Indiana’s lake shore may be small, but it has a lot to offer. In fact, I think it is one of the most beautiful areas on the United States. The Indiana Dunes State Park makes exploring this area easy and educational. The vast array of activities offered by the Park will keep you busy year round.
1. Go to the beach
Definitely one of the most important parts of the Indiana Dunes State Park is the beach. For most people, standing on a Lake Michigan beach feels just like standing on the seashore. I too think this is true, but Lake Michigan is so much better than any ocean. Not only is it fresh water, but consequently it does not contain any harmful ocean-dwelling creatures, such as jellyfish or sea urchins. Additionally, the State Park’s three miles of beach are widely considered to be the best of the Northwest Indiana beaches. It is nicely maintained, has a bathhouse and snack bar, and provides lifeguards in the summer months. (As a side note, always heed warnings from the park service regarding swimming safety. Too often swimmers get caught in undertows and occasionally the water contains too many bacteria for safe swimming.)
2. Take the 3 Dune Challenge
The 3 Dune Challenge is the stuff of childhood dreams and adult nightmares. This trail begins at the Indiana Dunes Nature Center and takes hikers up the three tallest sand dunes in the park which include Mt. Tom (192 ft.), Mt. Holden (184 ft.), and Mt. Jackson (176 ft.). It’s definitely called a challenge for a reason but is well worth the pain. From the tops of these dunes, hikers enjoy stunning panoramas of Lake Michigan and the surrounding areas.
Photo courtesy of Elliot Pelling
3. Hiking
In addition to the 3 Dune Challenge (a.k.a. Trail 8), the Indiana Dunes State Park offers 16.5 miles of hiking trails which traverse the park’s diverse habitats. These habitats include beach, dunes, marshes, swamps, hardwood forests, and white pine groves. Trails vary in length and range from Easy to Rugged providing something for everyone to enjoy.
4. Camping
Why not stay a while and enjoy everything the region has to offer? The Indiana Dunes State Park Campground features 138 sites suitable for RVs and tents. The campground is within walking distance of the Nature Center, hiking trails, and the beach. Sites are approximately $26 per night. This does not include park entry fees.
Photo courtesy of Elliot Pelling
5. Enjoy a class or guided hike at the Nature Center
The Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center offers fantastic programs daily throughout the summer and every weekend for the rest of the year. Whether you are taking a night hike, meeting the reptiles of the park, or learning to make beach glass jewelry, the whole family is sure to enjoy the variety of programs offered. You can find a full schedule in PDF format on the Park’s website.
Photo courtesy of Elliot Pelling
6. Owl Banding
As a part of Project Owlnet, the Indiana Dunes State Park and its volunteers annually band and collect data on migratory saw-whet owls. From October to November, these tiny, cute owls are called by MP3 owl sounds, gently netted, and banded from just after sunset until about 10 PM, weather permitting. In addition, public education nights are held in the nature center several times during these two months. These nights are a good opportunity to learn about the benefits of this program and to get up close and personal with a live owl. For more information about volunteering, donating, or attending an informational evening, contact the Nature Center at (219)926-1390.
7. Birding
In addition to the saw-whet owl, Indiana Dunes State Park is a haven for many other bird species. The vast variety of habitats along with the park’s location along the southern edge of Lake Michigan ensure that the Indiana Dunes State Park is home to a wide variety of birds and a stop along the migratory route of many more. Trails 2 and 10 are popular routes for birders while the bird observation tower near the West Parking Lot offers a great vantage point for birds migrating along the shore. In addition, birders should be sure to stop by the Nature Center which offers great information about bird species in the area and has a small feeding area for smaller birds.
Photo courtesy of Elliot Pelling
8. Scuba Diving
Diving?! In Lake Michigan? Unless you are a very local diver, you probably don’t know the bounty just off shore of the Indiana Dunes State Park. As someone who has lived here all my life, I didn’t know there was a shipwreck so close to the beach I frequent every summer. It so happens that in 1911 the J.D. Marshall overturned and sank during a sudden storm just three city blocks due north of the Beach Pavilion. The ship is approximately 195 feet long and located under about 30 feet of water. In 2013, the state declared the shipwreck Indiana’s first underwater Nature Preserve.
Of course, divers need to be certified and equipped to dive in unpredictable Lake Michigan. Additionally, shore diving is not allowed from the State Park beach. In order to dive this site, you will need to contact a local dive shops to organize a boat trip.
Not a diver? A few pieces of the ship can be seen on dry land. Most notably, the massive propeller is on display on the southeast side of the Beach Pavilion. You can also learn more about the shipwreck and its history at the State Park Nature Center.
