Discover Big Moose

Big Moose is a village in the western part of Adirondack Park. Several local points of interest are relevant when planning a trip: railroad history, the TOBIE Trail, with opportunities for mountain biking, and Route 28, which runs through Big Moose. You can use these topics to help choose your destination, then consider whether Big Moose suits your plans.

The Place Name and Railroad History

The name Big Moose comes from a large moose head. An early guide killed the moose and hung its head on a tree near the present-day train station. The railroad is also part of the village’s history: the first train arrived in Big Moose on October 24, 1892. It was traveling from New York City toward Montreal. The story behind the name and the train’s arrival tell two different chapters: an early explanation for the place name and a precisely dated event in railroad history.

The Train Station and Historic Buildings

The station’s history can be traced through two construction dates. The original station was built in 1898; the Big Moose Station was built as its replacement in 1926. In 2001, the Big Moose Station Restaurant received an Adirondack architectural heritage award. It recognized the restoration and preservation of a historic Adirondack building. The timeline runs from the first train in 1892, through the replacement building in 1926, to the award in 2001. This makes it possible to distinguish the history of transportation, construction, and restoration.

Big Moose Explorer: A Round Trip Without Getting Off

The Big Moose Explorer is a railroad round trip from Thendara Station in Old Forge to Big Moose. The journey passes through forests and over rivers and streams. Passengers on the Big Moose Explorer do not get off in Big Moose. This distinction is important for your planning: the round trip is not a train service that lets you get off in Big Moose. If you are including the trip in your plans, check the schedule in advance.

The TOBIE Trail and Route 28

The TOBIE Trail connects Thendara, Old Forge, Big Moose, Inlet, and Eagle Bay, and offers opportunities for mountain biking. This makes Big Moose part of a route connecting five places. Route 28 also runs through Big Moose. It is a different point of reference from the trail: the road runs through the village, while the trail is associated with mountain biking and connecting the places.

Local Points of Interest for Planning Your Trip

The Big Moose Explorer and the TOBIE Trail offer different ways to include Big Moose in a trip: a railroad round trip without getting off in the village, or a trail with mountain biking opportunities that connects several places.

Discover more destinations: Old Forge, Ilion, Herkimer.

Return to the countywide travel overview: Herkimer County.