The Lutsen Resort where we were staying had a brochure at the activities desk that showed a couple of different places you could go to purchase pure maple syrup so we decided to take a drive and check it out.
Heading up the Caribou Trail, we stopped at the first farm store called the Caribou Cream. The store was small and we were the only ones there when we arrived. After a few minutes, another couple joined us and a few minutes after that, one of the farmers came in. Both stores are on the “honor” system so you log what you’re buying in a binder and then drop your money in the container they have.
The farmer was quite talkative and I was happy we were able to interact with him. But, unfortunately, I was distracted by our conversation and forgot to take pictures. Oh well … we purchased a couple bottles of maple syrup and headed to our car.
Further down the road on the same Caribou Trail, we took a road called Honeymoon Trail then Barker Lake Road to reach the next maple syrup farm.
Driving to this farm, called Wild Country, was interesting as I saw what looked like plastic piping going from one tree to another.
The Wild Country Farm is much larger than Caribou Cream. Caribou Cream has 2500 trees that they tap compared to 18,000 for Wild Country. The number of gallons of sap collected in one year obviously are different also: Caribou Cream, 25,000 gallons and Wild Country, 130,000. The Caribou Cream has 45 acres of maple trees on its farm compared to Wild Country’s 320 acres.
The plastic tubing I saw that went from one tree to another is how they transport the sap to the “sugarhouse.” Oh — we finally reach the store.
This store was similar to the Caribou Cream with shelves lined with “everything pure maple syrup.”
Off in the corner, they had a sample of the plastic piping that they use to transport the sap from one tree to another.
After perusing the store shelves, we purchased some maple syrup and maple sugar and headed out the door.
On the way out, we noticed a LOT of plastic tubing lying on the ground.
Want to know more about maple syrup collection? The Wild Country has a website that gives you more information. Â Click here to visit their site.
I wasn’t able to find a website for the Caribou Cream, however, they do have a Facebook account. Click here to visit their Facebook page.
Before heading home the following day, we drove around and took one last hike on a steep trail that overlooked Caribou Lake. Â Here are some pictures of some of the scenery.
Crisp mornings, blue skies, shadows falling — autumn has always been my favorite time of year.
Related Posts:
- An Autumn Getaway
- An Autumn Getaway – Day 1, Afternoon
- The Lutsen Resort
- Hiking Around Lutsen, Minnesota
- Grand Portage State Park
