Indian Run – Forest Trail Loop Hike map (click to enlarge)

Length: .75-mile loop
Time:  30 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

The Indian Run Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield is an out-and-back trail that can be combined with the Braddock Road Trace and Forest Trail to form a loop, which is definitely the way to go. Who wants to see the same things twice? Besides, going back the same way you came is actually a longer hike.

Before starting out on any of the trails at Fort Necessity during the summer, be aware that gnats are a huge problem. I highly recommend wearing a hat and mosquito net on your head, otherwise you are likely to have the pests buzzing your ears, flying up your nose and into your mouth, and your arm will fall off from waving it in front of your face the entire time trying to shoo them away.

As with all trails at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, you must first walk out to the reconstructed fort on a 300-yard paved path that begins at the back of the Visitor Center. Follow the TRAIL TO FORT sign. To get to the Indian Run Trail, look for a wayside exhibit just past the benches where park Rangers give talks about the fort. At the exhibit is the trailhead for a connector trail that will get you to where you want to go. If you reference a trail map, the connector is the grey line that passes through FRENCH CAMP.

Connector trail to the Braddock Road Trace at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Take the connector trail for .1 mile until it dead ends into Braddock Road Trace. Since the hike is a loop, you can go around in either direction. For the record, I took a right and hiked counterclockwise, and this trail report is written from that perspective.

Connector trail dead ends into the Braddock Road Trace at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

The Braddock Road Trace heads downhill into a shallow ravine, crosses over Indian Run (a small creek) via a footbridge, and shortly thereafter arrives at the intersection with the Indian Run Trail, .1 mile from the turn. There is no signage that identifies the trail, but it is the first left after the bridge.

Segment of the historic Braddock Road at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Intersection of Braddock Road Trace and the Indian Run Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

The Indian Run Trail starts off as a grass path, so be aware of ticks hiding in low-lying vegetation for an animal or human to pass by. Also, the entire Great Meadows area is a wetland, so expect muddy conditions on the trails if you are hiking shortly after a rain storm. It had been raining for four days prior to my visit to Fort Necessity National Battlefield.

Muddy section of the Indian Run Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Other than a dip here and there, just about the entire hike on Indian Run Trail is uphill. The steepest sections are no more than moderate in difficulty, and much of the climb is so gradual that you won’t even notice it. The trail surface, whether grass or dirt, is fairly smooth with minimal rocks and roots.

Typical terrain on the Indian Run Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

A little over three tenths of a mile into the hike, the trail crosses over the road that leads to the Fort Necessity Picnic Area and continues directly on the other side. At this point you have reached the far end of the loop and are now heading back towards Braddock Road Trace and Fort Necessity.

Indian Run Trail crosses the Picnic Area Road at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

I saw a salamander on the trail. I’m no expert in species identification, but I believe it was a Northern Slimy Salamander. It was catching some sun and didn’t want to move regardless of my poking at it.

Northern Slimy Salamander

The Indian Run Trail ends a half mile into the hike, eventually merging with the Forest Trail. Just keep straight. If you aren’t paying attention, you won’t even notice that the trail changed names. The intersection, which is marked with a post, is at the top of the hill you have been climbing for most of the way.

Intersection of the Indian Run Trail and the Forest Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

In less than 200 feet, the Forest Trail curves to the left and becomes the Braddock Road Trace. The hike is downhill all the way back to the starting point. It’s actually pretty steep once you make the curve. Some sections have grades as steep as -18% (most hikers agree that -15% is the start of strenuous hiking). However, the steep grades are momentary. The overall average grade is -12%, which while not strenuous is certainly moderate in difficulty. And of course, you are traveling downhill, though for people with bad knees, hiking downhill is actually worse than uphill.

The trail crosses the park road once again, and after that you’ll be on the recognizable wide dirt path of Braddock Road Trace. It is a straight shot back to the intersection with the connector trail. Turn right to return to the benches and the Visitor Center.

Braddock Road Trace at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Back to the Top