The BEST Things To Do In Indiana Dunes National Park In 2025!

Jan 30, 2025

Last Updated on: Nov 24, 2025

Travel Guides

Indiana Dunes National Park At A Glance

  • Location: 1100 North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
  • Visitor Center Contact Number: 219 395-1882
  • Hours Open: 6 AM to 11 PM
  • Time Required: 1 Full Day
  • Fees: $15-25 (Standard Pass), $45 (Annual Pass), and Free-$80 (America the Beautiful Pass, including Senior Passes)
  • Area: More than 15000 acres
  • Designation: National Lakeshore (1966) and National Park (15th February 2019)
  • Famous For: Being the birthplace of American ecology, Housing 30% of the rare, endangered, threatened, and special concern plants of Indiana
  • Best Time to Visit: April and May and Late September to October
  • Best Way to Reach: Take the South Shore Train, having multiple stops in the park

Unique Things Do In Indiana Dunes National Park | Plan Your Day Activities 

Unique Things Do In Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park is a year-round attraction. So, every season offers the visitors something unique to do. 

Let’s explore what wonders await at this national park, rich in biodiversity.

1. Swimming And Beach Activities

Many of the recreational things to do in Indiana Dunes National Park center around the miles of beaches in the park. The southern tip of Michigan and the beaches there are ideal for swimming and various beach activities. 

Beaches In Indiana Dunes National Park

Porter BeachWest BeachDunbar BeachKemil BeachCentral Avenue BeachLake View BeachMount Baldy Beach

Even if you don’t want to take part in adventurous activities, you can just enjoy a sunrise or sunset stroll along the beaches. 

2. Biking

You can bike through the 37 miles trail of the Indiana Dunes National Park and explore the dunes, historical spots, and wildlife of the park. 

Further, the park has gravel and paved biking trails at various distances. So, you can choose a trail according to your level of expertise. 

Biking Trails In Indiana Dunes National Park

Dunes Kankakee Bike TrailCalumet Bike TrailPrairie Duneland Bike TrailPorter Brickyard Bike TrailOak Savannah Bike TrailMarquette Bike Trail

3. Geocaching

Geocaching is one of the most unique things to do in Indiana Dunes National Park. This treasure hunt game is played by geocachers. 

These geocachers have to collect geocaches or hidden containers. So, if you are a geocacher or a participant in the game, you will have a smartphone with a free geocaching app and a GPS device. 

Further, at Indiana Dunes National Park, you will be able to do four types of geocaching. You can try traditional or the most traditional geocaching at Chellberg Farm. 

You can even try EarthCaching at Kemil Beach, Mount Baldy, and West Beach. Moreover, other types of geocaching in the park are Lab Caches at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk and Virtual Caching at A Century of Progress Historic District. 

4. Bird Watching

Bird Watching

The park, nestled on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, attracts a lot of migrating birds. It is especially delightful with the sounds of the migrating songbirds in autumn. 

So, you can be a beginner or an avid birdwatcher. You will be able to spot waterfowl or other wetland birds easily.

Moreover, this park hosts the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival on the 3rd weekend of May. This is a four-day event, and the more than a dozen birdwatching spots in the park are amazing. 

5. Camping

Camping is one of the best things to do in Indiana Dunes National Park if you want to explore the park at your own pace. 

Moreover, the park campground has 66 campsites for tents and 53 RV sites. The campground here does not have electric hookup facilities. 

Furthermore, campsites 15, 30, 41, and 55 are wheelchair accessible. However, camping facilities in the park are seasonal, and for the winter season, the camping ground will remain closed till 31st March. 

Moreover, the camping fee per night at the park is $25.

6. Hiking

You can explore the dunes of the park, rare plants, and diverse species of birds and animals by hiking. Further, many trails take you to the historic places in the park.

For example, you can hike through the Bailly Homestead Trail and enjoy the presence of oak, maple, basswood, and beech trees. 

You can even hike to the Chellberg Farm, Mnoke Prairie Trails, and Little Calumet River.

Overall, the park has 15 trails with varying difficulty levels. So, irrespective of your expertise, you can choose the one most suitable for you. Moreover, the trails can take you from 20 minutes to 4 hours to conquer.

Some moderate trails in the park are Calumet Dunes Trail, Cowles Bog Trail, Dune Ridge Trail, etc.

Furthermore, West Beach Trails and Mount Baldy Beach Trail are some of the toughest hiking trails for you to complete in the park.

7. Visiting Historic Sites

Exploring the historic sites is one of the most meaningful things to do in Indiana Dunes National Park. Did you know that the park has more than 60 historic sites?

