Best trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park covers %{15_miles} of the southern shore of Lake Michigan near Michigan City, Indiana. Beaches and sand dunes formed on the shores of Lake Michigan more than 10,000 years ago. Those early dunes are now forested over, but the ones you see today began forming more than 5,000 years ago! A movement to protect the dunes began in 1899, as companies mined the sand and hauled it away to to manufacture glass and other industrial materials. In 1926, the area became Indiana Dunes State Park, and in 2019, it became a national park.
The park protects more than just the sand dunes. There are a wide variety of ecosystems, plants, and wildlife. On many of the trails in the park, you can see multiple ecosystems in a single hike! You can explore marshes, wetlands, hardwood forests, and rare black oak savanna. Don't forget your bug spray for exploring the marshes and wetlands! Indiana Dunes is also an excellent park for birding, leaf peeping, and wildflower viewing. Whether you're looking for a short family beach walk, or a longer trek through varied terrain, there's a trail for you!
The best time to visit Indiana Dunes National Park is in the spring or fall. These are the best seasons to see wildflowers and fall colors, and to avoid summer crowds. The park is great to visit any time of year, though, even in winter! Several of the trails are excellent for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
There is a fee to enter the park, which you can pay online in advance of your visit or in person. Keep in mind that nearby Indiana Dunes State Park requires a separate fee.
Top trails
- (3428)•Moderate•1.0 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe Dune Succession Trail (Loop 1) highlights the four stages of dune development. From the parking lot, follow the road north, toward the lake and look for the trail to pick up to the west of the bathhouse. This scenic route also includes a climb up 250 stairs for a spectacular view of Lake Michigan and Chicago. Please support restoration effort in the fragile dunes and ponds by remaining on designated trails. West Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The...
- (3795)•Moderate•4.3 mi•Est. 1.5–2 hrThe Cowles Bog Trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity that it was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This location, where Dr. Henry Cowles conducted much of his early work in plant ecology and succession in the early 1900s, remains an important focus for scientific study today. Explore several distinct habitats along this trail including ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas and beaches. Steep sand dunes near Lake Michigan can make this a strenuous...
- (2061)•Moderate•3.4 mi•Est. 1–1.5 hrWest Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. There are great views from the top of the Dune Succession Trail stairs, a beautiful pinery of jack pines, birding opportunities along Long Lake and secluded sections of forest. After hiking, relax and swim at the beach. The trail surface varies from loose sand to packed dirt and sections of stairs and boardwalks. This loop hike combines sections of the three trails at...
- (1384)•Moderate•3.5 mi•Est. 1–1.5 hrThe featured hike is essentially an out and back trail. Starting from the Paul H. Douglas Center, take the trail north or counterclockwise around the wetland complex. Look for wildlife including beavers. The trail will run west along the top of the wetland. At the trail junction, take a right and follow the trail to the north. The trail from this point is an out and back to the beach. The trail features beautiful scenery with small interdunal ponds nestled among oak savanna covered dunes...
- (1130)•Easy•0.9 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe Mount Baldy Beach Trail is an out-and-back trail that can be extended by walking along the beach in either direction. The trail offers sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the distance. The hike features rolling terrain through the woods with a steep scurry down the face of the dune to the beach. During high waves, it may not be possible to hike along the beach. Please use caution. The Mount Baldy Beach Trail is open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Use caution when...
- (1125)•Moderate•3.4 mi•Est. 1–1.5 hrThis beautiful trail system reveals the rich natural diversity that has drawn people to this area for thousands of years. Hike through a forest dominated by maple, beech, basswood, and oak trees. Follow a stretch of the Little Calumet River, once a critical transportation route for early regional travelers, and explore the restored Mnoké Prairie for a glimmer of the vast stretches of pre-settlement grasslands. Explore the historic Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm. This route combines...
- (922)•Easy•0.7 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe Dune Ridge Trail offers great views of the extensive wetlands and forests south of this tall, forested dune. The different habitats you'll see along the trail help make Indiana Dunes National Park one of the most biologically diverse of all the national parks. Perhaps no other area in the park will take you through as many diverse habitats in such a short trail. From the parking lot trailhead, head south with a short tour through a foredune complex on sandy soil. Foredunes contain many...
- (917)•Easy•1.1 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrStart at the Bailly / Chellberg parking lot and head north on the Chellberg Farm Trail. At the Chellberg Farm, take a hard left at the trail junction heading into the ravine. This trail will wind through a small ravine and out the other side. The trail is a loop. Stay left at the next two trail junctions. The trail will wind through the woods to a clearing, which is the Bailly Homestead. After exploring the homestead, return to the north end of the clearing and continue on the trail out the...
- (558)•Easy•1.4 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThis is a really nice birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. Flocks of coots, mallards, and wood ducks inhabit the area. Kingfishers, tree swallows, and rusty blackbirds are also commonly spotted. The Great Marsh abounds in the diverse animal activity of a healthy wetland ecosystem. During the migration periods, the wetland will be frequented by flocks of ducks and geese. The wading birds like herons and egrets, and the songbirds such as...
Visitor info
7-Day Park Entrance Fee - Motorcycle
Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase)
7-Day Per Person Entrance Fee (Organized, non-commercial groups)
Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
7-Day Park Entrance Fee - Family-Size Vehicle
Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).
Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass
This pass provides entry for the pass owner(s) and passengers in a family-sized vehicle. This pass only works at the Indiana Dunes National Park and is not accepted at the Indiana Dunes State Park.
Passes can be purchased from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, seasonally at the West Beach kiosk, or online at recreation.gov.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center and Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Loaner wheelchairs (Freedom Trax wheelchair, Zoom Chair, GRIT Freedom Chair, and a youth Hippocampe Blue Blazer wheelchair), cycles (hand tricycle, dual tandem bike, and a two-seated tandem bicycle), and assistive listening devices are available. A beach wheelchair is available from the lifeguards at West Beach.
Many ranger-led programs are wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices and ASL interpreters are available by reservation. Please call (219)-395-1821 in advance to reserve equipment.
Additional information about accessibility at Indiana Dunes National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center and Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning.
The West Beach, Bailly Chellberg, Tremont, Glenwood Dunes, Lake View Beach, and Tolleston Dunes Overlook Picnic Areas are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces.
Dunewood Campground has individual wheelchair accessible camping sites (#15, 30, 41, and 55).
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
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Frequently asked questions
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Attractions
- Beach trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Easy trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Forest trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Historic site trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Lake trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Moderate trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- River trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Short trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Scenic viewpoint trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Wildflowers trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
- Wildlife trails in Indiana Dunes National Park
Points of interest
- Mount Baldy Beach
- Portage Lakefront
- Great Marsh Observation Deck
- Middle Grand Calumet Lagoon
- Little Lake
- Mount Tuthill
- Bailly Beach
- 1 Foot Falls
- West Grand Calumet Lagoon
- Lake George
- Gleason Heights
- Long Lake
- Southeast Pond
- West Beach
- Kemil Beach Comfort Station
- Suicide Hill
- Mount Baldy
- Lindstrom/Wahl Historic Barn
- Central Beach
- Mount Allinson
