Porter Brickyard Bike Trail

Getting There
Trailhead Parking Lots
North Trailhead: 1184 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, IN 46304.
South Trailhead: 198 South Jackson Boulevard, Chesterton, IN 46304.

GPS Coordinates
North Trailhead: 41.645191, -87.084633 (Decimal Degrees).
South Trailhead: 41.610336, -87.073872 (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 – 7.0 miles.
• Ride Time – 30 minutes.
• Difficulty – Easy with some changes in elevation.
• Trail Surface – Paved.
• Facilites – Year-round porta potties, but no potable water at the north trailhead. No restrooms or potable water at the south trailhead.
• Pets – Permitted on a leash (6' or shorter).
• Prohibited – Littering, hunting, and removing plants.
• Prohibited – Motorized vehicles.
• There is paved parking at both trailheads.

Safety

• 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 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.

Porter Brickyard Bike Trail
Ride Distance: 7.0 miles round trip, 102 feet of elevation gain, 1% average grade, 5% maximum grade.
Ride Time: 45 minutes.

The north trailhead is located at the Cowles Bog Trail System (hiking only) parking lot located at U.S. Highway 20 and Mineral Springs Road. There is a year-round porta potty, but no potable water source. This parking lot also serves as the western trailhead of the Calumet Bike Trail, which runs east for 9.5 miles to Michigan City.

From the north parking lot, the trail heads south and immediately crosses over U.S. Highway 12 using a pedestrian overpass. The next section features winding trail through the national park's Bailly Homestead / Chellberg Farm complex. The trail picks up Howe Road and travels south to U.S. Highway 20, crossing the highway using a pedestrian overpass.

The rest of the trail to the south uses a mixture of sidewalks, dedicated paths and city streets to the southern trailhead parking lot. The Prairie Duneland Bike Trail, which runs from Chesterton to Hobart, shares this lot as its eastern trailhead. The parking lot is paved with ample parking spaces.