Indiana Dunes State Park
Sand, shore, and the space to breathe—over 2,000 acres of it! This isn’t your run of the mill state park, it’s a place shaped by thousands of years of shifting landscapes and Hoosier history. Since 1925, Indiana Dunes State Park has been wowing visitors with its natural terrain, three-miles of dune-lined shores, and a diverse range of flora and fauna. Splash around in Lake Michigan, bound up towering sand dunes, or explore beautiful trails on foot or on your bike. Escape the mundane on these storied shores.
Three more reasons to get outside. Put on your fitness tracker and discover the ultimate outdoor adventure. Grab your friends, family members, or pets, and take on this challenging hike up the…
Named one of the best places to hike in Indiana by USA Today, Trail 9 at the Indiana Dunes State Park offers incredible vistas and towering sand dunes that make you feel a thousand miles away.
Join Ranger Matt in our Dunes 101 Series to explore everything you need to know about the Indiana Dunes, including how to make the most out of your beach experience, where to camp, and the…
Unplug from everyday stress and connect to nature with over 70 miles of hike-able trails, 15 miles of swim-able coastline, and over 350 species of migratory birds.
Be the change by getting more involved with the Indiana Dunes! There are many no-hassle, volunteer drop-in opportunities available for everyone. Just show up, and the organization provides the…
Indiana Dunes Events
View All EventsConnections: New Objects on Display
- Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
- Recurring daily
Take a closer look. Gathered throughout the PoCo Muse are pairs of objects that speak to each other in surprising…
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…
Duneland School Corporation Student Exhibition @ Chesterton Art Center
- Chesterton Art Center
- Recurring daily
Chesterton Art Center welcomes our Duneland students, families, and community to this annual exhibition tradition…
Exhibit Opening: New Era Guitars: Making Music in the Dunes
- Westchester Township History Museum
- Recurring daily
Born and raised in Northwest Indiana, Tony Klassen was a talented artist, furniture builder, and guitar maker. He…
Lowenstine WWII Roll of Honor
- Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
- Recurring daily
In November 1943, members of the Charles Pratt Post #94 of the American Legion had an idea to erect a memorial on…
Meet the Animals - Sunset Hill Farm
- Sunset Hill Farm County Park
- Recurring weekly on Friday, Saturday
Come meet our farm animals and their caregivers. Our animals include sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and bunnies…
Open Ice Skating under the Urschel Pavilion
- Recurring daily
Grab your friends, bring the kids, snag your spouse and come out to skate at the William E. Urschel Pavilion. Open…
Open Paint - Bath Bomb Painting Workshop
Come by anytime while we're open this day and paint as many bath bombs as you'd like! Cost: $10 per bath bomb. All…
Opportunity Enterprises Student Exhibition @ The Art Barn School of Art
- Art Barn School of Art. Inc.
- Recurring daily
Art Barn is thrilled to partner with Opportunity Enterprises (OE), well established in the community for providing…
Photographs from Academy of Music Block Fire
- Recurring daily
In February 1926, Valparaiso's Academy of Music Vlock at the southwest corner of Lincolnway and Washington Street…
The Path That Ventures Within: Inspirations Found Along Indiana Dunes Trails
- Porter County Museum (PoCo Muse)
- Recurring daily
Taken along the crisscrossing trails of the Indiana Dunes, the color photographs of Herb Barghusen (1933-2015)…
Tour the American Factory @ Journeyman Distillery
- Recurring daily
Visit the new distillery, brewery, and production floor to learn the process of our grain-to-glass spirits, and the…
Valparaiso Fire History Activity
- Recurring daily
A self-guided fire history tour around the Courthouse Square.
Westchester Township History Museum - Permanent Exhibit
- Westchester Township History Museum
- Recurring daily
The permanent exhibit highlights local history from prehistoric times to today. Temporary exhibits celebrate…
Chellberg Farm Open House
- Recurring weekly on Saturday
Stop by the historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse and visit the animals. Rangers and volunteers will be on…
Tales from the Dunes
Read All StoriesOur Favorite Reasons to Explore the Discovery Trail
- 2 minute read
Less than an hour from Chicago, nestled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, is an extraordinary place—the Indiana Dunes. While it might be best known for its fifteen miles of…
Discovering Snowshoeing in the Indiana Dunes National Park
- 3 minute read
Once the Indiana Dunes area is blanketed in a few inches of snow, you'll start to see people traversing the parks' trails on snowshoes. I've lived near the Indiana Dunes nearly…
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
- 5 minute read
It’s December, and I find myself singing along to all the holiday songs on the radio and playing in the stores. That song about walking in a winter wonderland sure is a fun one to…
More Things to See & Do
Outdoor Adventures
Shaped by nature, made for adventure. In the Indiana Dunes, it’s all about fun times and tan lines—from…
Dunes Deals
Shake off the sand south of the Indiana Dunes! Dig up real savings with Indiana Dunes Deals and make the most of…
Indiana Dunes Shop
Don’t just experience the Indiana Dunes; take it home with you. Find your new favorite T-shirt, hoodie, or…
Pet Friendly
There’s a reason Indiana Dunes National Park was named the #1 pet-friendly attraction in the state of Indiana…
Arts & Entertainment
It’s not all sand-fringed lakes and epic sunsets. Here, you’ll find a vibrant arts scene stoked by a…
Volunteer
Be the Change — Volunteer! Get more involved with the Indiana Dunes!
Book a Place to Stay
Bed & Breakfasts
Feel like family with intimate accommodations that range from nature-inspired retreats in the woods…
Hotels & Inns
A convenient stay located near downtown? What about a country retreat heaped in Old World charm? Or…