Last updated: May 14, 2022
Thing to Do
Explore Biological Diversity in the Park
Indiana Dunes National Park provides habitat for approximately 1,130 native vascular plants, including the federally threatened Pitcher’s thistle. The park is home to populations of 30% of Indiana’s listed rare, threatened, endangered, and special concern plant species. Shaped by glacial events and changing climates, the dunes landscape contains disjunct flora representative of eastern deciduous forests, boreal forest remnants, and species with Atlantic coast affinities. In addition, the national park is part of the upper and eastern most limits of the tallgrass prairie peninsula and supports high quality remnants of this ever diminishing vegetation type. The presence of many unique dune and wetland plant community types has lead to a long history of botanical exploration and research. Lands within the national park have been called the birthplace of American ecology as a result of early work on plant succession performed by Dr. Henry Cowles over 100 years ago. Investigations related to several areas of plant ecology continue today and are viewed as essential to preserving the dynamic ecosystems of the Indiana Dunes.
Use these pages to help explore specific areas or trails of Indiana Dunes National Park.
History of Science: Plant Succession
Watch a video and answer corresponding questions that highlight Indiana Dunes' role in the history of ecology.
Indiana Dunes National Park Virtual Tours
Hiking Trails: Indiana Dunes National Park
Details
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Activity Fee
Yes
7-Day Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle Pass - $20.00
Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase)
7-Day Park Entrance Pass - Family-Size Vehicle Pass - $25.00
Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).
7-Day Per Person Entrance Pass (Organized, non-commercial groups) - $15.00
Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Commercial Tour Fee - Sedan (1-6 persons) - $25.00
Entry for commercial sedans with 6 or less people. Cost is $25.00 plus $15 per person (not to exceed next highest rate).
Commercial Tour Fee - Van (7-15 persons) - $40.00
Entry for commercial vans with 7-15 people.
Commercial Tour Fee - Mini Bus (16-25 persons) - $40.00
Entry for commercial mini bus with 16-25 people.
Commercial Tour Fee - Motor Coach (26+ persons) - $100.00
Entry for commercial motor coaches with 26+ persons.
For the most current information on our fee program, see our Fees and Passes page.
Location
Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education
The park is comprised of over 15,000 acres of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests. It contains 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning the distance from Gary to Michigan City. Lake Michigan is part of the largest complex of freshwater lakes in the world. The national park's beaches are the park's most significant recreational resource.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Accessibility Information
Some trails in the park are accessible. Most trails are lightly packed dirt or loose sand. Some trails have stairs. Some sites have trail-friendly accessible equipment available. For more information on accessible trails and equipment availability, visit our Accessibility page.
J. Conrad
National Parks in the History of Science: Plant Succession
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- Duration:
- 11 minutes, 36 seconds
In the 1890s the dunes now protected as Indiana Dunes National Park hosted the first research on plant succession. That research helped establish ecology as a science, made succession an enduring concept, and explains why you mow your lawn.
Biologically Diverse Trails
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- Indiana Dunes National Park
West Beach Trails
West Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. There are great views from the top of the Dune Succession Trail stairs, a beautiful pinery of jack pines, birding opportunities along Long Lake and secluded sections of forest. After hiking, relax and swim at the beach.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Paul H. Douglas Trail through Miller Woods
The Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods winds through several habitats including wetlands, globally rare black oak savanna, open dunes and beach. The views of the lake and the dunes are incredible. The oak savanna's native grasses and wildflowers, including lupine, thrive in the sunlight and open forest floor.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Great Marsh Trail (North)
The Great Marsh is the largest interdunal wetland in the Lake Michigan watershed. It serves as a critical habitat for breeding and migratory birds. This popular trail features an overlook of the marsh where you can spot a wide variety of birds ranging from Great Blue Herons to Sandhill Cranes. While much of the marsh was drained in the early 1900's for residential and agricultural use, the National Park Service began restoration of this portion in 1998.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Cowles Bog Trail (South)
The Cowles Bog Trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity that it was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This location, where Dr. Henry Cowles conducted much of his early work in plant ecology and succession in the early 1900s, remains an important focus for scientific study today. Explore several distinct habitats along this 4.7-mile trail including ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas and beaches.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, Little Calumet River, Mnoké Prairie Trails
The Little Calumet River, Mnoké Prairie, Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm and Bailly Cemetery trail system reveals the rich natural diversity that has drawn people to this area for over 10,000 years. Hike through a forest dominated by maple, beech, basswood and oak trees. Follow a stretch of the Little Calumet River, once a critical transportation route for early regional travelers and explore the recently restored Mnoké Prairie.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Heron Rookery (East)
The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. After 60 years of nesting here, the herons have moved on to new nesting grounds. These woods remain alive with dozens of birds including kingfishers, woodpeckers and a wide variety of migrating and nesting warblers.
- Indiana Dunes National Park
Upland Trail
The Pinhook Bog Trail System features two very different habitats. The Upland Trail highlights a rich beech and maple forest growing on top of a glacial moraine formed about 15,000 years ago. The Bog Trail leads to a bog in a depression in the moraine created when a large piece of ice broke off the melting glacier. The bog features an incredible habitat with unique plants.