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 park’s three tallest dunes.
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?
Beach Mysteries Hike @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Meet at the Nature Center for this moderate 2-mile trek along Trail 7 to the beach and back. Along the way, you will…
JD Marshall Shipwreck @ Indiana Dunes State Park
It will be the Naturalist’s choice! Learn about the state park’s shipwreck on a 1.5-mile flat hike or a chat in the…
Nature Center's Snowshoe Rentals @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park
- Recurring daily
Daily this winter from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thanks to the Friends of the Indiana Dunes, the state park’s Nature…
Feed the Birds B-I-N-G-O @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Join the Naturalist at the Nature Center to help fill all the bird feeders and play this fun game at our bird…
Salamander Gander @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Come see our short-legged long-tailed amphibian friends at the Nature Center. Then we will head out for a short walk…
Critter Dinner @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Monday
Hop, slither, or turtle trot on over to the Nature Center’s Auditorium to see our resident reptiles and amphibians…
Ssssssssnakes @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Slither over to the Nature Center to learn all about the snakes that call the Indiana Dunes home. This is your…
Owl Pellet Investigation @ Indiana Dunes State Park
With a Naturalist, in the Nature Center’s auditorium, use your investigative skills to uncover what an owl had for…
Scatology 101 @ Indiana Dunes State Park
Meet at the Nature Center for an easy hike where you will become a nature detective and get the scoop on poop in…
Spring Saunter @ Indiana Dunes State Park
It’s National Take a Walk in a Park Day! Meet the Naturalist at the Nature Center for a stroll through the Dunes in…
Sail Away into Lake Michigan's Future
The Lake Michigan Restoration Project. Porter, LaPorte, and Calumet area League of Women Voters are offering Sail…
Youth & Family Birding Day
This is a fun-filled day with something for everyone! As a part of the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, there will be…
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…
June Spring Migration Bird Walk
The group will meet trip leader, Dan Barriball, at the Wilson Shelter parking lot at 8:00 am to look for spring…
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…
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.
Experience the Indiana Dunes Through the Eyes of The Brain Scoop
- 2 minute read
Did you know that Indiana Dunes National Park is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the Midwest? Join Emily Graslie, former Chief Curiosity Correspondent at The Field Museum in…
Our Guide to Stargazing in the Indiana Dunes
- 2 minute read
Designated dark sky areas near Lake Michigan provide a rare opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky, even in proximity to urban centers. You don’t need to be…
Top Things to Do This Spring Break in the Indiana Dunes
- 2 minute read
Spring in the Indiana Dunes means you can experience a perfect mix of hiking in natural beauty alongside family-friendly festivities and activities. As the landscape blooms with native…
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…