There are over 16 miles of trails at Indiana Dunes State Park. All of the trails pass through the Dunes Nature Preserve, which was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.
Indiana Dunes State Park is the older sister of the Indiana Dunes National Park. Founded in 1925 after years of efforts by conservationists, the park is surrounded on three sides by the National Park and by Lake Michigan to the north. It consists of 2,182 acres of natural landscape a few miles north of the town of Chesterton.
West Beach is the most popular area of Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s located just east of the Miller area of Gary, Indiana.
NOTE: The Valparaiso Fire Museum is permanently closed.
The Valparaiso Fire Museum is a great place to learn about the history of firefighting. It’s outside the downtown area but worth a visit.
The Glenwood Dunes Trail is a horse and hiking trail at Indiana Dunes National Park. It was formerly known as the Ly-Co-Ki-We Trail and sits south of Indiana Dunes State Park.
Indiana Dunes National Park is located in Northwest Indiana and spread out over several different sites along Lake Michigan and inland.
The Little Calumet River Trail is one of the best trails at Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s located near Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm in Porter, Indiana.
Porter is a small town in Indiana adjacent to Chesterton. It has some of the most important historic sites in Northwest Indiana.
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.
Pinhook Bog is quite possibly the most interesting section of Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s got an incredible natural history and outstanding plant biodiversity. Pinhook Bog was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965 – a year before the park was established.