During my childhood, before the internet connected the world, travel destinations were mainly discovered through recommendations, printed media, or personal experiences shared by family members. Even though travel agents were available, my family decided against using their expensive services for our summer vacations. I especially loved visiting areas rich in natural beauty. Hailing from Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, one of our family trips included discovering the vast Indiana Dunes, particularly its enjoyable and picturesque beaches. I still remember the fun times we had at the dunes that summer, playing on the beach and exploring the park.
Indiana Dunes National Park covers over 15,000 acres; therefore, more than one visit to this diverse park is always needed. I was thrilled when Congress designated the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore as the 61st national park in February 2019. Therefore, that following summer, I arranged a trip for my family to revisit this magnificent park.
The Indiana Dunes were formed around 10,000 years ago by sand carried by Lake Michigan winds settling on the landscape, creating a unique natural habitat. These dunes boast extraordinary ecological sustainability and rich biodiversity, serving as a necessary stopover for bird migrations. This region also supports various plant and animal species, including the endangered Karner blue butterfly.
Visit the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
The entrance fee for Indiana Dunes National Park is $25 per vehicle, which is a great value for a day filled with enjoyable hiking and beach relaxation. Moreover, visitors can take advantage of various guided walks, talks, and programs. See the list here.
Along Lake Michigan, there are 15 miles of sandy beaches (The park stretches along 15 miles of Lake Michigan's southern shore in Indiana's Lake, La Porte, and Porter Counties).
and 14 hiking trails to discover. At the visitor center, you can talk to rangers about the top trails and beaches for you to explore.
Mount Baldy Beach Trail/ Mount Baldy
The largest sand dune at Indiana Dunes National Park is Mount Baldy. It is 126 feet tall and is considered a wandering dune because it shifts every year. Mount Baldy moves inland about 4 feet annually and consumes trees and anything else in its path. As you can see in the photo above, my grandchildren ran to it from the parking lot and began climbing it before we could see the "DO NOT CLIMB" signs posted. Yikes! A park ranger immediately came over to make sure the kids safely climbed down the dune and explained to us all that when the dunes move and swallow trees, the trees can eventually deteriorate leaving large pockets, in which a person can become enveloped, making it extremely dangerous to be on. Therefore, only admire this sand giant from a distance.
Located to the left of Mount Baldy, the Mount Baldy Beach Trail offers direct access to Lake Michigan. Covering a distance of 0.75 miles with a 75-foot elevation gain, the trail typically takes about 1 hour for a round trip.
Dunes Succession Trail
The Dune Succession Trail features the four stages of dune growth within its one-mile length. This arduous, but beautiful trail contains 270 stairs for a sweeping view of Lake Michigan and Chicago. This 0.9 mile trail with 81 feet in elevation gain takes roughly 45 minutes to hike.
Calumet Dune Trail
Calumet Dune Trail is located at 1596 North Kemil Road (300E), Chesterton, IN 46304, at the intersection of Kemil Road and U.S. Highway 12. North of U.S. Highway 12, Kemil Road is known as East State Park Road.
At this trail site, there is ample parking, restrooms, and wheelchair accessibility. The paved trail covers 0.5 miles, with 32 feet of elevation gain, and takes approximately 20 minutes to circumnavigate.
This brief trail meanders through a classic Midwest forest featuring maples, oaks, and cottonwoods. Take a leisurely walk through this serene area and enjoy its tranquility. I strongly suggest applying bug spray during the summer and fall.
Cowles Bog Trail
The Cowles Bog Trail passes through a region of plant diversity so significant that it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This site, where Dr. Henry Cowles carried out much of his pioneering research on plant ecology and succession in the early 1900s, continues to be a vital area for scientific research today.
Discover a variety of unique environments on this 4.7-mile trail, such as ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas, and beaches. The steep sand dunes close to Lake Michigan can make the trek challenging. Many visitors bring a lunch to savor by the shore while taking a break before heading back (remember to "pack out" your trash). Make sure you have enough water, sun protection, and additional clothing layers, as the weather at the lake may differ significantly from that at the parking lot.
There are two parking lots for this long trail. The first is the Greenbelt Lot (south): 1184 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, IN 46304 (Look for the entrance road on the left just after the railroad tracks)
The second parking lot can be located at the Main Lot (north): 1450 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, IN 46304 (Look for the gravel entrance road on the right just before the town guardhouse)
At first, we parked in the Greenbelt lot, which didn't appear to be the trail's starting point. We followed this path for roughly ten minutes before returning to the parking area to locate the main lot. The region was abundant with stunning wildflowers and ran alongside the railroad tracks.
