The Sugar Shack

The Érablière le Chemin du Roy derives its name from the ancestral road built during the French regime beginning in 1715. This path was traced by Pierre Robineau de Bécancour, linking the Cap-Rouge River to Neuville. The work to connect Quebec to Montreal was completed in 1734, and it took four days by horse-drawn carriage to cover the 267 kilometers that followed the St. Lawrence River or ran inland. Nearly three centuries have passed, yet today we can still find a piece of this ancestral road on the current site of the maple grove.

Érablière le Chemin du roy, en automne
Photo credit: François O. Valenti
Entailler les érables

Our history

Our sugar factory, where we transform maple sap into syrup, was built around 1925. In 1989, the cabin was acquired by the famous hockey player Guy Lafleur. In 1991, Mr. Réal Boissonneault and Mr. Ghislain Vadnais became the new owners and repurposed the cabin into a recreational and tourist maple grove. Since 1999, Mr. Boissonneault has been the sole owner.

More than 30 years at your service

Proud of its 30 years of experience in the recreational tourism sector, Érablière le Chemin du Roy emphasizes the quality of its service and products to offer visitors from near and far the chance to experience a traditional setting, rooted in the cultural exchange between the Indigenous peoples and the early colonies established in New France (Québec).

The Érablière le Chemin du Roy takes its name from the ancestral road, known as the King’s Road, that runs through it. This road was initiated in 1715 during the French Regime and was charted by Pierre Robineau, connecting the Cap-Rouge River to Neuville.

In 1734, the connection between Quebec and Montreal was completed, allowing travelers to cover 267 kilometers by horse-drawn carriage in just four days, whether along the St. Lawrence River or through the hinterland. After more than three centuries, a portion of this ancestral road still exists on the site of our maple grove.

Today, we take pride in bringing our authentic Quebecois tradition to life for more than 35,000 visitors each year!

Thank you for placing your trust in us!

Maple History

For over 300 years, the maple tree has been an integral part of our culture. In the past, as soon as the first rays of spring sunshine appeared, Quebecers would call upon the parish priest to bless the maple grove, seeking to ensure Mother Nature’s favor.

Maple syrup was first classified into five categories in the 1920s. During the latter half of the 20th century, it gradually replaced maple sugar as the consumer’s favorite. This shift coincided with the introduction of packaging sizes better suited to an increasingly urban lifestyle, making maple syrup a staple on supermarket shelves.

The gather of maple water

Long before the arrival of the first colonies, Native Americans discovered how to collect maple sap by tapping the tree with a tomahawk. The sap would flow along a wooden chip and collect in a container made of birch bark, known as a mokuk, which was placed at the base of the tree.

Over the centuries, methods for gathering maple sap have evolved. Today, there are two primary techniques for collecting this precious resource:

  • One method is the bucket technique: this traditional approach involves lower installation costs, but it requires someone to transport the maple sap back to the sugar shack.

  • The tubing system involves collecting maple sap from the trees and transporting it to the sugar shack using a pumping system. While this method requires complex and costly installations, it significantly increases the volume of maple sap harvested.

Want to know more?​

To learn more about the history of maple, visit the Érable du Québec website by clicking the following link: Érable du Québec.

Our packages

Tire sur la neige à l'année

Sugar Time

In a festive atmosphere, Érablière le Chemin du Roy welcomes you along March and April to continue the tradition of maple sugaring season with friends or family. Traditional Quebecois music will transport you in time!

Holiday Season

The festive atmosphere of the sugar shack makes your Christmas party a guaranteed success. The friendly hospitality and the special menus of the holiday season will delight all of your colleagues and employees. A 4 course meal is served in an all-you-can-eat manner with live music and dancing night to make a memorable evening. At only 10 minutes from Quebec City, you will find yourself in a magical setting in the forest.

Bûche de Noël
Salle à manger

Year-round

With us, you will find a warm atmosphere in the middle of the forest to celebrate any kind of occasion. Whether it’s for a business meeting, a traditional meal with family or friends, a country table or just for a gathering, we are ready to welcome you.

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