Have a Sweet Time at Capital Region Maple Syrup Farms Near Albany, NY
Are you a fan of the sweet and delicious taste of maple syrup? Looking for a fun and educational activity to enjoy with your family? Head to one of the various Capital Region maple syrup farms near Albany, NY!
Whether it's March or April when the sap is flowing abundantly, or any time of the year, certain establishments provide maple syrup products, tours, tastings, and more.
A Quick History of Maple Sugaring
Maple syrup was harvested by Native Americans long before the arrival of European settlers in the 1600s. Both the Algonquins and the Iroquois tapped maple trees and harvested the sweet energy-giving sap within.
European colonists soon followed suit, boiling and processing maple sap into maple syrup over a fire in a "sugar shack."
The invention of the tin can in the 1800s advanced the storage of food and soon made it possible to harvest and distribute maple syrup on a larger scale. Dairy farmers would often build sugar shacks and tap their property's trees each spring to supplement their income.
This process of tapping, boiling, and creating maple syrup went largely unchanged right through the 1970s, when safer and more efficient maple sugaring methods were created as a direct result of the energy crisis.
How Do You Make Maple Syrup?
The maple sugaring process typically begins in late February or early March when warm daytime temperatures and freezing nights create an ideal environment for the Sugar Maple tree's sap to flow.
During this time frame, you are likely to see maple sugaring buckets throughout our region and in Vermont.
Experience NYS Maple Weekend
If you love maple, then you don't want to miss the annual NYS Maple Weekend. Taking place over two weekends in March, NYS Maple Weekend is the best time to visit participating maple syrup farms for samples, activities, pancakes, and more.
The dates for the 2025 NYS Maple Weekend are:
- March 22 - 23
- March 29 - 30
Participants are open 10AM - 4PM each day of the event, unless otherwise noted.
Where to Find Local Maple Farms
There are several maple syrup farms near Albany and throughout the Capital Region. Below, you can read about some of these local producers, their offerings, and details for NYS Maple Weekend.
Mountain Winds Farm
Mountain Winds Farm in Berne creates all-natural maple products, including syrups, candy, BBQ sauces, vinegars, rubs, and more. You can catch them at local farmers markets and visit them at the farm in spring during the annual NYS Maple Weekend.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Mountain Winds Farm will be making fresh maple syrup throughout the weekend. They’re also sponsoring several community pancake breakfasts:
- March 22 – Berne Reformed Church, 8 AM - 12 PM (1664 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY)
- March 23 – Boy Scout Troop 1079 Pancake Breakfast, 8 AM - 12 PM (Masonic Lodge, Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY)
- March 29 – Lutheran Church Pancake Breakfast, 8 AM - 11 AM (1728 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY)
- March 30 – Berne Knox Westerlo Cheerleaders Pancake Breakfast, 8 AM - 12 PM (East Berne Firehouse, 792 Helderberg Trail, Berne, NY)
Sugar Oak Farms
Specializing in everything maple, Sugar Oak Farms in Malta has a fantastic store that offers pure maple syrup and products, such as maple jelly, tea, and even coffee. They also have maple gift boxes that would be perfect for a sweet present.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Visitors can see the full maple syrup production process, from tree to table! The farm will offer tours throughout the day, free samples, and all products available for purchase.
Daily events include: 11 AM – Tapping Demonstration, 12 PM – Sawmill Demonstration, 1 PM – Tapping Demonstration, and 2 PM – Sugarbush Walk.
Wild Hill Maple
The owners of Wild Hill Maple in Salem are passionate about maple sugaring and have been producing award-winning syrup since 2002. If you'd like to learn more about the process, you can contact them and arrange a visit and tasting.
Or, stop by their shop and browse the great selection of maple syrup and goods.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Join Wild Hill Maple for their Open House on March 22-23 and March 29-30 from 10 AM - 3 PM. Enjoy free samples, raffles, ongoing sugarhouse tours, and a kids' activity corner with crafts and educational fun.
Stock up on their award-winning maple syrup and specialty products, including Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, maple sugar shapes, maple coffee, and more.
Mapleland Farms
Located in Salem, Mapleland Farms works hard to produce the highest-quality maple products in New York State. Each year, the farm taps over 600 acres of sugar maples across their property and crafts extraordinary maple syrup and candies.
Tours and tastings are available by appointment.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast from 9 AM - 1 PM each day. The farm will also be open for self-guided woods walks through the sugarbush, guided production tours, and tastings from 9 AM - 4 PM.
Can't wait? They’re also offering breakfast-only events on March 15-16—check their website or Facebook for updates.
Crosstown Maple
Located in Ravena, Crosstown Maple is a small, family-run maple syrup producer dedicated to crafting high-quality, all-natural maple products. This local business takes pride in offering a delicious selection of pure maple syrup, candies, and other maple-infused treats, giving visitors a true taste of the region’s sweet traditions.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Join the Reinisch family for a weekend of sweetness at their family sugar house. Visitors can take a short stroll to the sugarbush to see how sap is collected, then watch as the evaporator transforms sap into syrup.
Enjoy plenty of free samples and shop for fresh maple products while experiencing this timeless tradition firsthand.
Skinner’s Sugarbush
Located in Wynantskill, Skinner’s Sugarbush has been crafting quality maple syrup since 1990. What began as a family experiment has become a beloved tradition for Kathy and Larry Skinner and their son Nick.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Experience live maple syrup demonstrations and guided tours of the sugarbush, where you’ll learn about the entire sugaring process. The barn will be stocked with maple coffee, nuts, sugar, confections, and cream for sale.
On March 22-23, look forward to fresh-baked maple treats and browse maple recipes and tools of the trade. Families can take part in kid-friendly activities, including corn hole, a playset, and arts & crafts. Open 10 AM - 4 PM both weekends.
Maple Hill Farms
Take a trip to Maple Hill Farms in Cobleskill and go on a tour of their Sap House, which is open year round (best time is in the spring when they are boiling).
This family-owned and operated maple farm features a country store where you can buy syrup, sugar candies, maple cream, pancake mixes, eggs, and more.
2025 NYS Maple Weekend Details:
Visitors can watch as sap is boiled into fresh maple syrup, take a tractor hayride (weather permitting), and try free maple samples—including the classic Sugar on Snow!
These are just some of the different maple syrup farms you can find throughout the region. Come experience the world of maple syrup production for yourself this year!
For a full list of NYS Maple Weekend participants, check out the official website.
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