My Favorite Hikes at the Indiana Dunes
Looking for a great day trip from Chicago? The Indiana Dunes are only an hour’s drive from the city yet feel worlds away. Here you will find large beaches stretching along Lake Michigan’s southern shore and a bunch of great trails to hike and explore. You may just have to dump some sand out of your shoes along the way!
This article highlights four of my favorite hikes in the dunes — two at the State Park and two at the National Park.
FITS BITS TIP: You are hiking at the beach, so consider bringing along a swimsuit, towel, and picnic lunch.
The lay of the land
The Indiana Dunes stretch for 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and are actually made up of two different parks. The Indiana Dunes State Park is located in the middle, surrounded by the Indiana Dunes National Park (as of 2019). As such, there are separate fees to enter each of these areas. The National Park is $25 per vehicle per day (or use your American the Beautiful Pass) and the State Park is $12 per vehicle per day (non-Indiana resident). The parks are open year-round so you may just visit again for some biking, cross-country skiing, historical sites, camping, and more. There are also annual passes for each park.
Indiana Dunes National Park — My Two Favorites
1 | Dune Succession Trail (Loop 1)
This classic Indiana Dunes hike starts across from the West Beach parking lot. Just head to the tower of wooden stairs to start your hike. The trail is under a mile, but this is a MUST DO when visiting the area. Don’t worry, the stairs aren’t as bad as they look, and the climb is worth it for the spectacular view of Lake Michigan. You can even see the Chicago skyline on a clear day. You will end up on the beach. Turn to your left and walk along the shore to the bathhouse and the path back to the parking lot.
Looking for more hiking? Keep going by adding on the West Beach Trail (Loop 2) and Long Lake Trail (Loop 3), totaling 3.5 miles. I have seen a bunch of waterfowl on these latter trails.
FITZ BITS TIP: The National Park Visitor Center is about 20 miles further down the road. While I love Visitor Centers, skip it this time if you are just going to West Beach. You can get a park map when you pay to enter this beach area.
2 | Cowles Bog Hike
A ranger at the National Park Visitor Center told me about this gem when I asked for the most strenuous hike in the park. I did it in about 1.5 hours with some easy trail running mixed in + a stroll along the lake. The entrance is a bit off the beaten path. You will park in a small lot down a gravel road. There was no one collecting fees when I visited in 2021. The hike starts flat, then meanders through varying terrains and dunes as your path turns into sand. When you see that large dune descending to Lake Michigan, just remember that you have to hike back up as well. You can do it! Note: you can make this a loop trail or out-and-back. The terrain is very similar and out-and-back saves a little time.
FITZ BITS TIP: There are no facilities at the beach, so plan accordingly. Pack a swimsuit, book, blanket, picnic…
Indiana Dunes State Park — My Two Favorites
1 | Trail 10 (and 9)
Start this incredible 6-mile hike at the Nature Center. The parking lot may be full on a beautiful day, but watch for turnover or park at the nearby campground and walk over. I suggest doing this counterclockwise by following the signs for Trail 10 and then go to Trail 9.
This hike packs in great exercise and scenery. Start with an easy flat trail in the woods. Then you will have some ups and downs as the path takes you out to a beautiful stretch of beach along Lake Michigan. Eventually, you will head back inland to traverse atop the sand dunes. This was my favorite part! The views at the top are absolutely stunning. There is a post marking the trail from the beach, however if you miss it (like we did), there are several trails going back in and up. We did this six-mile hike in about two hours.
2 | The Three Dune Challenge
The Three Dune Challenge trail also starts at the Nature Center. This time you will follow Trail 8 to climb Mount Jackson, Mount Holden, and Mount Tom. Along the way, you will switch over to Trail 4 but it’s easy because the route is well-marked with brightly colored “3 Dune Challenge” signs. It sounds harder than it is. After all, this is the midwest. But, remember that a lot of this trail is loose sand!
