Maple Madness at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area

Maple Madness at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area

My favourite maple experience is Maple Madness at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation area, just north of Kingston, Ontario.

This year, the festival will run every weekend in March, as well as daily throughout the week of March Break (March 10-14, 2025). The event is open from 9AM - 4PM. Admission is $5.25 for adults, $3.75 for children, pets are free!

Visitors can take a tractor drawn wagon ride to the sugar bush and learn how maple syrup is made in the olden days and how we make it today. Take a stroll through the interpretive trail and be sure to stop by the sugar shack for freshly made pancakes with warm maple syrup.

Online registration is now required to attend Maple Madness. There is no fee to register and you will pay the entrance fee at the gatehouse when you arrive on your selected day.

It is a very small team that runs Maple Madness and they have over 13,000 visitors during the festival! Here is a list of all of the things a visitor can do while attending Maple Madness:
- Self-guided sugar bush tour.
- Visit the interpretive stations where staff, students, and community volunteers will teach you about the process of making maple syrup (closes at 3:30).
- Wagon rides: pick-up and drop-off at the Outdoor Centre and the top of the hill at the sugar bush. First wagon is at 9:00 am and the last wagon back to the sugar bush is 2:30 pm.
- Sugar shack (pancakes & drinks) and maple shop (syrup & candy) are available for sale
- Face painting at the Outdoor Centre by donation.
- Maple themed crafts, activities, and displays from Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in the Outdoor Centre.
- Maple Madness photo contest

Treats available at the Sugar Bush:
Single pancake with maple syrup - $2.50
Double stack of pancakes with maple syrup - $5.00
Triple stack of pancakes with maple syrup - $7.50
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate - $2.25
Water, juice, pop, ice tea - $2.25
Maple lollipop - $3.00
Maple candy, 3 pack - $3.25

Treats available at the Maple Shop - Outdoor Centre
2L syrup - $53.00
1L syrup - $27.00
500 ml syrup - $17.00
250 ml syrup - $13.00
50 ml leaf bottle - $5.50
Maple butter - $13.00
Maple lollipop - $3.00
Maple dip - $4.00
Maple candy 3 pack - $3.25

Important Things to Know:
- Maple Madness runs rain or shine except in adverse weather conditions like a snow storm, freezing rain event, or very high winds. If you are unsure please check the website or call 613-546-4228 ext. 222.
- Dogs are welcome at Maple Madness and they must be on a leash at all times while in the Conservation Area. At this time dogs are not allowed on the wagons.
- Please do not walk on the road by the warming huts (causeway). It is very narrow and for tractors only.
- Please access the walking trails at the back of the Outdoor Centre. When a wagon approaches on the road please step to the side and let it pass.

NEW for 2025! Little Cataraqui is piloting a bus program!
How it works: On the schedule listed below Cataraqui Conservation will have a school bus at pre-determined City of Kingston transit hubs to pick you up and take you to Little Cataraqui Creek and then back to that same transit hub it picked you up at. There will be a morning pick-up/drop-off and an afternoon pick-up/drop-off offered only on select days of the program.
- Tickets are required: You must book and pay for your ticket to have access to the bus. The bus is free and you are simply paying for your entrance to the event ahead of time. Cost is $3.75 for children and $5.25 for adults. 

Bus Schedule:
1. Wednesday March 12 - Invista Centre - Route 7 |Kingston Transit
Morning Bus: 8:30 am pick-up at Invista that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 11:30 am meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Invista Centre.
Afternoon Bus: 12:15 pick-up at Invista that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 3:00 pm meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Invista Centre.

2. Sunday March 23 - Montreal Street Carpool - Express 801 | Kingston Transit
Morning Bus: 8:30 am pick-up at the Montreal Street Carpool Lot that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 11:30 am meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Montreal Street Carpool Lot.
Afternoon Bus: 12:15 pick-up at the Montreal Street Carpool Lot that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 3:00 pm meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Montreal Street Carpool Lot.

3. Saturday March 29 - Kingston East Community Centre - Express 601 | Kingston Transit
Morning Bus: 8:30 am pick-up at the Kingston East Community Centre that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 11:30 am meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Kingston East Community Centre.
Afternoon Bus: 12:15 pick-up at the Kingston East Community Centre that will take you to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. At 3:00 pm meet where the bus dropped you off at Little Cat to take you back to the Kingston East Community Centre.

How to Get your Ticket for the Bus: Click on the link below to go to our ticket page. On that page click on one of the green highlighted dates to start the ticket process. If a date is red that means it is sold out. We use PayPal to process tickets, you do not have to have a PayPal accounty click on the 'guest checkout' or 'check out with credit card'. Tickets open Tuesday Feb. 25, 2025.

Enjoy your time at Little Cataraqui Maple Madness!

https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/maple-madness