As the days warm and the sap begins to flow, the Forest Society North at The Rocks invites the public to celebrate a New England tradition. Registration is now open for the NH Maple Experience; a premier hands-on educational event held across three weekends in March.
Tours will run on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:
• March 14 & 15
• March 21 & 22
• March 28
The New Hampshire maple industry produces nearly 90,000 gallons of syrup annually during the short window between mid-February and mid-April. The NH Maple Experience immerses visitors in this process, offering a journey from tree to table. Participants will enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride, visit a working sugar house via tractor, and participate in the "tapping" process themselves.
“We created the NH Maple Experience to share both the history and the continuing practice of maple sugaring in New England,” says Nigel Manley, senior outreach manager for the Forest Society at The Rocks. “Participants hand-drill holes and tap metal spouts into the trees. If the conditions are right, you’ll see the sap start flowing right then and there.”
Highlights of the 2026 Experience:
• The Sugar House: Meet fifth-generation sugar maker Brad Presby as he demonstrates the art of boiling sap into syrup amidst the sweet-scented steam.
• The Tasting: An authentic tasting featuring maple syrup, donuts, and—in true New Hampshire fashion—pickles.
• Stunning Views: The 1,400-acre property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers iconic views of the Presidential, Pliny, and Kilkenny ranges.
For those traveling from afar, the newly renovated Gardener’s Cottage at The Rocks is available for short-term rentals during Maple Month via Bretton Woods Vacations.
NH Maple Experience at The Rocks:
Dates: March 14, March 15, March 21, March 22, and March 28
Times: Tours leave hourly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and last approximately 2 hours.
Cost: $20/per person (children 5 and under are free). Ticket includes tapping a maple sugar tree, two wagon rides, maple tasting, and more.
Reservations: https://www.forestsociety.org/the-rocks/nh-maple-experience
Learn more: info@therocks.org
ABOUT THE ROCKS
The Rocks is a 1,400-acre property, owned and managed by the Forest Society. Built as a working farm in the 1880s by John Jacob Glessner, a cofounder of International Harvester, The Rocks retains much of the grandeur of White Mountain retreats – exceptional period architecture, an Olmsted-designed Garden, and a network of woodland trails open to the public year-round. In 1978 descendants of the Glessner family donated The Rocks to the Forest Society, which has operated it since as a vibrant Christmas tree farm, conservation and nature education center, and working forest. Learn more about The Rocks at forestsociety.org/the-rocks.
ABOUT THE FOREST SOCIETY
Established in 1901, the Forest Society is a private, nonprofit land trust and forestry organization that owns more than 200 forest conservation properties—nearly 67,000 acres in 105 New Hampshire communities—and holds conservation easements that permanently protect an additional 140,000 acres statewide. Forest Society properties are open to the public and draw more than 500,000 visitors annually. To learn more or become a member, please visit forestsociety.org.