Everything you should know about Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park won’t blow you away with epic views or thrills, but it rewards with more subtle delights. Despite a relatively small, 15,350-acre footprint, Indiana Dunes ranks as the fourth-most biodiverse national park in the U.S., with multiple diverse ecosystems nestled against one another. More than 1,100 plant species can be found within its borders, including more orchid species than the entire state of Hawaii.

An oasis of nature for nearby Chicago residents, Indiana Dunes spans 15 miles along Lake Michigan’s southern shore. Nearly three million visitors explore the park each year, often undertaking a short hike through the forest, wetlands, and savanna, before settling in for a relaxing day on the sandy beaches. 

Best times to visit Indiana Dunes National Park

Time your visit for the experience you desire. Summer is the best time for enjoying the park’s beaches, but a lack of parking can often be an issue, says Leo Lestino, acting superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park.

Spring and fall are excellent for both hiking and birding, with wildflowers blooming in spring and autumn colors peaking in the fall, typically in October. 

In the winter, the crowds have mostly evaporated, leaving you to enjoy the park in relative peace. A pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes will help you explore the park when snow blankets the area. Just be sure to avoid shelf ice.

Where to find the best views in the park

For a classic Indiana Dunes view, Lestinio recommends West Beach, especially the Dune Succession Trail. It offers sweeping views of dunes, Lake Michigan, Long Lake, and, on clear days, the Chicago skyline. Other strong view spots include Portage Lakefront and Dune Ridge Trail. The lakefront at Kemil, Dunbar, and Lake View beaches is especially good around sunset. 

Although it’s one of the park’s iconic landscapes, Mount Baldy and its summit are restricted and accessible only on ranger-led programs. 

Where to find the best hiking trails 

With more than 60 miles of trails throughout the national park and neighboring state park, visitors to Indiana Dunes have a variety of terrain to explore. Most trails are exceptionally family friendly; short enough that kids won’t get bored, and not terribly difficult.

Your first stop should be Miller Woods, one of the park’s most biodiverse areas. The Paul H. Douglas Trail winds through oak savanna, wetlands, and dunes before opening onto the beach, giving visitors a glimpse of most of the park’s protected habitats.

At West Beach, climb the Dune Succession Trail, also known as the Diana Dunes Dare, for sweeping lake views and a firsthand look at how this landscape has evolved over thousands of years, Lestino says. 

A National Natural Landmark, the five-mile Cowles Bog Trail winds through the park’s different ecosystems, including marshes, swamps, and one of the country’s last black oak savannas. If you’re visiting on a clear day, you can catch an incredible view of the Chicago skyline about halfway through the hike on the beach.

The three-mile Heron Rookery Trail may be one of the most popular hikes during the spring, when vibrant wildflowers like prairie trilliums and toxic Dutchman’s breeches bloom. Depending on the time of year, you may see a kingfisher, warbler, or woodpecker, as well as herons.

In neighboring Indiana Dunes State Park, the Three Dunes Challenge route encourages visitors to climb three of the tallest dunes, a combined 1.5 miles and 552 vertical feet. It’s a fun hike, but climbing a sand dune can be like taking a step back for every two steps forward. Be sure to take one of the trail offshoots that gives you shoreline access.

The best spots to see wildlife

Indiana Dunes doesn’t have an abundance of land mammals beyond whitetail deer, beavers, river otters, and the occasional coyote, but birders will be thrilled about more than 400 different species of resident and migratory birds that can be found in the park, like sandhill cranes, red-tailed hawks, woodpeckers, and falcons. Expect the migratory bird count to peak in May, coinciding with the annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.

For the best scenery and bird viewing, Lestino suggests hiking the Great Marsh, where visitors may see warblers, waterfowl, herons, and other wetland species, as well as the previously mentioned Heron Rookery Trail along the Little Calumet River. The Paul H. Douglas Trail moves through Miller Woods’ wetlands, savanna, dunes, and interdunal ponds. Visitors may see birds, frogs, turtles, dragonflies, and signs of beaver activity.

Expert recommendations and tips 

Don’t treat Indiana Dunes as merely a beach stop. Lestino suggests visitors begin their stay at the visitor center, then pair one lakefront destination with one inland habitat. 

“A great first visit might combine West Beach or Portage Lakefront with Great Marsh, Dune Ridge, or Miller Woods,” Lestino says. “I’m partial to Miller Woods because it tells so many of the park’s stories in one place: wetlands, black oak savanna, dunes, wildlife, wildflowers, and Lake Michigan. It also starts at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, which is a great place for families and first-time visitors.” 

During the summer, be sure to bring lots of water, sun protection, insect repellent, and real walking shoes, Lestino suggests, as hiking in sand takes longer than people expect. Hike only on marked trails, stay off the dunes, and do not dig large holes in the sand.

