Indian Fort Nature Preserve – Geneseo, NY

This is one of the more unique destinations we have come across. It is not only a beautiful nature preserve with many natural elements that would make it attractive to visitors, but it has serious historical significance to the area. If you are interested in archeology and the history of the indigenous tribes that have occupied this area of New York going as far back as 5,500 years ago, then you are in for a real treat.

The Waterfall

What originally attracted us to this preserve was the waterfall. We heard there was a really pretty waterfall here. We visited late in the fall, and the water table was exceptionally low after a dry summer. The waterfall was dry as a bone, which was disappointing. The sky finally opened up a few days later, and we had a really good soaking. We decided to go back and see if the waterfall was running, and it was, although not as full as it could be. This waterfall is very dependent on the creeks around it being full. To view this waterfall at its best, visit in the early spring, after the winter runoff, or after particularly heavy rain.

Hiking Indian Fort

There are 4 different trails that visitors can hike at Indian Fort Nature Preserve, 3 that lead down through the preserve and intersect the fourth trail at the bottom of the preserve (it runs parallel with the Genesee River.) Each has something different to offer hiker. Some of the trails are definitely better marked than others, and on a fall day, it is easy to lose the trail, but the area is not big enough to get people truly lost. Just be aware that private property surrounds the preserve, so be conscious of where you are hiking.

There are some neat features here that you might not be aware of at first. We hiked up into the creek bed from the trail that runs along the bottom of the preserve, and there was a drainage tunnel that we climbed up and walked through. This was a really cool feature here. The Fort Trail takes hikers up around the ravine where the fort palisade once stood.

Genesee River Access

There is a trail that leads that down to the Genesee River. This is a fantastic place to fish or to launch a canoe or kayak. The River is a nice place to relax and take a break. There wasn’t a single soul around when we visited, so we had the Riverside all to ourselves. It was really nice; in retrospect, it would have been a nice place to have a picnic.

Site of Onon:dowa’ga:’ Palisades

Indian Fort Nature Preserve has been the focus of a great deal of archeology attention. Digs in this preserve have brought evidence of the Seneca Indian occupation and a much older tribe who lived here 5,500 years ago, the Lamoka Culture. This area is named Indian Fort due to the palisade built in this area by Seneca Indians between 1400-1500 A.D. Interesting feature of the palisade was that it only had two sides; the Indians used the high wall of the ravine to create the other walls.

Indian Fort is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was added in 1975 as the Wadsworth Fort Site.

Another interesting feature of this area is the fossils that are also found here. The Indian Fort Preserve area was part of the middle and lower Devonian Period when the area was a shallow sea. The fossils found in this are brachiopods, trilobites, clams, corals, crinoids, and snails.

Getting to Indian Fort Nature Preserve

Address: 3432 Jones Bridge Rd, Geneseo, NY 14510

There is a small parking lot just off the road, and the trail into the preserve is clearly visible.

Have you visited this gorgeous preserve before? What did you think? Do you have a favorite Nature Preserve? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.