Indiana Dunes National Park Basics

Last updated on August 27, 2024.

Indiana Dunes National Park is located in Northwest Indiana and spread out over several different sites along Lake Michigan and inland.

History

The Indiana Dunes were a point of controversy for several years before the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established. Conservationists were working to preserve this area on the southern shore of Lake Michigan while industrialists and the state of Indiana preferred expanding industry by replacing the dunes with steel mills and jobs. On November 5, 1966, after years of help from Illinois Senator Paul Douglas, both parties got their wish. The national lakeshore was set aside as well as land for another steel mill. The site became a national park on February 5, 2019.

Biological Diversity

More than just sand dunes and beaches, the unique and fragile environment of the Indiana Dunes is home to one of the most biologically diverse areas of the United States. It’s only 15,000 acres of land, but it ranks 7th in biodiversity out of all the national parks in the entire country.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is located north of Chesterton along Indiana State Road 49. Here, there are displays on the park and rangers available to give more information. You can learn about special guided programs, park closures, and much more.

Entrance Pass

Due to surging popularity of the park, the National Park Service began requiring an entrance pass or receipt starting March 31, 2022. The entrance fee to Indiana Dunes National Park is US$25 per vehicle (as of August 2024) or US$15 for walk-in/bike-in/or boat-in. Passes are good for seven days and are sold year-round at the Visitor Center and the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education at Miller Woods, and seasonally at West Beach. Additionally, the entrance fees are covered by all interagency passes. You can also opt to purchase an Indiana Dunes National Park Annual Pass for US$45 (as of August 2024).

My Connection to the Dunes

The Indiana Dunes are a special place for me. I remember going there on school field trips and to the beaches in the summer with friends and family. For me, they are an easy escape from the real world. Parts of them are a place of solitude and reflection. Others draw inspiration. Others yet are just plain fun and evoke memories.

After thoroughly exploring the park, hiking nearly every trail, and visiting every beach, I’m putting some posts together to show what the dunes have to offer. I’ll explain everything I know about the park’s locations. Not included is Indiana Dunes State Park, which is a completely separate park enveloped by the national park.

Tips

Some tips for visiting the Indiana Dunes National Park:

• Wear sunscreen.
• Take lots of strong bug spray! Remember that this is mostly marsh and forest. Mosquitoes, biting flies, and other insects will feast on you if you aren’t prepared.
• When swimming, beware of the dangerous undertow that can exist in Lake Michigan. Don’t fight it! Signs at the beaches tell you how to deal with it if you are caught in the current.
• Leave it as you found it. Take all of your garbage with you and don’t wander off the trails. This is a fragile environment and much of it no longer exists in nature.

My top five trails: