The sweet smell of Spring is in the air when Maple Sugarin’ season comes alive in the mountains of Maryland! As the days are getting a bit longer and slightly warmer, the maple sap begins to flow. The best weather for good sap flow is when we have cold nights below freezing and then warmer, mild days above 40 degrees. When the sap is flowing, the trees are tapped with a metal spile and bucket to collect the sap. The maple sap is then collected from the trees and boiled down to make that delicious pure maple syrup. Maple sap is actually mostly water- up to 98% water and just 2% sugar! It takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make just one gallon of real maple syrup!

Learn More about Maple Sugarin'
in March at Cunningham Falls State Park

• Visit the William Houck Area of Cunningham Falls State Park​ to take a self guided interpretive hike where you can see maple sap collection in progress at Cunningham Falls and learn more fun facts about maple syrup. Contact the park office for more details at 301-271-7574.
• Interpretive Hikes Along The Lake Two self guided interpretive hikes are available. Both start at the Sugar Shack, located at the far end of the lake parking area.
• Sugar Bush Hike Hike to the North Beach area and visit the Sugar Bush.
• Children's Storybook Hike Follow the storybook path along the lake and cross the bridge to the North Beach. Stop at each interpretive sign and read the book to learn another step in the process of making maple syrup.

Find more information about the Virtual Maple Sugarin' Festival at http://www.cunninghamgambrill.org/Events.html​​