![]() Jeff Manuszak NPS Collection Discover much more than just sand dunes as you hike through 14 distinct trail systems covering more than 50 miles of trails. A wide variety of hiking trails traverse the various habitats and cultural history of Indiana Dunes National Park. The varying lengths and difficulty levels make it easy to choose the trail that's right for you. From a short easy stroll to a challenging all-day trek, most of the trails are open all year and the hiking experience will change with each season. Paper trail maps are available at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, and at each trailhead kiosk. 14 Hiking Trail Systems Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River and Mnoké Prairie Trails Calumet Dunes Trail Cowles Bog Trail Dune Ridge Trail Glenwood Dunes Trails Great Marsh Trail Heron Rookery Trail Hobart Prairie Grove Trails Oak Savannah Bike Trail hike: Easy, 4 miles in length, hike time of 2 hours. Mount Baldy Beach Trail Featured hike: Moderate, 3.4 miles in length, hike time of 2 hours. This hike through Miller Woods winds through several habitats including wetlands, globally rare black oak savanna, open dunes and beach. The views of the lake and the dunes are incredible. Pinhook Bog Trails Upland hike: Moderate, 2.1 miles in length, hike time of 1.5 hours. The Upland Trail highlights a rich beech and maple forest growing on top of a glacial moraine formed about 15,000 years ago. The Upland Hike is open to the public year round without the need for a guided tour. Bog hike*: Easy, 0.9 miles in length, hike time of 1 hour. The Bog Trail leads to a bog in a depression in the moraine created when a large piece of ice broke off the melting glacier. The bog features an incredible habitat with unique plants. *Restricted Access. Access to Pinhook Bog requires advance approval and accompaniment by authorized staff. There are ranger-led open houses on weekends in the summer. Program dates and times can be obtained by calling the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at (219) 395-1882. Information is also listed in the park's newspaper The Singing Sands and on the park's website calendar and Facebook page. Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail Featured hike: Easy, 0.9 miles in length, hike time of 45 minutes. This popular location is a great place to view the ever-changing seasons along Lake Michigan and watch dramatic weather and clouds build over the lake. It's an easy location to watch for migrating birds in the spring and summer, and observe shelf ice that forms along the beach edge in the winter. Tolleston Dunes Trail Featured hike: Moderate, 2.9 miles in length, hike time of 2 hours. This hike winds amid varied habitats ranging from oak savanna to wetlands and plants such as prickly pear cactus, butterfly weed and lupines. Features a separate wheelchair accessible trail with quick access to an observation deck with picnic tables. West Beach Trails 3-Loop Hike: Moderate to rugged, 3.4 miles in length, hike time of 2.5 hours. Dunes Succession Hike: Moderate, 0.9 mile in length, hike time of 45 minutes. These trails offer a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. There are great views from the top of the Dune Succession Trail stairs, a beautiful pinery of jack pines, birding opportunities along Long Lake and secluded sections of forest. GeocachingGeocaching is the anytime, anywhere adventure where players (called geocachers) use a Geocaching app or a GPS to find hidden containers around the world. For more information, please visit our Geocaching Page to view our featured park geocaches and thier latest updates.Visit Geocaching.com or download the free Official Geocaching app to begin geocaching! |
Last updated: May 16, 2023