Park Closure:Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
Park Closure:Partial Closures to Little Calumet River Trail and Glenwood Dunes Trail
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Park Closure:Hobart Woodland Trail Temporary Closure
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Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes

Family Friendly Indiana

New federal report highlights scale and breadth of recreation at Indiana Dunes National Park

PORTER, Ind. — A newly released federal report highlights both the scale of visitation and the wide ...

Jul 15, 2026

Mount Baldy Access Site Reopens After Sand Management Project

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Indiana Dunes National Park will reopen the Mount Baldy access site to the pub...

Jun 15, 2026

Spring Prescribed Fires Planned for Indiana Dunes National Park

The National Park Service plans to conduct eight prescribed fires this Spring starting Monday, Feb. ...

Mar 6, 2026

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
Dunewood Campground Site Map

Dunewood Campground

Sites available

RestroomsShowersWater
$25 Reserve
Picnic tables are placed in the middle of the group camp site

Dunbar Group Site

Sites available

Restrooms
$100 Reserve
Central Avenue Walk-in Campsites Map

Central Avenue Walk-in Sites

Sites available

Restrooms
$25 Reserve
Tall walls of concrete blocks with a decorative top stand in a woodland beneath a blue sky

Bailly Cemetery

Bailly Cemetery

With the earliest burial in 1827, the Joseph Bailly Cemetery is the oldest Euro-American cemetery in Porter County, Indi...

Building made of wood painted white and pink, stone, and red brick in a manicured field.

Bailly Homestead

Indiana Dunes

Explore the Homestead of the independent fur-trader Joseph Bailly. View an unusual combination of vernacular architectur...

Golden leaves cling to the trees and reflect in the sun. A blanket of fallen leaves cover the trail.

Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River, Mnoké Prairie Trails

Hiking

The Little Calumet River, Mnoké Prairie, Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm and Bailly Cemetery trail system reveals the r...

A tall oak tree reaches for the clear blue sky. Green leaves provide shade to plants below.

Calumet Dunes Trail

Hiking

Built as a Church in 1959, the last service in the building was held on August 30, 1970 and the National Park Service pu...

Waves crash against the shoreline. Green blades of marram grass grow in a large cluster feet away.

Central Avenue Beach

Beach

Central Avenue Beach features towering sand dunes backed up against the shoreline. Parking is located just a couple bloc...

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Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle White-tailed Deer Coyote Red Fox Painted Turtle Monarch Butterfly

Pro Tips

  • 💡 The 3 Dune Challenge is harder than it looks — the sand is soft and steep; bring water and wear sturdy shoes
  • 💡 Take the South Shore Line from Chicago for a car-free national park visit — the Dune Park station is steps from trails
  • 💡 West Beach fills up on summer weekends; arrive before 10 AM or visit Kemil Beach as an alternative
  • 💡 Spring wildflower season (April-May) at the Heron Rookery is spectacular and often overlooked
  • 💡 The Chicago skyline sunsets from the beach are stunning — the best views are from Porter Beach or the state park beach

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.

Best seasons: Summer, Fall