Indiana Dunes National Park
Guide

If you're celebrating a birthday, having a get together, or just spending time with your family or friends, Indiana Dunes is the perfect place to go. They have many picnic shelters available by reservation or on a first come, first served basis. Each picnic shelter comes with a grill, or you can bring your own.

If the picnic shelters are all taken, there are picnic tables available in other areas of the park as well. And if those are taken - no worries! Grab a blanket and take your picnic to the beach.

Indiana Dunes is situated along 15 miles of southern Lake Michigan, meaning during the summer time, you'll have plenty of beach options to keep you occupied. All but one of the eight beaches has free parking, so get there early, as they fill up quickly - especially on the weekends.

Indiana Dunes has a plethora of trail options, with 14 established trail systems and over 50 miles of hiking available.

Each of the trail systems will take you through a unique habitat and cultural history of Indiana Dunes National Park. You'll have many options to choose from to customize your experience, not only by scenery but also by length and difficulty. Most of the trails are open all year, so if you don't get to them all, you can always take another trip back.

Indiana Dunes's location at the southern tip of Lake Michigan makes it a unique area for bird-watchers. The lake influences the migration patterns of birds, so during fall migration, you'll see plenty of birds following the shoreline on their journey southward. Additionally, many wintering birds are attracted to the open water and shoreline.

If you're an avid birder, you'll be able to see migrating hawks, waterfowl, or wetland birds in the Great Marsh area. It's an excellent place, regardless of whether you're a beginner or expert, and if you're heading there in May, you might even catch the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival! Make sure to bring all of your winter year, though, as the Midwest winters can get dangerously cold.

Snowshoeing is also allowed on the Glenwood Dunes and Tolleston Dunes Trail Systems. Bring your own snowshoes, and as always, check the weather and trail conditions before you go out on the trail. Snowshoers are asked to travel to the side of the cross-country ski tracks. This is especially important, as the trails are not groomed, so snowshoeing through could ruin the trail for others.

During the winter, the Glenwood Dunes and Tolleston Dunes Trail Systems are converted into winter trails, available for cross-country skiing. The park does not offer rentals, however, so if you're heading there in the winter-time, make sure you bring your own gear. Additionally, the trails are not groomed by the park, so call ahead to assess the trail conditions before heading out. In these trails, you'll find a variety of options, ranging from one-mile to 15-mile loops.