Maple Syrup Season Is Here

There's something magical about watching sap flow from a maple tree and knowing it'll become syrup on your pancakes. And you don't have to go to Vermont or Canada to experience it. Right here in Indiana, maple syrup season runs from late February through March, and there are plenty of ways to get involved.

State parks across Indiana host sugaring demonstrations. Local farms tap trees and sell fresh syrup. And a handful of festivals celebrate this sweet tradition every year.

If you've never experienced maple sugaring firsthand, this is the year to change that.

How Maple Sugaring Works

Before we get into where to go, here's a quick primer on how maple syrup is made.

When temperatures swing from freezing nights to warmer days (typically 20s at night, 40s during the day), sap starts flowing in sugar maple trees. This sap is mostly water with about 2% sugar content.

Producers tap the trees by drilling small holes and inserting spouts. The sap drips into buckets or flows through tubing to collection tanks.

Then comes the cooking. It takes roughly 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup. The sap is boiled down in an evaporator until most of the water is gone, concentrating the sugars and creating that golden syrup we all love.

The whole process is fascinating to watch, and state park naturalists do an excellent job explaining each step.

Understanding Maple Syrup Grades

When you're buying syrup, you'll see different grades. Here's what they mean:

Grade A Golden (Delicate Taste): Lightest color and mildest flavor. Made early in the season when sap sugar content is highest.

Grade A Amber (Rich Taste): Medium color with a more pronounced maple flavor. The most popular grade for table syrup.

Grade A Dark (Robust Taste): Darker color with strong maple flavor. Great for baking and cooking.

Grade A Very Dark (Strong Taste): Darkest and most intense. Produced late in the season. Excellent for recipes where you want maple flavor to stand out.

All grades are 100% pure maple syrup. The differences come from when the sap was collected and how much it was processed.

State Parks with Maple Sugaring Programs

Indiana's Department of Natural Resources runs maple sugaring demonstrations at several state parks each winter. Programs typically include:

• Tree tapping demonstrations

• Sap collection techniques (historic and modern)

• Evaporator demonstrations showing how sap becomes syrup

• Syrup tastings

• Hands-on activities for kids

Mounds State Park

Location: Anderson, IN

Mounds State Park is one of the most popular destinations for maple sugaring in Indiana. The nature center hosts annual Maple Syrup Days with demonstrations, tastings, and the chance to see the full sugaring process.

Check the park's event calendar at on.IN.gov/moundssp for 2026 dates.

Brown County State Park

Location: Nashville, IN

Indiana's largest state park hosts maple-related programming through the nature center, including guided Maple March hikes and tree-tapping demonstrations. The rolling hills of Brown County are home to plenty of sugar maples, and the park has become a go-to spot for families looking to learn about sugaring.

Check the DNR events calendar at in.gov/dnr for 2026 program dates.

Turkey Run State Park

Location: Marshall, IN (Parke County)

Turkey Run State Park sits right in the heart of Parke County, Indiana's maple syrup country. While the park's main draw during sugaring season is its proximity to the Parke County Maple Fair (more on that below), the Sugar Creek valley setting makes it an ideal base camp for a maple-themed day trip. Combine a hike through the park's famous sandstone canyons with a visit to a nearby sugar camp.

Pokagon State Park

Location: Angola, IN (Steuben County)

Up in northeast Indiana, Pokagon State Park has hosted maple sugaring demonstrations in past years through its nature center. The Potawatomi Inn makes it a great overnight destination if you're heading up for a maple weekend.

Contact the park directly or check the DNR events calendar to confirm 2026 programming.

Program schedules vary by year. Contact individual parks or check the DNR events calendar at in.gov/dnr for current schedules.

Local Maple Farms and Producers

Beyond state parks, several Indiana farms tap trees and sell fresh maple syrup. Here are some places to check out:

Burton's Maplewood Farm

Location: Medora, IN (Jackson County)

This family-run operation has been producing maple syrup for generations and is known for their specialty barrel-aged syrups, including bourbon, rum, and brandy barrel-aged varieties. They host tours during sugaring season and sell syrup directly to visitors. Burton's also hosts the National Maple Syrup Festival.

burtonsmaplewoodfarm.com

Dull's Tree Farm

Location: Thorntown, IN (Boone County)

Known primarily as a Christmas tree farm and fall agritourism destination, Dull's Trading Post carries local Indiana maple syrup alongside honey, jams, and other farm goods. It's a nice day trip from Indianapolis with plenty to see beyond the syrup.

Anderson Orchard

Location: Mooresville, IN (Morgan County)

While primarily an apple orchard and fall destination, Anderson Orchard carries locally produced maple syrup alongside their apple butter, preserves, and other Indiana-made products. Check their website for seasonal availability.

Always call ahead to confirm hours and tour availability. Small farms may have limited operating schedules.

Maple Syrup Festivals in Indiana

Parke County Maple Fair

Location: Rockville, IN (Parke County Fairgrounds, 1472 N US-41)

2026 Dates: February 21–22 and February 28–March 1, 8 AM–3 PM daily

The Parke County Maple Fair is one of Indiana's best-known maple syrup events. It features:

• Maple syrup demonstrations

• Pancake breakfasts with fresh syrup served all day

• Local artists and craft vendors

• Live entertainment

• Tours of local sugar camps

Parke County is also home to Indiana's famous covered bridges, making it a perfect day-trip destination.

More info at coveredbridges.com

Maple Sugar Time at Indiana Dunes National Park

Location: Chellberg Farm, Indiana Dunes National Park (Porter, IN)

2026 Dates: March 7–8, 10 AM–3 PM

This annual event at the historic Chellberg Farm lets visitors take a self-guided tour of the sugaring operation and learn how early settlers and Native Americans made maple sugar. The combination of the Indiana Dunes landscape and maple syrup history makes for a unique Indiana experience. Field trip reservations are also available for educators.

More info at nps.gov/indu

Indiana Maple Syrup Weekend

Statewide Event

2026 Dates: March 14–15

Every spring, maple syrup producers across Indiana open their sugar shacks to the public for Indiana Maple Syrup Weekend. It's a chance to visit working farms, watch the sugaring process up close, taste fresh syrup, and buy directly from producers. Multiple sugar camps participate across the state.

Find participating sugar camps at indianamaplesyrup.org

LaGrange County Maple Syrup Days

Location: Maple Wood Nature Center, 4550 E 100 S, LaGrange, IN

2026 Dates: March 21–22

This northeast Indiana event features outdoor sugaring demonstrations and hands-on activities. A great option if you're exploring the Amish Country area.

Where to Buy Indiana Maple Syrup

If you can't make it to a farm or festival, here's where to find locally produced maple syrup:

Farmers Markets: Many Indiana farmers markets carry local maple syrup from spring through fall. The Indianapolis City Market and Broad Ripple Farmers Market often have vendors.

Indiana Grown: The Indiana Grown directory lists maple syrup producers across the state. It's a great resource for finding producers near you.

Local Grocery Stores: Some Indiana grocery stores stock local maple syrup, particularly in areas with active sugaring operations.

Direct from Farms: Many small farms sell directly to customers. The Indiana Maple Syrup Association maintains a list of producers.

A Sweet Indiana Tradition

Maple sugaring is one of those experiences that connects you to the land and the seasons. Watching sap drip from a tree, smelling the steam from an evaporator, and tasting fresh syrup straight from the source is something everyone should do at least once.

Indiana's maple syrup season is short, but it's worth making time for. Grab the family, head to a state park or local farm, and experience this sweet Hoosier tradition for yourself.

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