Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail

Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail logo

More than just a hiking trail, this interactive experience will create a place for visitors and locals to learn, play, touch, ponder, and become inspired. The new trail will weave the culture of the Miami and Potawatomi Indigenous Peoples with the natural ecology of the Indiana Dunes—one of the most biodiverse areas of the country.

A boardwalk with railings leads up to a building

Trail Updates

  • A low environmental impact boardwalk has been built in front of the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center. The boardwalk overlooks a naturalized section of Dunes Creek, which leads to Lake Michigan.
  • A land acknowledgment honoring Indigenous cultures has been installed in front of the Visitor Center.
  • Indigenous design crosswalks have been installed. The crosswalks connect the trail, interpretive elements, and the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center.
  • The welcome area in front of the Visitor Center has been reconfigured. New flag poles have been installed and flags were raised in September.
  • The large raised fire pit with diamond designs has been installed. The fire pit has a snuffer that will double as a table for educational programming.

ARCY Mural Art Walk

Known for his paint-splashed style of large-scale street art, ARCY visited the Indiana Dunes to spray paint murals for the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail. The local indigenous plants and animals featured in the murals were chosen by the team due to their beauty, history in the area, and significance to the Miami and/or Potawatomi. View the timelapse video of the bobcat mural being created below.

A Vision for the Future

The proposed features for the first phase of the project include:

  • Additional interpretive signage, including a tree trail in three languages (Potawatomi, Miami, and English), exploring the significance of the natural resources within the Indigenous cultures.

Five Partners for Seven Generations

By working together, the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural trail aims to tell the story of the Indiana Dunes area for future generations.

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