Jumonville Glen, part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Located on Jumonville Road seven miles from Fort Necessity National Battlefield is a sub unit of the park, Jumonville Glen. This is the location where fighting took place on May 28, 1754, between Virginia militia and Iroquois warriors led by George Washington and a small unit of French Canadian soldiers under the command of Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. Though a simple skirmish at the time, the fighting at Jumonville Glen is now recognized as the first shots fired in the French and Indian War.
The Jumonville Glen unit is open from May 1st through October 31st, sunrise to sunset. The road is gated and closed in the off season due to the parking lot not being maintained in the winter. The unit consists of wayside exhibits and a loop trail that leads down into the glen (a narrow valley) where the French were camped at the time of the attack. An out-and-back walk along a paved path to an overlook of the glen takes about 20 minutes, but if you hike the loop trail, allow 45 minutes for your visit.
In the fall of 1753, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, sent George Washington and a small company of men from Virginia to the northeastern region of the Ohio River Valley (western Pennsylvania) to meet with the French and demand that they vacate the area, as the land was claimed by England. The French, who also claimed the land, refused, and Washington returned home in November.
In the meantime, Dinwiddie also sent Virginia militiamen to build a fort on the Monongahela River at the Forks of the Ohio (present-day Pittsburgh). This is where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers merge to form the Ohio River, and at the time it was a key position to controlling the area. No sooner had they completed the fort than a superior force of French troops arrived, prompting the Virginians to retreat. The French then built their own fort at the Forks of the Ohio, Fort Duquesne.
In April 1754, Dinwiddie sent Washington and his Virginia militia back to the Ohio River Valley, this time to build a road to the Forks of the Ohio so that men and supplies could get there more easily. Because news traveled slowing, neither Dinwiddie nor Washington were aware that the French now occupied the fort. Upon learning of the situation, Washington set up headquarters in a marshy area known as the Great Meadows, the area now occupied by Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
Three days later, on May 27th, word arrived that the French (mainly French Canadians) were just seven miles away. Washington felt that a clash was inevitable, so he decided to strike first. He and approximately 50 men, both militiamen and Iroquois Indians who allied with the British, set off to find the French camp. The next day, the two sides met. According to the French, they were ambushed while sleeping. According to Washington, the French fired first. The skirmish lasted about fifteen minutes, and when done, most of the French were either killed (10), wounded (1), or captured (21). This included the death of the French commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. The location of the battle, and the battle itself, were later named for Jumonville. Only one of Washington’s men were killed and a couple were injured.
JUMONVILLE GLEN LOOP TRAIL
Length: .75-mile loop
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
The Jumonville Glen Loop Trail starts behind the wayside exhibit in the parking lot. Other than the exhibit, there’s nothing to see from the parking lot, so unless you are at least willing to walk a quarter mile to an overlook of the glen, or better yet, hike down into it on the loop trail, there’s no point in visiting. The wayside exhibit claims the trail is a half-mile loop, but my GPS clocked it at .75 mile. The glen has some neat terrain, so the hike is worth the time.
The Jumonville Glen Loop Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield starts behind a wayside exhibit in the parking lot
The paved portion of the trail is a quarter mile long. There is another wayside exhibit and a stone memorial along the path.
Stone marker commemorates the events that took place at Jumonville Glen
The paved path ends at what appears to serve as an overlook into the glen. However, trees and other vegetation have grown up over the years, so you can’t see much today. You are welcome to turn around and head back to your car, but you really must walk down into the glen to get a good feel for the terrain. To do so, take the dirt trail that begins just prior to the overlook.
Earthen trail leads to Jumonville Glen, part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield
The hike into the glen is down a very steep hill that has an average grade of 20% (most hikers agree that strenuous starts at 15%). On top of that, the trail surface is covered with small rocks and roots, so watch your step to avoid twisting an ankle. If you use hiking poles, definitely bring them with you.
Typical terrain on the Jumonville Glen Loop Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Typical terrain on the Jumonville Glen Loop Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield
When you get to the bottom, you will be where the French soldiers were camping. George Washington and roughly 20 of his men approached the French camp in the same direction as you did. Another twenty or so waited above the rock wall and shot down into the camp when the fighting started. Iroquois warriors allied with Washington came in from the opposite direction (the trail continues that way), so when the French tried to flee from Washington’s men they ran into the Iroquois.
Area where the French soldiers were camped at Jumonville Glen, Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Map illustrates the fighting at Jumonville Glen
It’s easy enough to get down to the French camp at the base of the stone cliff, but at this point things get a little confusing. There are two trails to continue on and no directional signage anywhere. Just north of Jumonville Glen is a much larger trail system, so there are trails all over the place in this area. If you want, you can turn around and head back the way you came, for by now you’ve seen the terrain. To continue around the Jumonville Glen Loop Trail, stick to the path that heads uphill to the stone cliff. Do not continue on the trail that runs along level ground, for this will take you north to the other trail system. Look for a sign post with arrows pointing in two directions—neither pointing in the direction that you need to go. If you look up and a little to the left, you’ll see a trail that runs between the cliff and a rock structure. That’s the way to go, though it’s hard to believe since the trail is so faint. When you come to a second large rock, go around it and you will see a more well-defined trail. Also remember that if you ever get confused, you need to be curving around to the left to make a loop, so whenever you come to an intersection or fork, take the left.
Trail post along the Jumonville Glen Loop Trail at Fort Necessity National Battlefield
The hike on the Jumonville Glen Loop Trail took me a half hour, which included time to read all of the wayside exhibits.
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Last updated on November 6, 2024
