Accessibility

 

Blue beach mat sits on the sand to ease walking or wheeling down to the shoreline.

NPS Photo

Improvement to Shoreline Access

Indiana Dunes National Park has made significant achievements in providing access to beach areas. However, access to the waters of Lake Michigan pose challenging accessibility problems. The following beach areas have limited accessibility:

• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk: A wheelchair accessible beach mat provides access to the beach area. It is installed in late spring and removed in early fall.
• West Beach: an accessible path brings visitors to the beach area; a beach wheel chair can be checked out from the lifeguards.
• Lake View: the picnic shelters and overlook are accessible.

Thanks to a generous Make-A-Wish Foundation donation with major financial assistance from Friends of Indiana Dunes, an accessible beach mat is seasonally installed at Indiana Dunes State Park. This ADA beach mat allows wheelchair/pedestrian-friendly, rigid and non-slip access to the water’s edge from both the main parking lot and the West lot. Please note that Indiana Dunes State Park requires a seperate entrance fee.

 

Example of Freedom Trax in action.

NPS Collection

Sites in the park that are accessible with assistance:

• Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center (building, displays, hearing assist device for the theater).

• Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education (building, displays).

• Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk (paved hiking trail, pavilion, fishing pier).

• Dunewood Campground (sites 15, 30, 41 and 55).

Accessible parking and restroom services are available throughout the park. A standard wheelchair is available for loan at the Paul H. Douglas Center.

Accessible picnic areas:

• West Beach.

• Bailly Chellberg.

• Tremont.

• Glenwood Dunes.

• Lake View Beach.

• Tolleston Dunes Overlook.

 

Accessiblity Guide

Whether you use a wheelchair, need assistance with hearing, or can’t maneuver the sand with your walker, we have a variety of services available for increased accessibility. Call 219 395-1824 or 219 395-1882 for information and use.

 

Mobility

Assistive Device

(Click device titles for more information and location.)
*Equipment made possible in coordination with Dunes Learning Center and/or Miller Spotlight.

*2 Freedom Trax Chairs

A motorized wheelchair attachment that is all-terrain and fits to your chair. The electrical track is steered by a joystick.
Location: Paul H. Douglas Center

Zoom Chair

The Zoom Chair is a single-person, motorized vehicle capable of riding on moderate trails and the beach.
Location: Paul H. Douglas Center

Hippocampe Blue Blazer

The Hippocampe Blue Blazer is a single-person, push chair designed for children with mobility and upper-body support issues.
Location: Paul H. Douglas Center

*Youth Wheel Chair for rougher terrain.

This chair must be pushed or pulled.
Location: Paul H. Douglas Center

Large Wheeled Beach Wheelchair

Just ask staff at entrance gate for use. (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Location: West Beach

 

Hearing

Assistive Device

(Click device titles for more information and location.)

Ubi-Duo device

Visitors can type questions on a shared screen.
Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

Closed Caption Park Video

Informative video introducing the Indiana Dunes that's closed captioned with audio-descriptions.
Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

 

Great Trails and Accessible Views

Locations and accessibility information.

(Click location names for more information.)

Portage Lake Front and Riverwalk

A predominantly cement walkway and provides a nice path on nearby terrain. The pier is designed for universal access and is a great spot for bird watching.
For more information, visit Portage Lake Front and Riverwalk beach page.

Paul H. Douglas Center

Fully accessible walking and allows visitors to view two marsh areas, picnic area, and a play zone.
For more information, visit Paul H. Douglas Center page.

West Beach

Provides a ramp down to the sand and has easy access to restrooms and picnic shelters.
For more information, visit West Beach page.

Lake View

Allows visitors of all abilities to enjoy great views of the lake and accessible picnic shelters.
For more information, visit Lake View beach page.

 

Accessible Park Brochure

The park brochure and map are available in audio described text. A screen reader friendly version are available on the Audio Described Brochure page. Automatically generated MP3 audio files are also available for download (23.6 MB) in a compressed zip file.

 

Disabled Travelers Companion Logo

Disabled Travelers Companion

A good place to look for the latest information on accessibility is the Disabled Traveler's Companion Website. While not officially affiliated with the National Park Service, they have been working with Indiana Dunes National Park and other National Parks to provide valuable information to the disabled traveler. Their website contains information on, and photographs of, campgrounds, lodges and park attractions that will aid in planning your trip to the national park.

 

Recreational ADA Equipment

All equipment can be reserved at no cost by calling the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education at [phone]. The WHEELEZ Beach Wheelchair is available on a first-come first-served basis only at the West Beach bathhouse. A park ranger or lifeguard will assist the users in setting up the equipment and will provide more information on where and for how long each device can be used.

 

The Freedom Trax

NPS Photo

Freedom Trax

The Freedom Trax is a single-person, user controlled, motorized dual track that a wheel chair attaches to. It can be adjusted to fit most wheelchairs. In the event that the user’s chair is not compatible, staff will provide one. It can be checked out at the Paul H. Douglas center and used on the Paul H. Douglas trail. Is capable of climbing moderate inclines. It cannot be used on the beach or sand dunes, however. Battery life lasts approximately 3 hours. Print or view Freedom Trax trail map.

 

The Zoom Chair

NPS Photo

Zoom Chair

The Zoom Chair is a single-person, motorized vehicle capable of riding on moderate trails and the beach. This vehicle has forward and reverse gears, headlights and taillights, three different speed options, and a parking brake. It can be used on portions of the Paul H. Douglas trail, the Harbor Belt, or can be taken on Lake Street to the Lake Street Beach. This vehicle is not intended for children. Print or view Zoom Chair trail map

 

Hippocampe Blue Blazer

NPS Photo

Hippocampe Blue Blazer

The Hippocampe Blue Blazer is a single-person, push chair designed for children with mobility and upper-body support issues. It comes equipped with head stabilizers and tires suitable to be used one easy to moderate trails. It requires chaperone to push the chair.

 

WHEELEZ Beach Wheelchair

NPS Photo

WHEELEZ Beach Wheelchair

The WHEELEZ Beach Wheelchair is a single-person wheelchair capable of traversing beach sand and is also capable of entering the water. It requires a chaperone to push the chair. This device is available on a walk-in basis only at the West Beach bathhouse through the lifeguards stationed there.

 

Reservations

Call the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education at [phone]. All equipment can be reserved at no cost. The WHEELEZ Beach Wheelchair is available on a first-come first-served at the West Beach bathhouse.

Audio Described Brochure

Listen to an audio described version of the park brochure, or search your app store for the free UniDescription app, which was created to make all national park maps more accessible for the visually impaired.