Calumet Bike Trail

Getting There
Trailhead Parking Lots
East Trailhead: 2752 U.S. Highway 12, Town of Pines, IN 46360.
West Trailhead: 1184 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, IN 46304.

GPS Coordinates
East Trailhead: 41.699686, -86.932947(Decimal Degrees).
West Trailhead: 41.636898, -87.087185 (Decimal Degrees).

Need to Know

Hours & Information

• Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
• Free – No entrance or parking fee.
• Ride Distance – 19 miles.
• Ride Time – 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Difficulty – Easy.
• Trail Surface – Gavel with standing water for much of the year. The trail is not suitable for road bikes. You will get wet and your shoes and clothes will get soaked. The gravel surface can be uneven and rough. You may have to dismount and walk your bike around these sections if you are unsure on your abilities to navigate them.
• Facilites – Year-round restrooms, no potable water at the west trailhead. No restrooms or potable water at the east trailhead.
• Pets – Permitted on a leash (6' or shorter).
• Prohibited – Littering, hunting, and removing plants.
• Prohibited – Motorized vehicles.
• The east and west parking lots are paved.

Safety

• CAUTION: The section from Dune Park Train Station to East State Park Road is in very poor condition with large, deep puddles of standing water and sections with larger gravel stones. Ride this section with extreme caution.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike.
• Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
• Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
• Be prepared for changing weather conditions.
• In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

• The trail is not wheelchair accessible.

 

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Trail Information

Click here for a list of all biking trails at the Indiana Dunes National Park.

Download a national parks interactive trail guide phone app. Apple or Android.

Calumet Bike Trail
Ride Distance: 19 miles round trip, 23 feet of elevation gain, 0% average grade, 1% maximum grade.
Ride Time: 1.5 to 2 hours.

The trail follows the South Shore Railroad tracks and NIPSCO power lines. There is no shade. The trail can be impassible (i.e. wet shoes) due to standing water along much of the trail that can be 4-6" deep in spots. The trail is not suitable for road bikes.

The Calumet Bike Trail connects to many trail systems. The west trailhead parking lot connects to the Porter Brickyard Bike Trail and the Cowles Bog Trail (hiking only). There is access to the Dunes Kankakee Bike Trail and Indiana Dunes State Park hiking trail system at the South Shore Dunes Park train station. At East State Park Road (Kemil Road or 300E), there is access across U.S. Highway 12 to the Glenwood Dunes Trails (hiking only) and the Calumet Dunes Trail (hiking only). At Broadway Avenue (Beverly Shores), there is access to the Great Marsh Trail (hiking only) and the Dunewood Campground. At the east trailhead, the parking lot on U.S. Highway 12 is close to the Mount Baldy Beach Trail (hiking only).