You don’t have to travel far for an authentic maple syrup experience. Just a short 30-minute hop from Montreal, Vaudreuil-Soulanges boasts several traditional sugar shacks. Taffy on snow, horse-drawn sleigh rides, traditional music and family time are just some of the reasons this Quebec tradition is so popular. There’s something to please everybody!
Here are 10 sugar shacks to discover, or rediscover.
Sucrerie de la Montagne
A sugar shack that hardly needs an introduction, Sucrerie de la Montagne enjoys the designations of “Quebec Heritage Site” and “Signature Canadian Experience.” Set in the middle of a 120-acre forest, the site resembles a typical village of yesteryear. Recognized both in Quebec and internationally for the quality of the experience it offers, this establishment operates year-round!
Season opening date: Open year-round.
Dining room: Reservations required.
Accepted payment methods: Debit, credit and cash.
Shop: On site or online.
Experience: Upon arrival, ride a horse-drawn sleigh to the main site. Then pull up a chair, savour the warmth and festive atmosphere, and enjoy the delicious feast served at your table! At the end of your meal, head over to the sugar shack to see how sap is turned into syrup, then try some maple taffy on snow before making one last stop at the general store to bring home some sweet stuff!
A must: The crusty country bread is freshly made on site and baked in a traditional wood-burning oven.
Warm your spirits: A bracing glass of Wapiti (we’ll let you discover what it is!).
A little extra: Want the full experience? Book an overnight stay in one of their rustic log cabins. Sweet dreams!
Sucrerie des Gallant
Sucrerie des Gallant was built from trees that were felled during the 1998 ice storm. The sugar shack offers guests as refined and relaxed an experience as the Auberge des Gallant, a member of the Ôrigine artisans hôteliers network. Thanks to the microclimate of its location on the south side of Mont Rigaud, the Sucrerie des Gallant produces a year-round supply of maple syrup!
Season opening date: March 1, 2024.
Dining room: Open from Friday to Sunday, as well as April 1st and 10th.
Accepted payment methods: Credit, debit and cash.
Shop: On site or some products available online.
Experience: Enjoy this buffet with a traditional sugar shack menu that will satisfy the finest taste buds! Outside, you can enjoy maple taffy and take a horse-drawn carriage ride (offered on weekends only, weather permitting).
A must: You simply have to try the scrumptious tourtière!
Warm your spirits: Make yourself comfortable in front of the fireplaces, indoors or outdoors.
A little extra: Book a night at the Auberge des Gallant for a perfect romantic weekend getaway.
Érablière St-Henri
The small Érablière St-Henri sugar shack was built in the 1940s but stood abandoned for several decades. It was reopened in the 1980s and has since grown from 40 taps to over 19,000!
Season opening date: March 2, 2024.
Dining room: Reservations required.
Accepted payment methods: Debit or cash.
Shop: Online
Experience: A small, cosy sugar shack offering a warm welcome. Sit down to a traditional meal served at a rustic table. On weekends, you’ll be serenaded by musicians and folk singers! Cap off your visit with a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the sugar bush.
A must: The meatball stew is delicious, as are all the grain-fed pork products, which come from animals raised right on their farm.
Warm your spirits: Try the grands-pères dans le sirop. Translated literally as grandfathers in syrup, these are maple syrup dumplings.
L’Érablière du ruisseau
Back in the 1940s, family and friends would gather at the Besner’s home every year during sugaring off. Today, the family has grown, but guests still enjoy the same friendly atmosphere!
Season opening date: March 2, 2024.
Dining room: Reservation required. BYOB.
Accepted payment methods: Debit or cash.
Shop: On site.
Experience: The all-you-can-eat buffet is sure to satisfy foodies with a sweet tooth! (But save a little room for the taffy on snow!) Guests are entertained by a folk singer on weekends. After a hearty meal, you’ll want to get out and stretch your legs. Explore the property on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.
