• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

    Indiana Dunes

    National Lakeshore Indiana

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  • Swimming Advisory for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

    There is a swimming advisory for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore due to an unknown substance found floating in the waters on June 17.

Outdoor Activities

Enjoy the outdoors year-round at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. From swimming and sunbathing in summer to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter, each season offers visitors the chance to experience this unique park.

Hiking is rewarding in every season. Spring wildflowers are abundant along the Little Calumet River in April and May. Summer is an ideal time to build sand castles and admire Lake Michigan sunsets. The Calumet Bike Trail is especially pretty in late summer and early fall. The colors of fall can be enjoyed from late September through October, with the peak color occurring around mid-October. Bird watching is especially interesting during spring and fall migrations. Animal tracks are often visible after a recent snowfall. 

Camping and fishing are popular ways to relax at the dunes. Overnight camping is available from April through October at the Dunewood Campground. Fishing the Little Calumet River during the summer steelhead run is a worthy challenge.

Discover all that the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has to offer. Use these pages to choose your activities and help plan your visit. Be prepared, be safe, and most of all, have fun!

 

Did You Know?

a sea of tall grasses and catails in a marsh setting and trees in the background

Cowles Bog is not a true bog but rather a fen because it has an underground water source. This water source has contact with limestone bedrock, making the fen’s water slightly alkaline. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is restoring a portion of this fen.