Maine Huts & Trails, headquartered in Kingfield, offers year-round, backcountry hut-to-hut adventures coupled with remarkably comfortable accommodations. It’s a similar system to what you might find in some European countries.
All huts in the MH&T system offer meals and access to a host of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, paddling, fishing, skiing, and snowshoeing. Shuttles are available to carry gear from hut to hut during overnight trips.
The “huts” are actually four off-the-grid eco-lodges situated along an 80-mile trail system in the Western Lakes & Mountains Region of Maine. Each hut features a heated and spacious great room, a cozy reading area, a screened porch, hot showers, toilets, heated bunkrooms with mattresses, and gear-drying rooms. Guests stay in shared bunkrooms with a variety of bunk configurations. Meals are shared as well. Private bunkrooms are available, but must be booked when you make a reservation.
The huts are staffed and, depending on season, feature hearty prepared meals and bag lunches included in the overnight fee. At other times, you’ll have more of a self-service experience. Full-service trips are also more expensive than self-service trips.
For example, during the 2023-24 winter season, full-service days are offeres Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The huts on full-service days are fully staffed, and guests are provided with a family-style dinner and breakfast (included in the cost). A bagged lunch is also provided for the trail (also included with an overnight stay), and beer and wine are available for purchase. Gear shuttle services are available to guests for an additional charge during full-service days. Additionally, there are a few full-service weeks during the holiday season and around school vacations.
Self-service days during the winter season are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Overnight guests are given access to the commercial-grade kitchens and some stocked cooking essentials, such as spices and oils. Pre-packaged meals are available for purchase at the huts if you don’t want to pack in your own supplies. The huts remain heated during winter, and guests have access to bathroom and shower facilities.
Huts are staffed during self-service days; however, the food experience is limited. Oatmeal, soups, or even cookies may be available for purchase on limited days.
To learn more about trip pricing or to make a reservation, click here.
As for the trails, most are groomed and maintained to support a variety of activities from mountain biking to Nordic skiing. Get updates on trail conditions via the MH&T Facebook page.
