3 Dune Challenge
Need a reason to get outside? We’ve got three.
Challenge friends, family, and yourself to an epic climb up the three tallest sand dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park. It’s 1.5 miles of tough trail with 552 vertical feet that’s 100 percent brag-worthy.
Don't just face the Challenge. Conquer it!
Hiking up the three tallest sand dunes isn’t easy, but it can still be fun for all ages. Go solo or grab your friends and family to hike the 1.5-mile trail at your own pace. Just be sure to…
If your idea of fun is running up the stairs of a skyscraper or doing a marathon, try climbing 552 vertical feet of sand and stairs. The 3 Dune Challenge is Indiana’s best test of physical…
“Running on sand requires 1.6 times more energy than running on a hard surface.”
— Biologists.org
Start Here
Your adventure begins at the Indiana Dune State Park Nature Center.
How to Complete the Dare
- Go to the Indiana Dunes State Park
Visit Indiana Dunes State Park, located at the end of State Rd. 49 at 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, IN 46304. - Hike the Trail
With 552 vertical feet, this is the toughest trail in the State Park. Take the challenge and conquer the dunes. - Share the Challenge
Take a selfie at the top of one of the dunes and post it using #3DuneChallenge. - Get Your Badge of Honor
Visit the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center for a free bumper sticker and to buy a commemorative T-shirt or hoodie.
Celebrate Your Accomplishment
Stop by the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center to get your free 3 Dune Challenge sticker.
You can also buy a T-shirt or hoodie—you’ve earned it!
The 3 Dune Challenge
Challenge yourself, your friends, and your family to climb the three tallest sand dunes at the Indiana Dunes State Park. The 1.5-mile trail is the toughest in the park, with 552 vertical feet to climb. The reward: breathtaking views and the title of dune conqueror.
This self-guided trail starts on Trail Eight outside of the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center. After you conquer the challenge, buy a shirt or hoodie and pick up a free sticker from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at 1215 N. State Road 49, Porter, IN 46304.
Phone: (219) 926-2255
Website: http://www.indianadunes.com/3dc
This project was created in collaboration with our amazing partners.
Events in the Indiana Dunes
View All EventsConnections: 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…
Fall Photo Scavenger Hunt, Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Stop by the Nature Center any time for this fun Fall game. Bring a camera or smartphone to “focus” on capturing…
Godspell (2012 Revision)
- 4th Street Theater
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Godspell 2012 is delightfully based on the Gospel according to Matthew. It is a masterful retelling of the original…
JD Marshall Shipwreck History Program @ Indiana Dunes State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center
- Recurring weekly on Friday
Set anchor in the Nature Center’s Auditorium as the Naturalist describes one of Lake Michigan’s shipwreck stories…
Let the Right One In
- Valparaiso University
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Oskar is a bullied, lonely teenage boy living with his mother on a housing estate at the edge of town when a spate…
Let's Grow Wild
- Recurring monthly on the 1st
A monthly toddler class for young learners ages 2-5, parents, and guardians to explore the animals and world around…
OK Whatever@ Leroy's Hot Stuff
OK Whatever Debut at Leroy's Hot Stuff in historic Porter, IN! NON-SMOKING! And the best damn taco's I've found in…
Saw-Whet & S'mores: Indiana Dunes
- Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Burn the midnight oil with Indiana Audubon, in partnership with Indiana Dunes National and State Parks, and Indiana…
Saw-Whet Owl Banding Behind the Scenes Night
Join experts from Indiana Audubon in putting up nets and performing hourly checks to capture Saw-whet owls as they…
Storytime in the Park
- Woodland Park
- Recurring monthly on the 1st
Join the Portage Department of Parks and Recreation and the Porter County Public Library for a fun-filled Storytime…
Tour the American Factory @ Journeyman Distillery
- Journeyman Distillery at the American Factory
- Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Visit the new distillery, brewery, and production floor to learn the process of our grain-to-glass spirits, and the…
Volunteer Workday @ Meadowbrook
Our campaign against hard-stemmed invasive plants at Meadowbrook continues! Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon. Our native seed…
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…
Amazing Amphibians
Join the naturalist in the Nature Center auditorium for a chat about what amphibians call the dunes home. Great…
Area Artists Association Challenge The Perspective of “The Square” In Chesterton Art Center Exhibition @ Chesterton Art Center
- Chesterton Art Center
- Recurring daily
Chesterton Art Center is pleased to announce a new exhibition in partnership with The Area Artists Association…
Another Amazing Trail at the Indiana Dunes
Looking for another challenge? We dare you to take on the Diana Dunes Dare in the Indiana Dunes National Park. In honor of the daring and free spirit of Alice Mabel Gray, also known as Diana, a nearby sandhill has been named “Diana’s Dune.” You can now hike in Alice’s footsteps and explore the natural wonders of her beloved Dunes terrain.