Maple Syrup at the Ark
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Experience Real Maple Syrup
the Way It’s Meant to Be
Here at the Off Grid Ark, we don’t just make maple syrup. We invite you to step into the tradition, see how it’s done, and taste why ours is richer, darker, and better than anything you’ll find on a supermarket shelf.
Our Operation
Every spring, as the nights stay cold and the days grow warm, our forest comes alive. Over 300 taps feeding a modern tubing system crisscross the sugarbush, with a dozen old-fashioned buckets left for visitors to taste the sap fresh from the tree.
Inside the sugar shack, stainless steel pans bubble and steam as sap slowly transforms into syrup. Fueled by stacked firewood and hours of patient boiling, every batch is crafted entirely off-grid, the way maple syrup was meant to be made.
Unlike the big sugar shacks built for bus tours and buffets, we focus on connection — to the forest, to the process, and to the flavor.
Our Products & Programs
Pure Maple Syrup – bottled in a variety of sizes, always small-batch and wood-fired. From golden and delicate to dark and robust, each batch has its own unique flavor.
Maple Syrup Tours – walk the sugarbush, drink sap straight from the buckets, watch the boil, and learn how sap transforms into syrup. Perfect for families, school groups, or anyone curious about this Canadian tradition.
Maple Snow Taffy – hot syrup poured over fresh snow, rolled onto a stick, and eaten right away. A springtime treat you’ll never forget.
Whether you’re here to buy syrup or bring a group for an experience, you’ll leave with sticky fingers and a smile.
Why Our Syrup Tastes Better
At the Ark, we do things the old-fashioned way: we let our sap cook longer. The longer it boils, the more it caramelizes, the darker it gets, and the richer the flavor becomes.
Big operations use reverse osmosis (RO) machines to strip water from the sap before boiling. It’s faster and cheaper — but it means less cooking time, and less flavor.
"Big Maple" marketing has tried to trick us into believing that the more "clear" the syrup is, the higher the grade and the higher the quality. But you're not going to fall for that. The more clear a syrup is, the faster and cheaper they can produce it. If you don't believe me, taste test them for yourself.
The Math is Simple:
Sap averages ~2% sugar → by the Rule of 86, it takes ~43:1 (43 L sap → 1 L syrup).
Start with 1,000 L of 2% sap → you end up with ~23 L of syrup and need to boil ~977 L of water.
If a producer uses RO to 15%, the sap volume drops to ~133 L before boiling (1,000 → 133), so the RO has already removed ~867 L of water.
From there, you only need to boil ~110 L more to finish the syrup.
Bottom line:
RO to 15% avoids ~867 L of boiling on a 1,000 L run. This equates to somewhere between 4-6 hours of cooking/boiling time and close to a quarter of a cord of firewood!
But once you taste our syrup, you'll know it's all worth it.
Pricing
Maple Syrup: Bottles starting at $12 (various sizes available).
Tours: $20 per person (minimum $100 per group). Includes guided walk, sap tasting, and maple taffy.
Group Programs: Custom pricing for schools, scouts, or corporate outings.
Do you sell syrup year round?
Not really.... Monique sells most of our syrup to her coworkers. The first year most of them bottle a bottle. The second year they bought 2-4. The third year they request them by the case. So we sell them until they sell out.
Can we drink the sap straight from the tree?
Absolutely! Our bucket taps are there for you to taste the sap fresh. It’s cool, slightly sweet, and incredibly refreshing — like nature’s sports drink.
What many people don’t know is that maple sap is more than just water with a hint of sugar. It’s packed with minerals, electrolytes, antioxidants, and amino acids, making it a natural superfood. Traditionally enjoyed across cultures as a spring tonic, maple sap helps rehydrate the body after winter and gives you a subtle energy boost.
So when you sip it right from the tree, you’re not just tasting a Canadian tradition — you’re fueling your body with something genuinely nourishing and unique.
Is maple taffy included in the tour?
Yes, if there’s snow on the ground. If not, we’ll provide fresh samples of syrup hot from the evaporator.
Can we bring kids (and/or dogs)?
Of course! Our maple tours are designed to be a family-friendly experience. Kids love wandering the sugarbush, tasting sap straight from the buckets, and watching hot syrup turn into sticky maple taffy on the snow. It’s hands-on, educational, and full of moments they’ll remember.
And yes — dogs are welcome too! With over 160 acres of trails, there’s plenty of space for them to explore while you enjoy the tour. Many of our own dogs join in the fun, and we find that four-legged friends make the day even better.
At the Ark, maple season is something the whole family can share together — kids, parents, and pets alike.
Do you host pancake breakfasts?
No — that requires commercial licensing and a restaurant-scale kitchen. We focus on syrup and experiences, not sit-down meals.
But we do host an annual “Basset Ear” Prediction Run, an 8K gravel road race where the winner is the person who best guesses their finish time. The run is followed by our famous Basset Ear Feast — a fun, non-trademarked twist on Beaver Tails — and of course, our maple syrup is featured front and center at the event.
Map & Directions to the Off Grid Ark