A must: A selection of five yummy homemade marinades and one of the best French Canadian pea soups in the region!
Warm your spirits: A glass of... whatever you like because the sugar shack is a BYOB!
Cabane à sucre Marc Besner
This sugar shack can accommodate large groups and is known for its festive, relaxed ambience. The walls of one of the halls feature a collection of artefacts that belonged to the ancestors of the Besner family, who farmed the area long ago. Cabane Marc Besner Traiteur also offers a catering service and reception hall rentals year-round.
Season opening date: March 2, 2024.
Dining room: Reservations required.
Accepted payment methods: Debit, check or cash.
Shop: On site.
Experience: You’ll be impressed by their varied menu. In addition to traditional sugar shack staples, the buffet includes a salad bar with an assortment of tasty ingredients. On Friday and Saturday evenings, enjoy live music with your meal. And of course, the kids will love the tractor ride and the makeup artist!
A must: They are known throughout the region for their delicious grilled fare!
Warm your spirits: Nothing beats the quintessential pudding chomeur, or poor man’s pudding, a sweet, syrupy upside-down maple cake.
Sucrerie Lavigne
For 60 years, the Lavigne family has been steadily enlarging their establishment to accommodate their growing clientele. A sugar shack with a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, Sucrerie Lavigne is one of the region’s must-sees.
Season opening date: March 17, 2024.
Dining room: Open on weekends only, from March 17 to April 14. Reservations required. BYOB (coffee, tea, milk and hot chocolate are offered at will.)
Experience: At the Lavigne family, everyone pitches in to make the sugar shack roll during the season and welcome you in a warm, family atmosphere. Traditional dishes are served at will on a hot plate in the center of the table and taffy on snow is served outside.
A must: Their soft, crispy pancakes have become a Vaudreuil-Soulanges tradition.
Warm your spirits: Nothing like a good coffee or hot chocolate!
Quinn Farm
On Saturdays of March 2, 9, 16 and 23, Quinn Farm offers its "Maple Syrup Experience" where the whole family is invited to follow the guided tour to discover the processes of making maple syrup. The visit ends with a good maple taffy on snow! After the Maple Syrup Experience, families will definitely want to go see the farm animals, play in the play area, take a walk in the fields and stock up on local and fresh products at the shop! Be sure to reserve your spots online in advance.
Dining room: The sugar bush does not offer a meal service.
Shop: On site.
Au fin délice organic blueberry farm and sugar bush
A great place to visit if you’re looking for organic maple products: syrup, butter, sugar, caramel, candies… you’ll find all the delicious maple treats you could ask for here! This sugar bush doesn’t serve meals, but you can buy all their delicious products on site or online. In summer, the sugar bush transforms into a blueberry farm. Come for a visit and pick your own berries!
Dining room: The sugar bush does not offer a meal service.
Shop: On site or online.
Petit Brûlé - Ecological Farm
Petit Brûlé is an ecological farm that puts local and healthy food at the heart of its values. In addition to offering vegetables grown in greenhouses all year round, their online store offers meats, honey, ready-to-eat meals, preserves and... maple products, of course ! Several pick-up points are available, and free delivery is possible for orders over $50 before taxes in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges area and some surrounding municipalities. Kill two birds with one stone by ordering your maple syrup and meals for the week!
Dining room: The sugar bush does not offer a meal service.
Shop: Online.
Érablière des Roy
The Érablière des Roy in Sainte-Marthe has been in the Roy family for five generations, and the undeniable passion for their work has been passed down through each one. They do not serve meals but they proudly represent the region at many farmers’ markets and events throughout the year. If you’re in the area (or even if you’re not!), and you’re looking for quality maple products, a visit to their store is well worth the trip!
Season opening date: March and April, open every day of the week. Open year-round, on call.
Dining room: This sugar shack does not serve meals.
Shop: On site.
With all these choices, you’re bound to find a sweet sugaring off spot that’s just right for you!
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