The Roosevelt-Marcy Trail is named for the historic route Vice President Theodore Roosevelt traveled on a dangerous midnight stagecoach ride from Tahawus to the North Creek train station to take the Presidential oath.
On September 14, 1901, then-US Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was at Lake Tear of the Clouds after returning from a hike to the Mount Marcy summit when he received a message informing him that President William McKinley, who had been shot two weeks earlier but was expected to survive, had taken a turn for the worse. Roosevelt hiked down the mountain to the closest stage station at Long Lake, New York. He then took a 40 miles (64 km) midnight stage coach ride through the Adirondacks to the Adirondack Railway station at North Creek, where he discovered that McKinley had died. Roosevelt took the train to Buffalo, New York, where he was officially sworn in as President. The 40-mile route was later designated the Roosevelt-Marcy Trail.
The route is in the beautiful Adirondack Park region, linking unique history to the scenery. Today, the route is a popular tourist attraction, attracting many nature enthusiasts for its exceptional views of the Adirondack landscape.
The trail begins in Long Lake at New York State Route 30 (NY 30), and follows NY 28N to its eastern end at NY 28 in North Creek. The trail is 40.2 miles (64.7 km) long. The New York State Department of Transportation has declared the Roosevelt-Marcy Trail a byway. There are signs posted along the trail that display "Roosevelt-Marcy Trail".