Ready for a workout with bragging rights? Tackle the 3 Dune Challenge, a steep 1.5-mile hike up the three tallest dunes in Indiana Dunes State Park with 552 feet of elevation gain.
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.
Watch Ranger Matt's Dunes 101 videos to learn everything you need to know about the Indiana Dunes, including how to have the best beach experience, where to camp, and which trail to hike.
State Park Views
We love our outdoor spaces and many are fragile habitats that need to be protected! Learn how to visit the Indiana Dunes sustainably with these eco-friendly travel tips.
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?
Amazing Amphibians @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Leap over to the Nature Center auditorium to learn the identification and adaptations of our local frogs and…
Wetland Wander @ Indiana Dunes State Park
On this short walk across our marsh to Dunes Creek, you will see up close what small plants and animals call our…
Wild Edibles Hike @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Meet at the West Lot parking lot to travel the steps up to Trail 3. While hiking through the Dunes Prairie Nature…
Critter Dinner @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Monday
Hop, slither, or turtle trot to the Nature Center’s Auditorium to see our resident reptiles and amphibians eat their…
JD Marshall Shipwreck History Hike @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Tuesday
Come for a 1.5-mile flat walk from the Nature Center to the beach and back, describing one of Lake Michigan’s…
Beach Mysteries Hike @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park
- Recurring weekly on Thursday
Come along for this moderate hike to the beach and back. Visitors will learn to identify the mysteries that wash up…
SSSSSSSnakes Alive @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Slither to the Nature Center to see some of our snakes up close and learn more about these misunderstood creatures…
Beach Clean Up @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Warm summer days full of beach activity are just around the corner. Along with the fun times, will come the need to…
Crazy Legs Running & Friends of the Dunes Beach Clean-up @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Crazy Legs Race Series and the Friends of the Indiana Dunes are joining to clean the beach this summer. Please join…
Frog and Toad and Salamander Too! @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Leap over to the Nature Center auditorium to learn the identification and adaptations of our local amphibians at…
JD Marshall Shipwreck History Hike @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Come for a 1.5-mile flat walk from the Nature Center to the beach and back, describing one of Lake Michigan’s…
Annual Sand Sculpture Contest
- Indiana Dunes State Park
- Recurring on the 2nd Saturday of July
Watch the sand sculptures come alive at the Indiana Dunes State Park! Each July, sculpting groups compete by molding…
Indiana Dunes Beach Clean Up
We are back for beach clean-ups in 2024 partnering with the Friends of the Indiana Dunes. We will meet at the…
Beach Clean Up - Indiana Dunes State Park
Warm summer days full of beach activity are just around the corner. Along with the fun times, will come the need to…
NW Indiana Storytelling Festival
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring daily
Friday, October 17th 7:00pm-8:00pm: “Campfire Stories & Sweet Treats” Northwest Indiana Storytellers celebrate…
More than just a hiking trail, this interactive experience will weave the culture of the Miami and Potawatomi Indigenous Peoples with the natural ecology of the Indiana Dunes.
You’re invited to help be a part of preserving and protecting the Indiana Dunes by volunteering during your visit. All you have to do is show up! How’s that for easy?!
Learn about a few ways you can explore the outdoors responsibly while ensuring that its beauty and resources are maintained for future generations.
Where to See Lupines in the Indiana Dunes
- 3 minute read
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…
Our Guide to The 3 Dune Challenge
- 3 minute read
The 3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park offers a fun way to explore the region’s stunning landscapes. This celebrated 1.5-mile trail takes hikers up Indiana’s three…
Celebrate Summer with Outdoor Movies in Valparaiso
- 1 minute read
Valparaiso Events’ Summer Outdoor Movies series takes place in June and July of 2025, with a showing of the family favorite Zootopia at Central Park Plaza, home to Northwest Health…
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…
Drop-in Volunteering
Be the Change — Volunteer! Get more involved with the Indiana Dunes!
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…