Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Travel | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was a fantastic, last minute, stop during my 65 day road trip. While making my way to Chicago, a brown sign with the park name appeared. That was all I needed to take a little detour. The views of southern Lake Michigan and ample hiking opportunities were well worth the visit.

Top Five Hikes + Places to Explore

• Glenwood Dunes Trail - go all in for the 6.4 mile trail, crossing two ancient dune ridges.

• Great Marsh Trail - an easy trail through the Great Marsh, slightly over a mile, with access to an observation deck. Perfect for bird watching.

• Heron Rookery Trail - this four mile trail goes along the southern bank of the Little Calumet River. Wildflowers are abundant during the spring.

• Lake Michigan Beach - enjoy over 15 miles of beautiful beaches through the eight access points in the park.

• West Beach Trail Loops - choose between three loops, experiencing dunes, an oak savanna, ponds and water birds. Or enjoy all three over the course of four miles.