Poplar Stream Hut
Poplar Stream Hut is a Maine Huts & Trails backcountry hut in the Maine woods, run as a winter-focused off-grid lodge reached via the trail network from the Airport Trailhead in Carrabassett Valley. Access involves crossing land owned by the Penobscot Indian Nation and leased by Maine Huts & Trails, and the approach includes a gentle ascent along Poplar Stream toward the waterfalls along the way.
The hut runs primarily from late December through mid-March and offers overnight stays in private rooms. It has 7 bunkrooms and accommodates up to 44 guests; guests should expect limited power outlets and cellphone service due to remoteness. Amenities include hot showers, indoor plumbing, a full commercial kitchen, a woodstove, composting toilets, a drying room for wet gear, and an outdoor firepit; guests are also asked to bring shoes or heavy socks for inside use and remove trail footwear when entering the hut.
Winter day visitors on Saturdays and Sundays can stop by 12:00–2:00 p.m. for soups, sandwiches, and beverages. Overnight winter guests can choose full-service trips on Thursdays through Sundays (with meals included and optional gear shuttles) or self-service trips on Mondays through Wednesdays (pack in/out gear and prepare your own food). The hut is not open during the summer season, but nearby trails are used for summer day hikes, including trips to Poplar Stream Falls and South Brook Falls.