchase!
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday – Saturday 11am-5pm
Join the Friends of Wye Marsh and Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons to celebrate a sweet Canadian Tradition. Walk the trails, visit a Sugar Shack, connect with local artisans, meet Animal Ambassadors, learn about our heritage and purchase award-winning maple syrup from Windlee Farms, Buy tickets online March 1-18 and save $5 per person!
Sweetwater Harvest Festival Hours of Operation:
March 22 & 23
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
