Despite its abundance of mountains, the Moosehead Region of North-Central Maine doesn’t hold many options for downhill skiing. One exception is Big Moose Mountain, formerly called Big Squaw Mountain, just outside the town of Greenville.

Established in 1963, the ski area started with a handful of trails and a T-bar lift. In 1967, a double lift providing access to the summit of the mountain was constructed, along with a two-story hotel. After changing ownership several times over the next three decades, and following a chair lift accident in 2004, ski operations on the upper mountain were closed, followed two years later by the hotel. The remaining lift shut down in 2010—but that wasn’t the end of skiing at Big Moose. Another chapter was beginning.

In 2013, the non-profit Friends of the Mountain was granted permission by its private owner to restart ski operations on the lower mountain. Since then, the group has made significant upgrades to the trail system and has added mountain-bike trails as well.

Today, Big Squaw remains an ideal option for beginners and families with young children, although it also offers some advanced trails and a terrain park, all served by a three-person lift. The base lodge offers equipment rentals and s snack bar, plus an outdoor fire pit.