We found he main parking lot just a mile down the road and headed out on the other trailhead. The trail is a 4.7 miles and only 202 feet of elevation gain with an average hike time of around 4 hours, therefore, we planned just to walk out about 45 min and then head back.
This hike is a lollipop-shaped trail and a staple of the Indiana dunes. Begin at the north parking lot, walk back to Mineral Springs Road via the gravel entrance road, and find the trail across the street. The path follows the edge of a wetland rich in plant and wildlife diversity. At approximately one mile, you'll arrive at the loop trail junction. The recommended direction around the loop is counter-clockwise, so take the trail to the right.
Although we didn't finish the entire trail, we did encounter some marshy areas and a variety of unique plants that were new to us. I am eager for our next visit to finish this hike and see Lake Michigan.
Dune Ridge Trail
The Dune Ridge Trail offers stunning views of the expansive wetlands and forests to the south of this high, forested dune. This lollipop-shaped trail covers only 0.7 miles and has an elevation increase of 73 feet, usually taking around 30 minutes to finish. The wide-ranging ecosystems along this path help make Indiana Dunes National Park one of the top five most biologically diverse national parks.
Dune Ridge Trailhead and Kemil Beach Parking Lot are located just North of U.S. Highway 12 on East State Park Road (300E), Beverly Shores, IN 46301.
Note: East State Park Road is called Kemil Road to the south of U.S. Highway 12.
No other location in Indiana Dunes National Park offers such a variety of habitats in a brief trail. Start your habitat journey by taking the trail found in the southeast corner of the parking lot, leading through the foredune habitat. A foredune is a component of a sand dunes system closest to the sea.
Start at the parking lot trailhead and proceed south for a brief walk through a foredune area on sandy terrain.
Foredunes are home to numerous trailblazing plants, including marram and little bluestem grasses, as well as cottonwood trees.
West Beach
West Beach in Indiana Dunes National Park is an excellent beach destination which has more than 600 parking spots, restrooms, picnic tables, picnic shelters, and summer lifeguards. In addition, visitors can enjoy views of the Chicago skyline from the beach.
You can find the West Beach Parking Lot at 376 North County Line Road, Gary, IN 46403.
West Beach is a great place to enjoy Lake Michigan's shoreline. There is a 7-Day Park Entrance Pass - Family-Size Vehicle Pass fee of $25 per vehicle. Find more infor here: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/west-beach.htm
Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail
This beautiful location by Lake Michigan provides an excellent view of seasonal changes and striking weather conditions. It's perfect for birdwatching during the spring and summer months, and for viewing shelf ice in the winter. Visitors can explore lakefront trails that display dune development. The facilities include a 3,500-square-foot pavilion with restrooms, a snack bar, and a glass-enclosed meeting space.
This simple trail spans 0.9 miles, with an elevation increase of 39 feet, and takes about 45 minutes to finish. This loop trail, accessible for wheelchairs, begins at the pavilion and winds through a restored dune habitat. It crosses the road, goes down a set of stairs, and heads north along a boardwalk beside Burns Waterway.
We enjoyed the lakeside path, where we could take in the stunning views of Lake Michigan.
This is an excellent spot for a beach day and a brief hike.
The trailhead parking lot is located at 100 Riverwalk Road, Portage, IN 46368
You will also find a couple of CoastSnap areas. CoastSnap is a global citizen science project to capture changing coastlines. We enjoyed placing our phone in the stand and uploading our photo to the connected barcode scanner.
Indiana Dunes National Park boasts numerous hiking trails and stunning beaches, making a short visit insufficient to fully experience its diversity.
Consider exploring this unique park throughout the year. Envision the lake in winter with its ice formations, spring with migrating birds and blooming wildflowers, summer with beach visits and refreshing dips in Lake Michigan, and fall with the trees displaying vibrant orange, red, and yellow foliage. Personally, I'm eager to visit this spring.
BEACHES NEARBY
Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana
Only 35 minutes from Indiana Dunes NP is Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, Indiana. This beautiful and clean beach has a charming lighthouse with a catwalk so you can explore the lighthouse. Parking costs $15, but there are restrooms, lifeguard stations, and picnic tables available. I strongly recommend visiting this beach. You won't believe it's in Indiana.
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