Indiana Dunes National Park a Hidden Midwest Gem
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Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is a hidden gem in the Midwest, where the natural beauty of the Great Lakes meets diverse ecosystems and rich history. Nestled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, and next to Indiania Dunes State Park, this park offers a stunning blend of sandy beaches, towering dunes, lush forests, and wetlands, all next to small towns and cities.
Whether you come to Indiana Dunes National Park for hiking, birdwatching, or to learn more about the history of the area, Indiana Dunes will provide the perfect backdrop for adventure and relaxation. The calm atmosphere seems impossible being that it is surrounded by an industrial park, but no worries as you explore this park within its serine and calming beauty this park has to offer you will forget all about the surrounding area.
Entrance fee: $25
Hours: 6am to 11pm daily. West Beach Park entrance hours are 6am to 9pm.
Consider buying a National Park annual pass if you plan to visit several parks in a year. The cost is only $80 and allows access to all US National Parks.
Pets: are allowed if on a leash and on the beach. There are some pet restrictions which can be found online.
Hiking: There are 15 hiking trails that amount to 50 miles throughout the park in many different ecosystems.
Fun fact: Indiana Dunes National Park is the only national park that makes maple syrup. The annual Maple Syrup Time Event happens the first two weeks in March.
Things to do at Indiana Dunes National Park:
Stargazing
Horseback riding
Hiking
Beach and swimming
Birdwatching
Fishing
Paddling
Picnics
Biking
Camping (see details below)
Visitor Center
At the visitor center you can find many souvenirs from books, clothing items, maps and more. Find a staff member and learn about the area or find the best hikes for your abilities. You will also find restrooms and water fill stations.
Hours: Summer hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm, winter hours 8:30am to 4:30pm. Hours vary throughout the year so check out their website for details. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
Address: 1215 IN-49, Porter, Indiana
West Beach
West Beach offers a place to relax and unwind as you spend time in the sun on Lake Michigan. Located next to a large restroom, locker room and shower area, this is the perfect spot to come to before or after doing some hiking. This beach is also pet friendly making it the perfect place for your furry friend. There is plenty of parking at this location. This parking lot can fill up quickly in the summer months, so arrive early for easy parking. You can enter the beach from the large restroom facility or at the end of the Dune Succession Trail. From the parking area you can also access the Dune Succession Trail, details below.
Hours: 6am to 9pm daily
West Beach offers a 3-loop easy to moderate hike covering 3.4 miles in length.
Things to know: No glass, drones, fires, or metal detectors allowed on the beach. Potable water available at different beach locations throughout the park. There are 8 covered picnic areas available in this area with grills at this location.
Other beaches in the area:
Several beaches are located within Indiana Dunes National Park. All beaches are open from 6am to 11pm except West Beach and Porter Beach which close at 9pm.
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Beach
Porter Beach
Kemil Beach - open 24 hours
Dunbar Beach
Lake View Beach
Central Avenue Beach
Mount Baldy Beach (see details below)
Dune Succession Trail
This trail is located next to the West Beach parking lot. This trail goes through many different natural settings from pinery to lake views to beaches. Although this trail is minimal, you will climb several stairs via a wooden walkway at the beginning of the trail and will end at the beach. The beauty of this trail is the multiple ecosystems you will pass through from forests to the end where you will find the wide-open beach.
Trail: This trail is listed as moderate and is 0.9 miles in length and is a 45-minute hike.
Bailly - Chellberg Trails
This trail combines several destinations along its route. You will discover the small maple syrup house, Chellberg Farm, Bailly cemetery (0.6-mile out and back), and end at the Bailly Homestead along the Little Calumet River. Check out the map below for trail options. Located among many trees so the trail is easy to walk and cooler even in the summer months.
Hours: 6am to 11pm daily.
Trail: easy to moderate and is 3.4 miles in length and will take around 2.5 hours.
Trailhead offers restrooms, parking, and 3 covered picnic areas with grills.
Photo NPS
Chellberg Farm
Stop and admire the Chellberg farm that started in the 1870’s from the Swedish Chellberg family that eventually began to tap maple from the surrounding trees. Check out the chickens walking around in the coop near the Chellberg Farm. You can view the home from the fence line.
The Bailly Homestead
Here you will find the Bailly Homestead that was home to Joseph Bailly and family since 1822. The home has a small log structure on its property that was used during fur trading years. In 1833, Bailly began construction of the main home but fell ill and died before its completion in 1835. It is one of the oldest homes in the area. To the right of the homestead, you will find the brick structure that was built for his granddaughter, Rose Howe, which was constructed in the late 1870’s.
From the Bailly Homestead, you can turn around and head back the same path to the parking lot or cross the road into the Mnoke Prairie for an extended trail and then back to the main trail again.
Century of Progress Homes
The 1933’s World Fair in Chicago which was called the Century of Progress that year, rendered during the Great Depression and offered a look at homes that reflected the future. After the fair, the homes were moved by barge and truck to Beverly Shores, into a development that Robert Bartlett was developing into a community on the Indiana shores of Lake Michigan. The five homes brought from the fair are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those homes, still standing, are:
Florida Tropical
Rostone
House of Tomorrow
Armco -Ferro
The Cypress
Century of Progress Homes Tour
Get access to the Century of Progress homes in this once-a-year event. This event happens annually the last weekend in September. Tickets for this event are on sale in August and usually sell out within an hour. No parking at the homes so a shuttle is provided from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center. This is a guided event and lasts a little over two hours.
