Pedals, Petals, and Pancakes: Find the Best of Spring in Lanark County

Spring in Lanark County means maple syrup, fresh air, and outdoor adventures. As Ontario’s Maple Syrup Capital, Lanark County serves up the season’s best — from sugar shacks and lilac festivals to scenic cycling routes and hiking trails. Whether you’re craving a stack of maple-drenched pancakes or looking to explore the great outdoors, there is no shortage of ways to soak up the season here.

Lanark County is where you can have the ultimate spring escape – one sweet adventure at a time. Read this guide for the ways to experience the best of spring in Lanark County.

Celebrate Everything Maple

A spring visit to Lanark County isn’t complete without experiencing its maple heritage. Spend the night at Clyde Hall Bed and Breakfast where syrup produced from its maple bush makes its way into the chef-prepared breakfast. Enjoy a classic pancake breakfast at Temple’s Sugarbush (March-April) or Wheelers Maple Products (open year-round), also home to the Maple Heritage Museum, the largest collection of maple syrup artifacts in the world.

Taffy, Syrup and More: For syrup sampling and sugarbush walks, visit Fortune Farms, Thompsontown Maple, or Fulton’s Sugar Bush & Maple Shop.

Spring into Festival Season

The warmer weather has us yearning to get outdoors and savour the sunlight. Maple Weekend (first weekend of April) is a chance to learn how maple syrup is produced, from tree to table, and features syrup tastings and sugarbush visits at more than a dozen participating locations. The Festival of Maples (last Saturday in April) draws 20,000+ visitors to downtown Perth each spring and is a sweet maple outing for the whole family.

Spring Blooms and Easter Surprise: Lilacs are among the earliest blooms to burst into colour each spring, and the Franktown Lilac Festival celebrates this fragrant bloom the fourth Saturday in May. On Easter weekend, Easter Eggspress at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario is a family-friendly, railway-inspired event that will have even the youngest kids hopping.

Short and Sweet Spring Walks

Soak up the warmth of spring with a short and sweet hike through Lanark County’s scenic trails. The Perth Wildlife Reserve offers a gentle two-and-a-half kilometre stroll that features a diverse marshlands that come to life with birdsong and fresh blooms each spring. In Lanark Highlands, the Baird Trail is a one-kilometres interpretive trail that’s considered one of the most beautiful in Lanark County. For something just a bit different, try the Smiths Falls Heritage Walking Tour and explore the gorgeous heritage buildings, public art and vibrant downtown of Smiths Falls.

Wild & Sedate Waters: When the snow thaws the Mississippi River swells, creating a scenic (and loud) backdrop for the one-kilometre Blakeney Trail, which runs alongside the rapids here. For a quieter walk, the Tay River Pathway is a tranquil one-and-a-half kilometre loop with a midpoint stop overlooking the meandering Tay River.

Pet Farm Animals

Spring in Lanark County isn’t just about maple syrup—it’s also prime time to see animals up close. At Serendipity Farm & Sanctuary in Lanark Highlands, you can take a haltered llama trek across 100 acres of rolling terrain—just you, the fresh air, and your llama buddy. Nearby, Rosetta Hills offers a chance to meet their quirky alpaca family, each with its own personality (and yes, there might even be ducklings waddling around).

Llama Spotting: In McDonald’s Corners, Wheeler’s Pancake House serves up more than just syrup. After polishing off a stack of fluffy pancakes in their pancake house, step outside to visit with friendly goats, sheep, llamas, and other farm animals.

Pedal into Spring

Cycling Lanark County in spring is a refreshing way to take in the best of the season, and there is a trail here to match everyone’s pace. The Glen Tay Block (15 km) is a relaxed and scenic countryside loop that can begin and end in beautiful Perth. The Naismith Loop (22 km), is named after the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, and features the best of Lanark County’s forested and pastoral terrain, with a nice stop at Clayton at the midpoint. A slightly longer option, the McDonald’s Corners to Lanark route (39 km) begins in Lanark village and is a stunning stretch of road that includes crosses both the Clyde and Mississippi rivers.

Off Road Option: The Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) is part of a 296-kilometre trail that runs from Smiths Falls to Mattawa, and offers a safe, level, gravel or paved experience that takes cyclists through spring fields, forests, and dozens of small towns along the way. Use this trail as a base for your two-wheeled adventure in Lanark County – find more details here.