Indiana Dunes

Overview

Indiana Dunes National Park protects 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and over 15,000 acres of dunes, wetlands, prairies, and oak savannas along the southern tip of the lake in northwest Indiana. Despite its modest size and industrial neighbors (steel mills and power plants line the horizon), the park supports an astonishing diversity of plant life — over 1,400 species, making it the fourth most biodiverse national park in the system. This ecological richness results from the meeting of eastern deciduous forest, tallgrass prairie, and Great Lakes dune habitats. The 3 Dune Challenge is the park's signature hike: a 1.5-mile trail climbing three of the tallest lakefront dunes (Mount Tom, Mount Holden, and Mount Jackson) with 552 feet of cumulative elevation gain in deep sand. The views from the summits span Lake Michigan's blue expanse with the Chicago skyline visible 30 miles to the west. West Beach, the park's busiest swimming area, has a long sand beach and a succession trail that winds through dune grass, oak forest, and back to the lakeshore. Indiana Dunes is one of the newest national parks (elevated from national lakeshore status in 2019) and one of the most accessible — the South Shore commuter train from Chicago stops within the park boundaries. It's possible to take a train from downtown Chicago and be swimming in Lake Michigan at a national park beach within 90 minutes.

Things to Do

• Complete the 3 Dune Challenge hike
• Swim at West Beach on Lake Michigan
• Hike the Cowles Bog Trail through diverse ecosystems
• Watch sunset over the Chicago skyline from the beach
• Birdwatch at the Great Marsh viewing platform
• Ride the South Shore Line train from Chicago
• Cross-country ski the Ly-co-ki-we Trail in winter
• Explore the Heron Rookery for spring wildflowers

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Lake Michigan moderates temperatures. Summers are warm (75-85°F) with occasional lake-effect storms. Winters are cold with lake-effect snow. Fall and spring are pleasant but changeable.