9. Yoga on the beach
Want to get your zen on? The Indiana Dunes State Park and Bleu Lotus Yoga offer a unique opportunity to practice with the sand between your toes and the waves crashing in the background. During the summer months, visitors can join instructors from Bleu Lotus Yoga for an hour practice on Thursdays at 9:30AM or Fridays at 7:00PM. These sessions cost $10 ($1 for mat rental) and take place near the lifeguard station to the west of the beach pavilion.
10. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding
After the summer beach crowds disperse and the fall colors disappear, the Indiana Dunes State Park certainly does not close up shop. Winter activities abound. The wooded trails turn into a winter wonderland and can be used for cross-country skiing. The Nature Center continues to offer their weekly programs, but instead of interpretive hikes, rangers lead guests on snow shoeing adventures. And those huge dunes the kids rolled down in the summer? They turn into the fastest, steepest sledding hills in the area. Winter certainly brings about a new, exciting set of activities not to be missed in Dunes Country.
11. History Comes Alive Weekend
While the focus of the Indiana Dunes State Park may be outdoor activities, the park also has a historical side. Before Indiana was settled by people of European origins, this part of the state was an important center for fur trading. To educate visitors about this interesting history, the park offers an annual History Comes Alive Weekend in early September. Activities include history hikes, archery lessons, and fur trader reenactments on the beach.
12. Watch the sunset
This may be the simplest of these things to do, but it’s my favorite. I’ve traveled many places and have never found a sunset I like better than a Lake Michigan sunset. From the beach, the sun always sets over the water, but during the early summer months, the sun performs a dazzling show and sets behind the Chicago skyline often visible across the lake. Any season, however, brings a beautiful array of colors, creating a nightly light show not to be missed.
Photo courtesy of Elliot Pelling
General Information
Telephone numbers: Park office: 219-926-1952. Nature Center: 219-926-1390.
Website: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/6711.htm
Hours: 7AM-11PM daily.
Fees: Entrance fees collected daily through early November. $4.00 in-state weekday, $5.00 in-state weekend, $10.00 out of state vehicles.
Lodging: Camping is available at the state park year round. Electric with modern restrooms.
Have you been to the Indiana Dunes State Park? What did you think? What are some of your favorite activities? Please let us know in the comments below.
P.S. Check out this post on the Weekend Wanderlust Link-up!
I definitely learned something new by reading this article. I had no idea that there was a sunken ship off the shores of Lake Michigan right here in Indiana. Camping at the “dunes” is wonderful. The facilities and the entire camp ground was updated very nicely and number of years ago. This makes camping so nice for us not so willing to rough-it!
Keep up the good work on this blog. I am really enjoying its’ read.
Thank you! Learning about the various ship wrecks in Indiana has been really interesting for me. There is also a ship wreck just out from Mt. Baldy. I’m sure we have been over it in the boat before and never knew it was there.
The 3 Dune Challenge is a great hike for so many. The views are so beautiful, and breath taking. The Challenge gives you a great physical challenge and rewards you with sites at the top of each dune that more than pay you back for you efforts. After my wife and I completed the challenge we felt a feeling of accomplishment and blessed to see such beauty through out the entire hike. For anyone wanting to take the challenge, they should be well prepared for the hike, and understand the physical challenge that will be faced by taking this hike. I would not recommend anyone with extreme health ailments or physical handicaps attempting this challenge without at least consulting with a physician before taking on such challenges. Remember that walking in sand alone is more of a work out than walking on solid ground. Although the trail is only 1.5 miles, the grades on the trails vary. The grades range from 31% incline to 43% incline on the 3 dunes, and small grades on the trail itself creating a much more challenging 1.5 miles. Make sure to pack drinks to keep hydrated, a snack, a cell phone, and items recommend while hiking for your safety. I personally recommend any one taking a hike should have a partner with them, or at least let people know what you intend to do and what trails before embarking on the hike. The National Lake Shore is a must see for so many reasons. Great work on this and I enjoyed learning more about such a great place. I cant wait to see more of you adventures.
Thank you Michael! Definitely some great safety tips. Hiking the dunes is hard work and not for everyone. I don’t know if I could complete the 3 Dune Challenge, but I am sure it is worth all the effort!
wow! thanks for the insights about scuba diving in Indiana Dunes – never would have known!
~christina
http://www.currentlyexploring.com
If you are in the area and do dive there, let me know how it is. I am new to diving and still harbor a significant fear of fish (especially those ugly fresh water fish!). Consequently, I haven’t yet had the courage to sign up for the dive myself.
By the way, I love how shiny and pretty your blog is. If you need any tips for SE Asia next year, let me know.
aww thank you so much! many many hours but well worth it. 🙂
will definitely pop you a note on here when I make my way SE Asia, thanks!
cheers~
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It looks like such a beautiful place! The 3 Dune Challenge sounds really cool. Thanks so much for linking up with #WeekendWanderlust! 🙂
Thank you very much! I hope you can visit someday.