Methods and network devices are disclosed for traversal, within a network configured for bit indexed forwarding, of a subnetwork having nodes not configured for bit indexed forwarding. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a first network node not configured for bit indexed forwarding, a data message comprising a local label and a message bit array. Bit values in the message bit array identify intended destination nodes for the message. The embodiment further includes modifying the message bit array to exclude as intended destination nodes for the message any nodes not represented by one or more relative bit positions associated with the local label and stored in an ingress filter data structure. In addition, the embodiment includes forwarding a copy of the data message to a second network node, which is configured for bit indexed forwarding, identified in an accessed entry of a bit indexed forwarding table.