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The Heron Rookery Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park follows a portion of the Little Calumet River. The main east parking lot is located in Michigan City while the west parking lot is in Chesterton.
The Trail
The Heron Rookery Trail is a 1.6 mile one-way trail along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 great blue heron nests. The herons nested there for over 60 years but have found new nesting grounds elsewhere. Keep in mind that the trail consists of packed dirt and clay, which means it could be slippery after it rains.
Although the herons have moved on, it’s still a great place for birdwatching and a nice pleasant place to hike. It’s possible to spot kingfishers, woodpeckers, warblers, and several other migrating birds.
The best time to hike the trail is in spring, when countless types of wildflowers are in bloom. It’s also possible to fish in spring and fall, when trout and salmon make spawning runs into the river from Lake Michigan.
