News Release

Portage Lakefront Hours Shortened for the Remainder of the Summer

You are viewing ARCHIVED content

This content was published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. For current information, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/index.htm.

News Release Date: August 1, 2024

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Beginning on August 2nd, the hours of operation for Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk at Indiana Dunes National Park will be temporarily shortened to 8:00 am – 9:00 pm due to a spike in overnight vandalism and illegal beach fires. Gates will be locked at 9:00 pm and remaining vehicles will not be able to be retrieved until the following day. 
 
Several fires have been lit on the beach which could spread and endanger both the park’s natural resources and the nearby homes in the Town of Ogden Dunes. In addition, the lifesaving ring on the breakwater has been stolen three times this summer. Without this important lifesaving equipment in place, a life can be lost due to drowning that would otherwise be saved.
 
Along with the shorter operating hours in the evening, the National Park Service is pursuing other means, including electronic monitoring, that will help identify individuals committing criminal acts at Portage Lakefront. The public is urged to help by reporting suspicious or criminal activity to the park’s 24-hour dispatch at 1-800-PARK-TIP (or 219-727-5847).  
 

For more information on Indiana Dunes National Park, call 219-395-1882, visit our website, download the official National Park Service app, or view our Facebook page.  

www.nps.gov

Indiana Dunes National Park is one of more than 400 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Located in Northwest Indiana, the park includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 15,000 acres of biodiverse beaches, woods, prairies, and marshes. Over 3 million visitors come to the Indiana Dunes each year. 

RSS Feed | What is RSS?