Maple Sugaring Days

LOCATION CHANGE!
The Maple Sugaring Days event will now be held at the Dune Climb. The Twilight Hike has been cancelled.

The parking areas at the Dechow and Olsen farms are farm fields that thawed very quickly, but are now under a few inches of heavy, wet snow. For the safety of visitors, and their vehicles, the decision has been made to move this event to the base of the Dune Climb. Aside from a visit to the historic sugar shack, all of the other fun and tasty activities are still as planned for the Dune Climb!

The Twilight hike to the sugar shack has been cancelled.

Saturday, March 22, 2025
10 am - 5 pm

Dune Climb
6748 S Dune Hwy, Glen Arbor, MI 49636

Come experience the sugaring process through time.
The event is free with a park pass.

The fun includes:

• sap boiling demonstrations
• history talks
• kid's activities
• Finishing the syrup
• Making maple sugar and candy

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Twilight Hike

CANCELLED

Saturday, March 22
5-8 pm, Dechow Farm

Visit the Dechow Farm for a self-guided maple-sugaring history hike along lantern-lit paths.

Start your experience by meeting park rangers at the entrance to the site. Just past the parking area, you will see the greeter table where you will get an event orientation and find information for the hike.

Discover the history of maple sugaring on a (just over) 1 hour, 1-mile self-guided hike to a historic sugar shack. This hike goes up a hill, across an uneven field to tapped maple trees, and then to the sugar shack.
No reservations required.

Dress for the weather. The path for the hike at the Dechow Farm can be icy, depending on the conditions. If there is snow or ice, attendees are encouraged to bring their own traction devices, trekking poles, or snowshoes for the event. There is no advanced registration needed.

The trail is roughly one-mile and does involve hiking up a hill.

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Maple Sugaring Days

Saturday, March 22
10 am-5 pm, Dechow and Olsen Farms

Dechow and Olsen Farms in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Located on M-22 and Port Oneida Road.

Come experience the sugaring process through time. Learn the history of maple sugaring from the Anishinaabe, then travel to the present day at the Olsen Farm. End your adventure by sampling warm syrup or making maple taffy.

The event is free with a park pass.

The fun includes:

• a self-guided hike,
• a visit to a historic sugar shack,
• sap boiling demonstrations,
• kid's activities,
• and maple syrup sampling.

Maple Sugaring Days is presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. This event is in collaboration with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians' Natural Resource Department.

Visit two sites for the Maple Sugaring Days event. If you want to follow the timeline in chronological order, start your day at the Dechow Farm for a self-guided history hike to see tapped maple trees and sap boiling. End your visit at the Olsen Farm to experience first-hand how the sap is finished and try some warm maple syrup. There is nothing like it!

Plan on spending 2.5 hours at the event, visiting both locations. If you arrive after 4 pm, you will only have enough time to take-part in the activities at one site.

Parking is available at each farm site. Look for the parking signs with arrows off of M-22. The lot is in a snowplowed field near the farmhouses. You can either drive and park at each site or follow the groomed path to cross M-22. Port-o-johns are available at each location.

Dress for the weather. The path for the hike at the Dechow Farm can be icy, depending on the conditions. If there is snow or ice, attendees are encouraged to bring their own traction devices, trekking poles, or snowshoes for the event. There is no advanced registration needed.

Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome at the outdoor portions of the event. Pets are not allowed inside historic barns or buildings.

Dechow Farm Activities

Start your experience by meeting park rangers at the entrance to the site. Just past the parking area, you will see the greeter table where you will get an event orientation and find information for the hike.

Explore the Dechow Farm and discover the history of maple sugaring on a (just over) 1 hour, 1-mile self-guided hike to a historic sugar shack. This hike goes up a hill, across an uneven field to tapped maple trees, and then to the sugar shack.
No reservations required.

While you are there, visit with the Dechow family. Hear about their lives on the farm, including their sugaring experience.

Plan to spend 1.5 hours at the Dechow Farm.

Olsen Farm Activities

Visit multiple activity stations at the Olsen Farm anytime from 10 am-5 pm. If you visit the Dechow Farm first, head over to the Olsen Farmhouse after your self-guided hike. In the historic kitchen, see how the sap is boiled down into syrup, candy, or sugar. The other activities are placed around the outside of the house. Be sure to stop at all activities for the full experience.

Plan to spend at least an hour at the Olsen Farm.

Inside the Olsen House

• Finishing the syrup
• Making maple sugar and candy
• Syrup grading scale
• Sample warm maple syrup
• Items for sale including fresh maple syrup, books and resources, and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear items

Outside the Olsen House

Learn about the history of sugaring and get an overview of the process from a historic presenter. This is a must if you are unable to go on the self-guided hike at Dechow.

How does weather and climate play a role in the flow of sap? How are changes in northern Michigan changing the sap season?

Activity Stations

• Test your skills to balance maple sugaring pails on a yoke
• Anishinaabe method of warming syrup
• Practice drilling using a traditional brace and bit

Syrup fun

• Maple taffy activity
• Make some maple snowcones

Childrens games

• Jump rope and bean bags
• ...and more!

Share your experience at this event on social media using #shareSLBE or #SleepingBearSugaring. Email any feedback or if you would like to be involved in the 2025 event: e-mail us.

 

 

Dechow Farm:
3991 W Harbor Hwy, Maple City, MI 49664

Olsen Farm:
3164 W Harbor Hwy, Maple City, MI 49664