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Close
Search
Indiana Dunes
Indiana Dunes
Explore the DunesExplore the Dunes
Explore the Dunes Dunes 101Getting HereIndiana Dunes National ParkIndiana Dunes State ParkOutdoor Adventures 9Outdoor AdventuresVisitor Center
Things to DoThings to Do
Things to Do Arts & EntertainmentAttractions & RecreationOur CommunitiesPet FriendlyPet FriendlyShoppingVolunteerWinter Activities
Eat & DrinkEvents
Places to StayPlaces to Stay
Places to Stay Bed & BreakfastsHotels & InnsRVs & CampgroundsVacation HomesVacation Homes
Indiana Dunes Flower Quest 11 Header Item 1
Indiana DunesIndiana Dunes Flower Quest

Indiana Dunes Flower Quest

The Indiana Dunes National Park is the 4th most biodiverse national park in the entire country, with over 1,100 flowering plant species across 15,000 acres. Throughout the spring and summer, spectacular wildflowers burst into view across the Dunes region. Some bloom for only a single day! How many can you discover before they disappear for another year? It’s time to begin your Indiana Dunes Flower Quest!

Warning label for foraging flowers

Each Month Has its Own Quest

April | May | June | July | August | September

Check Back for Remaining Months!

Throughout the spring and summer, spectacular wildflowers burst into view across the Dunes region. Some bloom for only a single day! How many can you discover before they disappear for another year?

Map It

Use our Quest Map to learn more about where to find these colorful gems, and prepare for your quest! Be sure to turn off months you aren’t focused on. In the spirit of the flora theme, you’ll notice local businesses we’ve highlighted with relatable names. Consider them for a meal, a stay, or a purchase while on your quest.

Find It

Our monthly checklists provides pictures of the plants that are blooming, along with a fun fact or two. Need some extra help identifying your finds? There are a number of websites and apps you can download; give identify.plantnet.org a try.

Protect It

Remember these are precious and fragile treasures, and we need to preserve and protect them. Always stay on marked trails, and leave the wildflowers undisturbed for everyone to enjoy. For more information, watch our video about your Safety and Responsibilities.

Share It

Beautiful flowers are constantly blooming and disappearing as the warm weather returns, so you have to act fast! Share your discoveries at #DunesFlowerQuest, and they just might get featured on the Indiana Dunes tagboard!

Share your adventures with us by tagging #DunesFlowerQuest

Another Way to Stop and Smell the Flowers

In addition to the incredible natural biodiversity of the Indiana Dunes, the region is a home to a number of beautiful cultivated gardens, parks, and arboretums. If you want to enjoy beautiful flowerbeds and manicured trails, plan a stop at any of the marvelous locations:

The Monarch Story

The story of the monarch butterfly is one of incredible transformation and epic travel. We are also part of this adventure, and each of us can play a key role in the survival of the monarch. Believe it or not, it can be as simple as planting milkweed.

Plant Your Own Monarch Garden

Save 25%

Applies to any 3 Butterfly-Loving, 1 Gallon Perennials (Regular price, in-stock perennials only. While Supplies last)

15% Off

Applies to native plants and monarch butterfly plants. Valid on regularly priced plants, shrubs, and trees only. Show this coupon at the register.

15% Off

Applies to native plants and monarch butterfly plants. Valid on regularly priced plants, shrubs, and trees only. Show this coupon at the register.

Tales from the Dunes

The Indiana Dunes Blog

The Indiana Dunes National Park is 7th in the nation for vascular plant biodiversity and 3rd in the nation for species density. We pack a lot of flowers in a small space! Read these blogs for more of the story.

View All Stories
Plants and Wildlife

Indiana’s Springtime Wetlands

There’s something about having your feet in water that is a thrill. As a kid, I jumped and splashed in puddles and ponds just to see how big an…

Plants and Wildlife

Chorus Frogs Calling at Kankakee Sands

One of the first Indiana wetland residents to begin filling the spring air with its call is the western chorus frog. But first they need to first…

Plants and Wildlife

If Monarch Wings Could Talk

The state of a monarch’s wings in the fall tells us a lot about what is in store for that particular butterfly in the months ahead. 

More Things to See & Do

Beaches

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Pet Friendly 4

Pet Friendly
Arts & Entertainment

Arts & Entertainment
Volunteer Drop-In Program 6

Volunteer Drop-In
Outdoor Adventures 3

Outdoor Adventures
A woman shopping at an outdoor festival

Dunes Deals

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Featured Hot Spots

Each month’s quest highlights specific locations for each flower, but here are additional locations to explore if you are are looking for more options.

Indiana Dunes National Park Locations

Shirley Heinze Land Trust

Other Locations

Book a Place to Stay

Bed & Breakfasts

Feel like family with intimate accommodations that range from nature-inspired retreats in the woods to award-winning romantic getaways surrounded by gardens.

Hotels & Inns

A convenient stay located near downtown? What about a country retreat heaped in Old World charm? Or a place you can bring your four-legged friend? Your unique getaway deserves a distinct accommodation.