• 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.

Winter Activities

young people actively walking up a snow covered dune on snowshoes
Hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are popular. Visitors must bring their own snowshoes and cross-country skis, as there are no rentals available.

The best option for cross-country skiing is the Glenwood Dunes Trail. The 6.4 mile trail is a series of interconnecting loops through gently rolling wooded dunes. This trail can be accessed from either the Calumet Dunes Trail parking lot or the nearby Glenwood Dunes Trailhead parking lot. The 3-mile Tolleston Dunes Trail is a good choice for advanced skiers. There are some difficult hills that can be tricky to navigate. A six-inch snow base is recommended for skiing. Trails are not groomed.

Hikers and visitors using snowshoes are asked to walk to the right of the cross-country ski tracks whenever possible.

Sledding and snowmobiling are not permitted.

 
Shelf Ice

Shelf ice often forms along the edge of Lake Michigan during periods of cold weather. Don't be fooled! Despite its appearance, the shelf ice is not solid. In fact, due to the way it is formed, the shelf ice has numerous air pockets. It can be difficult to tell where the ice ends and the beach begins. Don't walk on the shelf ice! A person applying even a small amount of weight on the ice can easily fall through and into frigid water that can quickly kill. Enjoy the beautiful and unique ice formations from the safety of solid ground.

Did You Know?

A clump of trees surrounded by marsh land

Cowles Bog at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore contains the only remaining wild stand of northern white cedar in Indiana.