The homes are subleased to individuals or families from Indiana Dunes National Park with the intent that the homes will be updated and maintained by those who sublease the homes.
Our hiking must haves
Teva sandals - I wear these everywhere we hike, and I love them.
Belt bag - to carry keys, phone, money and more while hiking.
All-natural bug spray - Made in the US
Lake Michigan Beach Access
From the area near Century of Progress homes, we were able to access the beach on Lake Michigan. Spend some time here admiring the lake while trying to skip rocks in the water. The area is full of beautiful pebble rocks. Enjoy them while you are there as you are not allowed to keep any of the rocks. I know, a bummer! This is a beautiful area to bring a chair and enjoy the view or grab a picnic lunch and take in the views as you enjoy a light meal by the water.
Mt Baldy Trail
Check out Mt Baldy Trail that offers plenty of parking and restrooms at the trailhead. The dunes near the parking lot are not accessible to the public. The summit to Mt Baldy is closed except for ranger-led programs. Due to the steep nature of the dunes, there is a risk of needing to be rescued. The heat from the sand and the steep dunes may seem doable but are dangerous unless led by an experienced ranger.
There is still access to the trail for those wanting to hike with an excellent view of Lake Michigan waiting at the end of the trail. You can make the transcend down to the beach from here if you are up for the climb against the sandy conditions. It is doable but remember if you go down, you must come back up.
Hours: 6am to 11pm. You will go out of the park and re-enter into this part of the national park so be prepared and have your National Park tickets or pass ready to show.
Trail: 0.75 miles in length and will take around 1 hour. Trail is sandy and steep with loose sand toward the end.
The trailhead is at the entrance of this parking lot.
Mt Baldy Trail map
Other trails at Indiana Dunes National Park
There are multiple trails within the park that will provide you with a diverse range of ecosystems. Each trail is unique and offers a different view of the national park. As you hike, take notice of the vegetation and stay on the trails so you do not damage the natural areas. Beware of tics and poison ivy throughout the park.
Calumet Dunes Trail - 0.5 miles paved trail length, time 20 minutes. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Parking at trailhead. Potable water and restrooms available.
Cowles Bog Trail - 4.7 miles trail length, time 4 hours of rugged trail with a 202 feet elevation gain. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Parking available with porta-potties.
Dune Ridge Trail - 0.7 miles moderate trail length, time 30-60 minutes with a 73 feet elevation gain. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Parking available with restrooms and potable water.
Glenwood Dunes Trail - There are 13 trail junctions at this location. Trail can be less than 1 mile and up to 15 miles. It is suggested that you bring a trail map on this route. Hiking time up to 4 hours. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Parking lot offers covered picnic areas with grills, restrooms and potable water. Horseback riding is available in this area and parking is large enough to accommodate horse trailers. See website for more details on horses.
Great Marsh Trail - 1.3 miles easy trail length, time 1 hour. Hours: 6am to 11pm. South parking lot is gravel. No restrooms or water available.
Heron Rookery Trail - 3.3 miles easy trail length, time 1.5-2 hour. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Large gravel parking lot is big enough for buses and RV’s. No restrooms or water.
Hobart Prairie Grove Trail - 2.2 miles easy trail length, time 1.5 hour. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Paved parking lot with no restrooms or water.
Hoosier Prairie Trail - 0.7 miles easy trail length, time 30-60 minutes. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Gravel parking lot with no restrooms or water.
Paul H Douglas Trail (Miller Woods) - 0.9 miles easy trail length, time 30 minutes. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Paved parking lot which is big enough for buses and RV’s.
Paul H Douglas Center for Environmental Education - open 9am to 4/5pm. Restrooms and potable water available when center is open.
Pinhook Bog Trail - Hours: 6am to 11pm. Paved parking lot with seasonal porta potty.
Upland Trail - 2.1 miles trail length, time 1.5 hours. Hours: 6am to 11pm.
Bog Trail - 0.9 miles trail length, time 1 hour. ONLY OPEN FOR A RANGER LED HIKE.
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail - 0.9 miles easy trail length, time 45 minutes. Hours: 8am to 9pm. Paved parking lot with restrooms and potable water when the pavilion is open.
Tolleston Dunes Trail - 2.9 miles moderate trail length, time 2 hours. Hours: 6am to 11pm. Paved parking lot with no restrooms or water
Dunewood Campground
Dunewood Campground offers 67 sites for both tent and RV camping. No hookups are available. You can stay at this campground for up to 14 days within a 30-day period. Pets are allowed. Open April 1st to November 1st.
Facilites: potable water, restrooms, showers, and dump station.
Fees: $25 per night and camping reservations can be made online.
Dunbar Group Site - group camping up to 30 people is also available and is less than 500 feet from the beach. Fee: $100
Central Avenue Walk-in Sites - 5 sites available by Central Beach. Porta Potty available year-round. No water is available. Fees: $25 per night.
Midwest travel destination ideas
Slide into Kentucky to Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Underground Adventure Awaits at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
Indiana Dunes National Park is truly a hidden gem in the Midwest that offers a unique blend of natural beauty and diverse ecosystems. Whether you are looking for adventure as you navigate the large dunes (where accessible) or find serene in the natural shoreline, you will find something for everyone to enjoy. Memories will be made at this National Park that sits on the edge of Lake Michigan and offers a restful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life located nearby. This park is located one hour from Chicago’s city center making it a convenient day trip. While we visited both of those areas, we stayed at the Sand Creek Campground nearby. Check out those details on my blog.
Enjoy the journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. Pic: Edward Medard Conservation Area, Florida.
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