Explore Nature at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Accessible from Chesterton and other towns along Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore offers 15 miles of shoreline recreation. Marvel at sand dunes rising up to 200 feet tall and enjoy spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Visitors enjoy 45 miles of trails, bird watching, horseback riding, and winter sports. Choose from short hikes along Calumet Dunes Trail and Miller Woods Trail, or tackle the more challenging Cowles Bog Trail and Tolleston Dunes Trail. In summer, the area is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing on the beach, fishing, and boating.

Kayakers have a ball on the Lake Michigan Water Trail, the Little Calumet River and Burns Waterway. Enjoy a family picnic at Lake View, build a sandcastle at West Beach, or take a tour of the Visitor Center. You’ll find maps of the park, suggested activities, exhibits on the dunes, and a bookstore/gift shop. Spanning 15,000 acres, the lakeshore park was established in 1966 to protect the marshes, swamps, and land within its borders and to provide an area with multiple recreation options for locals and visitors.