Ranger recommendation: Take the Dune Succession Trail around the West Beach area. No matter the season, there will be unique biodiversity, and the hike is beautiful and peaceful. If it’s too crowded, switch to the Long Lake Loop Trail, which covers similar biodiversity and has a lovely beach for spotting beavers. 

Things to do in Indiana Dunes

Sign up early for the ranger-led Pinhook Bog hike, taking place most summer weekends. The first part of the hike takes visitors along the Upland Trail, a two-mile path lined with beech and maple trees. The last mile takes visitors through the bog, where you’ll not only see plenty of ferns and orchids, but you may also see a few carnivorous plants as well. 

Take a scenic drive or bike ride past the Century of Progress homes in Beverly Shores. Designed and built for the “Homes of Tomorrow" exhibition at the 1933 World’s Fair, these delightfully futuristic houses are living history along the lakeshore. One of the homes even has an aviation hangar for a future family’s personal helicopter. If possible, try to time your visit for the annual tour, typically held the last weekend in September. 

Best things to do for families

Kids will love the Chellberg Farm, which was built in the 1860s and later donated to the National Park Service. In the spring and summer, families can volunteer to plant and tend to the crops or take care of the farm’s livestock.

When you visit one of the park’s beaches, keep a close eye on the weather and currents. Lake Michigan can act more like an ocean than a lake, with high waves and rip currents. Rip currents are especially dangerous because they can pull even the strongest swimmers farther out into the lake. Not all beaches have lifeguards.

Had your fill of nature for the day? The 49er Drive-In Movie Theater is a family-friendly way to wind down after a day spent exploring the trails or enjoying the beach. Check the website for the current showings.

Where to stay 

Camping: Inside the national park, Dunewood Campground offers 66 primitive sites, including four wheelchair-accessible sites. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can try one of the Central Avenue walk-in campsites, which are primitive tent-only sites about a half-mile from the Lake Michigan shoreline. Dunbar Group Campsite accommodates groups of up to 30 people. All campsites must be reserved through Recreation.gov, as there are no first-come, first-served sites.

Less than a mile from the beach, the Indiana Dunes State Park campground’s prime location also means the 147 sites sell out fast for the summer season. The bulk of the sites offer electric service, making them popular with the RV crowd.

Hotels: Lodging options are available in the surrounding communities, including Chesterton, Porter, Portage, Michigan City, Gary, and Valparaiso. The Spring House Inn is conveniently located near the park. Rooms may feel a touch dated, but are comfortable after a busy day hiking or swimming. The WaterBird Lakeside Inn on Chubb Lake is within walking distance of several restaurants and shops. 

What else you should know 

Entrance fees: To enter Indiana Dunes National Park, you must pay $25 for a private vehicle, $20 for a motorcycle, or $15 for visitors entering on foot, bicycle, or boat. The Indiana Dunes National Park annual pass costs $45, while the America the Beautiful pass, which gives visitors access to all national park, costs $80. Neighboring Indiana Dunes State Park charges a separate entry fee: $7 for in-state vehicles, $20 for out-of-state vehicles, and $50 for an annual in-state pass. 

Visitor centers:  Most first-time tourists start their visit at the park visitor center, 1215 Indiana State Road 49, Porter. 

Are pets allowed: Dogs are permitted on most hiking trails, except for the more ecologically fragile trails like Glenwood Dunes Trail, Pinhook Bog Trail, and designated nature play areas. Pets must be leashed at six feet or less, and waste must be removed. Restrictions apply at West Beach during lifeguarded swimming season.

Hours: Most public areas are open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time unless otherwise posted. West Beach and Porter Beach have shorter hours, and Kemil Beach is open 24 hours.

How accessible is the park?

Because the park is a natural dune landscape with sand, stairs, slopes, and changing conditions, accessibility can vary by location and activity. Portage Lakefront and Lake View offer blue beach mats during the high season that improves access over sand. West Beach has a ramp to the sand, accessible restrooms and picnic shelters, beach access chairs, and a motorized outdoor wheelchair.

The park also offers reservable adaptive equipment, Lestino says, including a Freedom Trax device, a youth all-terrain wheelchair, Zoom Chair, and other mobility support. Visitors should call ahead because weather, sand movement, erosion, and seasonal conditions can affect access.

Blind or visually impaired visitors can access closed-captioned and audio-described films, an audio-described brochure, and virtual ranger-led hikes with captions and audio descriptions.

If you can’t or prefer not to drive, the Chicago and South Shore Train stops within the park at multiple stations. The trains allow visitors to bring bicycles on board, and the Riverwalk Trail allows you to traverse swaths of the park in relative safety.