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Cowles Bog is one of the most important areas of Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s located north of the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm area.
History
Cowles Bog is where Henry C. Cowles did his pioneering work on plant ecology and succession in the late 1890s and early 1900s. It has such a great diversity of plants that it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965 – a year before the park was established.
Cowles Bog Trail
A rugged 4.7 mile trail leads hikers through several different habitats, including marshes, swamps, black oak savannas, and a beach. It’s a good idea to take insect repellent because the biting flies are brutal!
There are trailheads at two different parking lots off Mineral Springs Road. They both run just under a mile to the main loop trail. I started from the north parking lot.
Main Loop
When I got to the main loop, I took it counterclockwise, which is the recommended direction.It begins with a hike through a black oak savanna and between interdunal ponds.
Next is a steep climb up a dune. At the top there are spectacular views of Lake Michigan. On a clear day, you can see the Chicago skyline in the distance.
When you make it down to the beach, you can relax, have a snack, and maybe take a dip in the water. Chances are you’ll have the entire beach to yourself. The only thing to ruin the scenery is the steel mill just to the west.
After I finished resting, I started hiking back up the dune and back through the black oak savanna. I eventually came to a wetland that gave Cowles Bog its name. It’s not, however, an actual bog. It’s a fen because it has an underground water source. The fen was formed over 8,000 years ago.
