Wandering

Why hurry? Take the time to wander and let your senses take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Indiana Dunes. Listen to the waves on the shore. Feel the gentle breeze on your cheeks. Watch the sunlight dancing through the leaves in the forest. The Indiana Dunes area offers plenty of places where you can leisurely stroll, explore or simply sit and relax in nature.

Find a Place to Wander

Brincka Cross Gardens

427 E. Furness Rd.
219-465-3586

Once a private residence, this architecturally unique home and garden includes a wide variety of trees and…

Coffee Creek Preserve

2401 Village Point
219-926-1842

This beautiful 157-acre preserve is a relaxing place to hike, wander, picnic, and cross-country ski. Five miles of…

Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest

450 W. 100 North
219-462-0025

Gabis is a popular location for birding enthusiasts and offers more than 300 acres of dog-friendly walking trails…

Ogden Gardens Park

451 Harrison Blvd.
219-462-5144

Four acres featuring perennial gardens, annual displays, native and ornamental trees, a gazebo, and a Japanese…

Sunset Hill Farm County Park

775 Meridian Rd.
219-465-3586

This lovely 235-acre park was once a working dairy farm. There are several miles of trails through woodlands and…

Aukiki Wetland Conservation Area

State Rd. 49
219-285-2184

This 650-acre parcel conserves a mix of wetlands, black oak barrens, and sand prairie, offering wildlife viewing…

Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm

618 N. Mineral Springs Rd.
219-395-1882

These two historic sites sit nearly side-by-side. Bailly Homestead is named for Joseph Bailly, the first known…

4 years ago

Savannas: Beauty in the Making

4 minute read

Savannas: Beauty in the Making By Alyssa Nyberg A hike through a savanna any time of the year will have its “oh-wow, I feel so happy moments”: in the spring, when wildflower…

Plants and Wildlife 4 years ago

A brownish-gray frog with black spots sits on a person's open hand. Green grass is in the background.

Long-legged Leapers of the Kankakee Sands Prairie

4 minute read

Northern leopard frogs are fast, real fast! They aren’t called leopard frogs for nothin’. They are the long-legged leapers of our Kankakee Sands prairie, and catching one is not…

Best Of Lists 7 years ago

Top Ways to Go Beyond the Beach this Year

3 minute read

Have you set a New Year’s resolution to try something new this year? Or perhaps you’re reading this in June and laughing at the thought of keeping your resolutions but still…

Borrow a Naturalist Backpack

Explore the Indiana Dunes like an expert! The Backpacks for Naturalists program offers free explorer backpacks for daily use. Each backpack contains binoculars, field guides, and more.