Rides We Like: Headquarters Road Sundale Creek Maple Syrup Shack

(2021) It was one of those long-lost experiences: the morning drive, an exploration of bridges, gravel roads, closed roads, and the customary check-in. After a couple of bounces down Sheephole Road, a road that lived up to its reputation of being sloppy most times during the year, we connected with Headquarters Road after the closed bridge. Here is where we enjoyed the experience so much we came back on the bike a couple of hours later.

We have talked about Headquarters Road many times. There’s the famous - or infamous depending on which side you’re on - bridge that has been closed for years due to its crumbling nature. The eastern portion of the road is in various states of disrepair. A new patch of asphalt was recently added in places, easily missed on account of the beautiful views of dramatic elevations carpeted with trees. There are numerous driveways with bridges that go up and out of distance. Eventually the road clears up and there has always been a sugar shack that has intrigued us. We always seem to miss it.

Sundale Creek maple syrup is a small affair. Here are the tin-covered buckets capturing the fresh sap the old-fashioned way. Because of the warm spells, the syrup season is coming to a close at the end of March.

Pulling the car over in the morning, we struck up a conversation with one of the workers taking a break in the driveway. A passionate person he was quick to invite us in to see the process. The chimney of the shack was bellowing out clouds of sweet-smelling vapor. He stated they have warm syrup inside fresh off the heat if we wanted to try. Considering it was morning and we had to be back by a certain time, we let the man know we would be back later in the day. 

The return trip - and the day - wore on and we found ourselves atop the trusty road bike ready to snap a quick picture. The sun was setting and the rolling Bucks County hills could be visible in the leafless maple trees on the property. The chimney was no longer exhaling its sweet clouds; cars remained in the parking areas. We got one photo, then two, then rolled on back the same way we had in the morning car ride. 

Per the man, Sundale Creek forecasts their last batches of maple syrup to be bottled by next week. Ever the fickle process, the warm days will cut off the trees’ sap flow as they prepare for the warmer months ahead. There is a collection of glass bottles in a cooler at the end of the shack’s driveway, cost is ten dollars cash. After our discussion in the morning, we felt it necessary to hurry back on a ride to highlight the stop. Being Bucks County’s only syrup producer, it should be prioritized to support local. With riders turning to maple syrup instead of gels this could be a great mid-ride nutrition boost. Or it could be an easy bottle to stow in the pocket for a surprise gift at home. Either way, the shack sees its production ending soon. For those interested in Bucks County maple syrup, don’t be surprised if a Strava segment suddenly appears to record who is sprinting for the last maple syrup bottles of 2021.