Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fifteen miles of Lake Michigan beach backed by tall, wandering sand dunes, with bogs, oak savanna and prairie tucked behind them. This small park packs in one of the richest mixes of plant life in the whole park system, and it was here that scientists first studied how dunes turn into forest. Spend the morning on a dune trail and the afternoon on the beach. On clear days you can see the Chicago skyline across the water.
TRAILS
1 OF 6
Dune Succession Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
0.9 mi loop
Elevation gain
150 ft
West Beach · West Beach parking — This loop walks you through time: from bare beach to grassy foredunes, then up long wooden stairs into pine and oak forest on older dunes. The view from the top of the stairs stretches over the lake toward Chicago. Add the longer West Beach loops for a 3.4-mile outing. Go early on summer weekends, when the lot fills.
Photo: Indianadunes, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 6
Cowles Bog Trail
Difficulty
Hard
Length
4.7 mi
Elevation gain
300 ft
Central · Cowles Bog trailhead — Our favorite longer hike in the park. The trail skirts marsh and wet woods, climbs over steep wooded dunes, and drops to a quiet stretch of beach before looping back. The bog area is a National Natural Landmark, named for the scientist who studied dune change here. Bring water; the sandy climbs take more effort than the miles suggest.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 6
Mount Baldy Beach Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
0.75 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
Michigan City · Mount Baldy parking — Mount Baldy is a living dune that creeps inland a few feet each year, burying trees as it goes. This short trail wraps around its side and drops down loose sand to a wide, sunny beach. The walk back up the sand is the hard part. Plan to linger for sunset over the lake.
⚠︎ The summit of Mount Baldy is open only on ranger-led hikes. Stay on the marked trail.
Photo: Indianadunes, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 6
Paul H. Douglas Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
3.4 mi
Elevation gain
50 ft
Miller Woods · Paul H. Douglas Center — An out-and-back walk through rare black oak savanna, past ponds and over open dunes to a quiet beach in Gary. In late spring, wild lupine blooms blue under the oaks. The trail is narrow, so stay in single file to avoid poison ivy and the fragile plants. Little elevation, but soft sand in places.
Photo: Visviva, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 6
Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm
Difficulty
Easy
Length
3.4 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
Porter · Bailly/Chellberg parking — A gentle walk through woods and prairie linking an early fur-trading homestead with a Swedish family farm from the 1880s. Barnyard animals, an old red barn and a creek make it a hit with kids. Add the Little Calumet River section for wooded bluffs. Shady and pleasant on hot days.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 6
Pinhook Bog
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.9 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Inland · Pinhook Bog trailhead — A true glacial bog, floating on a mat of sphagnum moss, with pitcher plants, sundews and tamaracks. A boardwalk crosses the bog, but you can only go in with park staff. The nearby Upland Trail, 2.1 miles through the woods, is open any time. Call ahead for open-house dates.
⚠︎ The bog boardwalk requires a ranger escort. Look for summer weekend open houses.
Photo: Jay Sturner from USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Indiana Dunes trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.