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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshoreblack and white photo of a flat roof house looking up from below
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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Heron Rookery

Park Facility

Trail Name

Lat/Long coordinates

Street Address/Road intersections
Heron Rookery River Trail (no trail map) 041.37.37N 086.57.07W N. County Road 600 E. Michigan City 46360 (mapquest-Heron Rookery)
 
Visitor Activities:
  • Watch the Great Blue Herons return to their "rookery" in mid-March when they repair their nest. The herons are visible until early May when the new leaves on the trees block the view. The rest of the summer and into the fall they can be seen feeding in the shallow waters throughout the Dunes Region.
  • View spring wild flowers from late March until early June
  • Bird during the spring and fall migration 
  • Fish and watch fish swim in the Little Calumet River
Facilities:
  • Area open, sunrise to sunset daily
  • No restroom facilities 
  • Small parking lot, large enough to back up and turn around busses & RV's spaces
Fun Facts:
  • The Heron Rookery was so named because the Great Blue Herons had developed a "rookery" with over 100 nests.
 
Driving Directions:
  1. Starting at U.S. 94/80 and Indiana 49, go north 1 mile on Indiana 49
  2. Take the U.S. 20 east ramp (right) and go east on U.S. 20 5 3/10 miles
  3. Turn right (south) on County Road 500 E/Brown Road and go 2 1/2 miles (road ends)
  4. Turn left (east) on County Road 1400 N and go 1 mile (road ends)
  5. Turn right (south) on County Road 600 E and go about 1/2 miles (cross bridge), turn right into parking area
 
map with route highlighted to the Heron Rookery
two horses pulling a machine use to rake hay with a farmer riding on the rake  

Did You Know?
In 1972, Chellberg Farm became part of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. In the mid-1800s many Swedes settled in Porter County. Three generations of Chellbergs farmed this land.

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Last Updated: August 21, 2006 at 16:33 EST