Each spring, a sea of colorful wildflowers washes across the landscape of the Indiana Dunes. If you time your visit just right, you’ll be treated to one of the most beloved wildflower displays in the region: wild lupines in bloom.
What are Lupines?
Lupines are native, nitrogen-fixing wildflowers that thrive in sandy soils and open woodlands. Their tall displays of soft blue-purple flowers not only brighten the trails—they also play a vital role in the ecosystem. Lupines play a vital role in supporting butterflies and pollinators. Most notably, they’re the only plant the endangered Karner blue butterfly uses as food. Sadly, this butterfly has gone extinct in the Indiana Dunes area.
Lupine Locations
So, where can you catch this floral show each May? Here are three must-see spots:
Miller Woods (Paul H. Douglas Center Trail)
You'll find lupines on the trails of Miller Woods in the Indiana Dunes National Park. Begin your journey at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, where you'll find interpretive displays and helpful rangers. From there, hit the trail and keep your eyes open—patches of wild lupine blanket the dunes and oak savannas in early to mid-May.
West Beach (Long Lake Trail Loop)
West Beach is another excellent place in the Indiana Dunes National Park to spot blooming lupines, especially along the Long Lake Trail Loop. This scenic, lesser-trafficked trail winds through open dunes and wetlands, offering a more peaceful and equally rewarding lupine-viewing experience. The combination of golden sand, vivid blooms, and Lake Michigan breezes makes for a truly unforgettable hike.
Kankakee Sands
Just a short drive from the dunes, Kankakee Sands in nearby Newton County offers a spectacular lupine display in its open prairie fields. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, this restored landscape is also home to one of the most unexpected springtime sightings: a herd of more than 100 bison grazing in the tallgrass prairie. Wild lupine flourishes here among other native blooms, and the wide-open skies make it a favorite for both photographers and nature lovers.
Tips for Your Lupine Adventure
-
Peak bloom typically occurs in early to mid-May, but check trail updates or call the visitor center for current conditions.
-
Stay on marked trails to protect delicate habitats (and avoid stepping on future blooms!).
-
Don't pick lupine or any other wildflowers. The Indiana Dunes is home to over 1,900 species, and they need each other to thrive.
-
Bring a camera—sunlight filtering through the dunes and woodlands makes for incredible photos.
-
If you're lucky, you might spot butterflies and birds enjoying the blooms right alongside you.
Whether you’re a wildflower enthusiast or simply looking for a reason to get outside, don’t miss the chance to see lupines in full bloom across the Indiana Dunes region. Nature doesn’t send save-the-dates—so lace up your boots and catch the magic while it lasts.
A Note of Wonder
Naturalist and writer Henry David Thoreau once marveled at a hillside covered in lupines, writing:
“The lupine is now in its glory… It paints a whole hillside with its blue, making such a field (if not meadow) as Proserpine might have wandered in... Such a profusion of the heavenly, the elysian, color, as if these were the Elysian Fields… The earth is blued with them.”
As you walk the trails this season, keep an eye out—not just for the blooms themselves, but for the quiet magic they bring to the landscape.
The Indiana Dunes is one of the most biodiverse national parks in the entire country. Over 1,100 flowering plant species and ferns make their homes here. How many flowers can YOU find?
