pancakes cooking on a grill

Maple Madness 2024

Online registration is required.

March means maple syrup at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. Take a tractor drawn wagon ride to our sugar bush and learn how maple syrup is made in the olden days and how we make it today. Take a stroll through our interpretive trail and be sure to stop by the sugar shack for freshly made pancakes with warm maple syrup.

Dates: All weekends in March and the March Break.
Location: Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area.
Cost: $5.25 for adults, $3.75 for children.
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Online registration is required to visit Maple Madness. Please use the link below to register. There is no fee to register and you will pay the entrance fee at the gatehouse when you arrive on your selected day.

If you need to cancel your registration please email odc@crca.ca. If you would like to change your registration please use the booking link to pick a new date and email odc@crca.ca and let us know the date you would like to cancel. It is up to you to register for a new date.

We are a very small team that runs Maple Madness and we see on average 13,000 visitors during the program. It make take a a bit longer to respond to your emails. Thank you for your understanding.

  • Self-guided sugar bush tour. Visit our interpretive stations where staff, students, and community volunteers will teach you about the process of making maple syrup (closes at 3:30).
  • Wagon rides: pick-up and drop-off at the Outdoor Centre and the top of the hill at the sugar bush. First wagon is at 9:00 am and the last wagon back to the sugar bush is 2:30 pm.
  • Sugar shack (pancakes & drinks) and maple shop (syrup & candy), see prices on tab below.
  • Face painting at the Outdoor Centre by donation. Supports the Not So Amateur Amateurs: Kingston Young People's Non-Profit Theatre Company.
  • Maple themed crafts, activities, and displays from Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in the Outdoor Centre.

Take part in our Maple Madness photo contest and you could win a maple syrup prize package. Contest opens March 2 at 9:00 am and closes March 31 at 5:00 pm.

Vote for your favourite photos!

photo contest link - https://pollunit.com/polls/maple

Prices include tax.

Sugar Bush:

  • Single pancake with maple syrup - $2.50
  • Double stack of pancakes with maple syrup - $5.00
  • Triple stack of pancakes with maple syrup - $7.50
  • Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate - $2.25
  • Water, juice, pop, ice tea - $2.25
  • Maple lollipop - $3.00
  • Maple candy, 3 pack - $3.25

Pancake ingredients: wheat flour, corn flour, rice flour, dextrose, monocalcium phosphate, milk powder, baking soda, sea salt, artificial vanilla. We do not have gluten free or vegan options, you can bring your own pancakes and we will add warm maple syrup.

Maple Shop - Outdoor Centre

  • 2L syrup - $53.00
  • 1L syrup - $27.00
  • 500 ml syrup - $17.00
  • 250 ml syrup - $13.00
  • 50 ml leaf bottle - $5.50
  • Maple butter - $13.00
  • Maple lollipop - $3.00
  • Maple dip - $4.00
  • Maple candy 3 pack - $3.25
  • Download our plan your day guide.
  • Maple Madness runs rain or shine except in adverse weather conditions like a snow storm, freezing rain event, or very high winds. If you are unsure please check the website or call 613-546-4228 ext. 222.
  • Dogs are welcome at Maple Madness and they must be on a leash at all times while in the Conservation Area. At this time dogs are not allowed on the wagons.
  • Please do not walk on the road by the warming huts (causeway). It is very narrow and for tractors only. Please access the walking trails at the back of the Outdoor Centre. When a wagon approaches on the road please step to the side and let it pass.