Sugarbush Farm

To reach Sugarbush Farm, most visitors cross the Taftsville Covered Bridge, a long red span over the Ottauquechee River that dates to the mid-1800s and is among the oldest covered bridges in the state. Rattling through its wooden interior is a small event in itself.

From there the road climbs away from the valley, narrowing and turning as it gains the hillside where the farm sits. The approach through fields and woods is part of the experience, a reminder that this is a real working farm out in the country, not a roadside stand.

Arriving at the top, with the land falling away below, gives the farm its sense of place, tucked into the Vermont hills above the river.

The farm's sugarbush, the stand of maples it taps, feeds a sugarhouse where sap is boiled down to syrup each late winter and spring. It takes a great deal of sap to make a small amount of syrup, and the farm explains the process, from tapping the trees to evaporating the sap over the fire.

Visitors can taste the different grades of maple syrup side by side, from the lighter, more delicate early-season syrup to the darker, stronger syrup that comes later. Comparing them is a small education in a product most people only know from one bottle.

During sugaring season the sugarhouse comes alive with steam and the smell of boiling sap, one of the surest signs of spring in Vermont.

Alongside the maple, the farm makes and ages cheddar and hand-dips the wheels in colored wax, a signature look. A tasting lets you work through a range of cheddars, from mild to sharp and smoky, often paired with the maple products for contrast.

The farm keeps animals and maintains walking trails through its woods, so families can meet the livestock and stretch their legs after the tasting. It is an unhurried, hands-on kind of place.

The free samples are a long tradition here, an old-fashioned generosity that makes visitors feel welcome and sends many home with syrup and cheese in hand.

Late winter and early spring are sugaring season, the most exciting time to visit, when the sugarhouse is boiling and you can see syrup being made. It is a quintessential Vermont experience.

Fall brings foliage to the hills and a steady stream of visitors touring the Woodstock area, making the farm a popular stop on a leaf-peeping day. Summer is green and easygoing, good for the animals and trails.

The shop and tastings run year round, so even in the quiet stretches of winter the farm is a warm, welcoming stop, with cheese and syrup always on hand.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Sugarbush Farm, near Woodstock in east-central Vermont, is a beloved family-run farm celebrated for its handcrafted cheeses and maple syrup, a delicious taste of Vermont tradition. The scenic hillside farm produces a variety of award-winning cheddar cheeses and pure Vermont maple syrup, and welcomes visitors to sample the cheeses and maple products, learn how maple syrup is made, walk the nature trails, meet farm animals, and enjoy the beautiful rural setting. A warm and tasty destination showcasing Vermont's famous cheese and maple, it delights visitors of all ages, especially amid the fall foliage. With its cheese, maple, and farm charm, Sugarbush Farm offers a delightful destination in Vermont.

You can sample the farm's variety of handcrafted cheddar cheeses and pure Vermont maple syrup, learn how maple syrup is made and see the sugarhouse, walk the nature trails, meet the farm animals, and enjoy the beautiful hillside setting. The cheese and maple tastings, the maple-making, the nature trails, and the farm animals are the draws, making it a delicious and family-friendly stop celebrating Vermont's food traditions. Sampling the cheeses and maple is a highlight. With its cheese, maple, and farm charm, Sugarbush Farm offers a rewarding experience in Vermont.

Sugarbush Farm welcomes visitors year-round, with the late-winter and early-spring maple sugaring season an exciting time to see syrup being made, the warm months pleasant for the trails and farm animals, and fall especially beautiful when the surrounding Woodstock-area hills blaze with foliage, a favorite time. Because the drive to the hillside farm can be on rural roads, allowing travel time helps. For the maple season aim for late winter to early spring, or visit in fall for foliage and tastings, at Sugarbush Farm in Vermont.

Yes, Sugarbush Farm is a wonderful family destination, with cheese and maple tastings, the chance to see how maple syrup is made, nature trails to explore, and farm animals to meet, all in a beautiful rural setting that delights children and adults alike. Kids especially enjoy the animals, the trails, and the sweet maple treats, while the whole family samples the farm's famous products. Checking current hours before you go is wise. With its tastings, trails, and farm animals, Sugarbush Farm makes a delightful family destination in Vermont.

Sugarbush Farm is near Woodstock in east-central Vermont, within reach of the charming town of Woodstock, Quechee Gorge, Simon Pearce Glassblowing at the Mill, the VINS Nature Center, and the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge. That makes Sugarbush Farm a delightful stop to combine with Woodstock, Quechee Gorge, and the other attractions of the Woodstock area on a visit to Vermont.