Alice Mabel Gray left her conventional life in Chicago to settle in a crude shack along Indiana’s wild Lake Michigan shore. Here, she became known as Diana of the Dunes.
Experience the four stages of dune development within this National Park trail's one-mile length. This scenic, but strenuous, trail includes a spectacular view of Lake Michigan and Chicago.
The Diana Dunes Dare is just an hour drive from Chicago.
Start Here
Your adventure begins at the National Park’s West Beach
How to Complete the Dare
- Go to West Beach
Visit Indiana Dunes National Park’s West Beach, located off U.S. Highway 12, at 376 N. County Line Rd., Gary, IN 46403. - Hike the Trail
Dare to Be Different? Then step into the past and embrace the Dunes. Walk in Alice Mabel Gray’s (Diana’s) footsteps while learning about Dune Succession. - Share Your Dare
Stop at the West Beach Bathhouse to take a selfie in front of our Diana of the Dunes selfie station and post using #DianaDunesDare. - Get Your Badge of Honor
Visit either the Paul H. Douglas Center or the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center for a free sticker.
Celebrate Your Accomplishment
Stop by the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center or the Paul H. Douglas Center to get your free Diana of the Dunes sticker.
You can also buy a T-shirt or hoodie—you’ve earned it!
Amazing Amphibians @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Join the naturalist in the Nature Center auditorium for a chat about which amphibians call the dunes home. Great…
Carlos Ramos LIVE @ Leroy's Hot Stuff
Enjoy a great dinner and listen to Carlos Ramos LIVE. This event is for 21+—time: 7:00 pm to midnight.
Connections: Take a Closer Look - Permanent Exhibit
- Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
- Recurring daily
Gathered throughout the PoCo Muse are pairs of objects that speak to each other in surprising ways. The objects may…
Costume Party @ Cheers in Chesterton
Come rock out with us, in costume, to some classic tunes everyone can enjoy! Time: 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
EXPANDED Gigantic Indoor Garage Sale
The Bargain Hunter's Fantasy Returns! You will find 3 interconnected buildings with over 32,000 square feet packed…
Fall Colors Hike @ Indiana Dunes National Park - CANCELED
BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED Meander through a color-swept forest with a ranger…
Family Karaoke with DJD @ Social Goat
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Every Saturday from 7:00-11;00 p.m. All ages are welcome! Anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by someone…
Family Karoke with DJD @ Social Goat
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Every Saturday from 7:00-11:00 p.m. All ages are welcome! Anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by someone…
Guided Museum Tours at the PoCo Muse
- Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Would you like more insight and detail about the exhibits currently on display at the Porter County Museum? Stop by…
Halloween Party! @ Cheers in Chesterton
Come on out to Cheers to Celebrate Halloween! Costume Contest, Drink Specials, and LIVE MUSIC by The Big Splash…
Hebron’s Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot Now Open
- Stagecoach Inn & Panhandle Depot
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
We are thrilled to partner with Hebron Parks & Recreation to offer regular public hours at the historic…
Impressiones: Prints by Ramiro Rodriguez @ Chesterton Art Center
- Chesterton Art Center (CAC)
- Recurring daily
September 4–November 1, 2025 Impresiones is a solo exhibition showcasing fourteen years of work by Ramiro…
Keytar Jeff LIVE @ Speakeasy at the Spa
Get ready for a night of music, food, and fun as Keytar Jeff brings his high-energy performance to Speakeasy at the…
Live Music @ Four Corners Winery
- Four Corners Winery and Wedding Venue
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Saturday
Join us every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-4:00 p.m. for live music.
Living History: WWII, Poco Muse
Our band of living-history interpreters will bring their immersive historical displays to the north lawn of the…
