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West Beach is the most popular area of Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s located just east of the Miller area of Gary, Indiana.
West Beach
This beautiful beach on Lake Michigan has been named one of the country’s top beaches for families as well as one of the best freshwater beaches. Beautiful sand, clear water, and great views of the lake are its best features. The only negative is the view of the steel mills.
There are plenty of interpretive panels at the beach as well as a plaque dedicated to Paul H. Douglas, the US Senator from Illinois who was instrumental in the creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966 (redesignated Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019).
Trail System
West Beach also has some of the best representative trails at the dunes. The trail system runs for 3.4 miles on three different loops. Trails are listed as easy to strenuous with an average hiking time of 45 minutes to 2 ½ hours.
Dune Succession Trail
The first loop is the Dune Succession Trail. It’s just over ½ mile long and shows the four stages of dune development. It starts with a steep walk up a 250 stair boardwalk. At the top are sweeping views of Lake Michigan, the surrounding landscape, and on a clear day, the Chicago skyline in the distance.
The trail goes through a forest and also passes by some jack pines. These are the southernmost jack pines in the world, thanks to the work of glaciers transporting seeds so far south.
After passing through the forest, the trail continues over sand dunes until it reaches the beach.
A short walk on the beach takes you past the bathhouse then a blowout. Wind often creates bowls in the dunes, sometimes reaching the water table underneath. When water collects in the bowl, it creates a panne, which attracts a fragile community of plants and animals.
West Beach Trail
The second loop is the West Beach Trail, which is a 1.2 mile loop trail through an area that was mined for sand in the 1920s. The flat areas of the trail are a result of that mining.
The West Beach Trail is being restored as an oak savanna and has prickly pear cactus along the way. There’s also a viewing platform next to Long Lake. It’s a great place for bird watching.
Long Lake Trail
A third trail, the Long Lake Loop Trail, is a moderate 1.7 mile trail along Long Lake and through the dunes. The first quarter of the trail is much like the West Beach Trail, following the edge of a forest. It then crosses the road and climbs a wooden staircase to an observation deck with excellent views of Long Lake.
The trail continues along a ridge high above the lake, where it’s possible to spot all types of birds including herons and ducks. It then cuts back across the road and runs through the forest to complete the loop.
