Five Amazing Things To Do in the Indiana Dunes State Park and National Park

Jul 16, 2023

Once a popular beach destination with the locals, the Indiana Dunes has been adopted as one of the US’s newest National Parks! Located along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor thrills and activities here. From exploring the sand dunes to hiking the trails to biking and bird watching, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast. Let’s take a look at some of the top attractions and activities to try while you’re there!

Have you been to the Indiana Dunes National or State Parks? Tell us about your favorite things to see or trails to hike in the comments!

First, some notes:

Indiana boasts 45 miles of shoreline along southern Lake Michigan; the Indiana Dunes encompass 15 miles of National Park Land and more than 3 miles in the State Park. As of March 2022, there is an entrance fee of $25 to enter any National Park site, and it’s valid for 7 days once purchased. You can also opt for yearly passes.

When entering the Indiana Dunes State Park, vehicles with Indiana License Plates will pay a $7 fee; all other cars pay $12 daily entrance fee.

You’ll want to make sure you check in at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center to pick up a Park Map, check for any trail/road closures, ask for suggestions and directions from the guides, get your “National Park Stamp”, and check out the educational short films.

What to check out while you’re there:

Diana of the Dunes Dare and Dunes Succession Trail – On this hike you’ll choose from a 0.9 mile loop or a 3.4 mile option depending on your personal preference and time constraints. The trail is not for the faint of heart, as it includes a fair amount of stair climbing (270 steps!) as well as trudging through sand. It’s one of the best hikes in the Dunes, though, and a great opportunity to explore nature as well as the local history of Alice Gray, known as Diana of the Duns. If you can make it, though, you’ll be rewarded with an impressive lookout over the southern shore of Lake Michigan.

Paul H Douglas Trail Hike – This trail option takes you through Miller Woods, where you’ll experience multiple ecosystems such as an Oak Savannah, Wetlands, and Shoreline Beach. It’s absolutely gorgeous in the lake spring and early summer, when the area is not only lush and green but carpeted in truly spectacular Lupine Blossoms!

West Beach – It may be the most visited beach in Indiana Dunes NAtional Park, but it truly is popular for a reason. It’s a very wide swathe of shoreline with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. There’s also a posted lifeguard in the Summer months, as well as a bathhouse and top tier facilities.
Explore the Bailly Homestead National Historic Landmark and Chellberg Farm – This trail allows you to visit two historic sites in one fell swoop.Once the home of Joseph Bailly de Messein, a fur trader and one of the first settlers in the region whose trading post served as a meeting point for those traveling between Detroit and Chicago. The trail here is about 2.5 miles, leading you past the homestead and cemetery and through the forests and on to the farm. You’ll follow a stretch of the Little Calumet River, and check out the recently restored Mnoke Prairie! The Chellberg Family were swedish immigrants who farmed the land from 1870 through the early 1900s. It’s a live working farm, and you can also enjoy tours!

Walk along Lake Front Drive and experience the Century of Progress Homes – These 5 historic homes were originally built for the Chicago World’s Fair (1933). While interior tours are only available for the homes on very specific dates, you can still appreciate the view and check them out from the outside. You’ll see the Cypress Log Cabin, The House of Tomorrow, Florida Tropical, Armco Ferro, and the Wieboldt-Rostone House. Each house was built to reflect the “Century of Progress”, featuring modern appliances, innovative new materials, and new construction processes and techniques. They were relocated from the fairgrounds to the Northwest Indiana shoreline by barge, and have been going through restoration thanks to private funding and a partnership with Indiana Landmarks.