The most important landmarks of the park are Chellberg Farm, Good Fellow Youth Camp, and Bailly Homestead. Moreover, you can visit the Cypress Log Cabin, House of Tomorrow, Florida Tropical House, and many other 1933 World’s Fair Century of Progress Homes.

8. Stargazing

Despite being very close to the urban area. Indiana Dunes National Park is a hotspot for stargazing. The lakeshores of the park, especially, create an ideal ambiance for getting lost in celestial activities. 

Furthermore, the sky over the footprint of Lake Michigan is darker, creating a deeper sense of intrigue. Kemil Beach is the best place in the national park for stargazing. Also, it is the “7th designated International Dark Sky Community.” 

9. Horseback Riding

You can enjoy horseback riding in the park along the Glenwood Dunes trail. The trailhead is on Brummitt Road, Chesterton and it is the only equestrian trail in the Indiana Dunes National Park.

Further, the trail remains open from 16th March to 14th December. 

Moreover, you can opt for the best guided tours in the park. Every year, the park offers over 500 guided tours. So, you can get in touch with the park’s visitor center before planning a day out.

See you there!

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Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

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How About Planning A Yacht Charter In The Bahamas? (Places To Visit, Things To Do, And More)

BY  Sibashree Dec 5, 2025

So, how far can a yacht travel? With the wind being your aid and the perfect boat, a yacht can take you hundreds and thousands of nautical miles away. This time, our yacht cruises to the Bahamas, one of the most exclusive destinations for the ultimate yacht experience in the Caribbean.  With over 700 islands and the capital city, Nassau, serving as a prime yacht tour spot, the Bahamas now offers the ultimate yacht experience.  However, planning a yacht charter tour in the Bahamas is not just about adventurous water activities or exploring the pristine islands.  By attracting millions of tourists every year, the yacht charter industry of the Bahamas functions as one of the major drivers of the country’s economy. According to the industry position paper, the yachting sector of the Bahamas contributes around $500m annually to the country’s economy.  But what makes the Bahamas such a powerhouse of yacht tours? 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What Are The 10 Things To Do In Madeira Beach That Will Make Your Time And Money Worth It?

BY  Sibashree May 20, 2022

"The sea cures all the ailments of man" – Plato. I took these words of Plato in my heart and started to build a connection with the ocean and the beaches that adorn them – in the course of all that; I found Madeira beach; it was full of fun, amusement and relaxation.  Just like they say – an ocean breeze puts your mind at ease– if you want to put your mind at ease, then there are plenty of things to do in Madeira beach.  Florida is rich with ocean life and beach activities. You can go deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, jet-skiing, boating and more fun things in Florida.  You can take the warm and sunny weather to your face upon visiting a bar. 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The boats offer mobile booking and free cancellation when you need it.  Enjoy The Cruise: The boat will pass along the beautiful houses of the coastal area. The boat captains are closely acquainted with the history of the area. They can share their experience along the way. You can bring your pets and the drinks that you need to enjoy on the boat.  10. Take A Serene Walk Alongside The Santana Houses  The Santana Houses, or Casas de Santana, are iconic, triangular-shaped homes with thatched roofs made of straw or reeds, found in the town of Santana on Madeira Island, Portugal. These colorful, traditional structures represent a significant part of Madeira's historical heritage, with the roofs designed to shed rainwater and the wooden construction providing insulation. 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Things To Do In Madeira Beach Discussed  Madeira beach is rich in fun activities; you can enjoy the food there, play beach sports, go on boat cruises, and enjoy watersports. Spending a few days at John’s pass boardwalk brings a sense of pleasure and relaxation to you.  The pristine water of the gulf coast of Florida is a sight your eyes will never forget. Would you visit Madeira beach? Please let us know your opinion.  Read Also: Top Trips For Travelling With A Big Group Of People 10 Best Fishing Charters In Florida To Visit In 2022 10 Best Hotels In Sanibel Island

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Interesting Facts About Beaches That Will Surprise You

BY  Abdul Aziz Sep 25, 2023

Beaches are one of nature's greatest wonders that attract millions of visitors annually. With their scenic vistas and the soothing sounds of waves, beaches offer a sense of calm and tranquility. However, beneath their beauty lies many mysteries and surprises. From the endless motion of tides and currents to the minute particles that make up the sand, beaches hold remarkable secrets. In this article, we explore some of the most fascinating yet unknown facts about beaches that will leave you astonished. The Sand Shifting Spectacle Have you ever noticed how the arrangement of sand on the beach appears to change with every visit? This is no illusion - and is always on the move. Prevailing winds and waves continuously transport sand particles up and down the coast. It has been estimated that over 100 million tons of sand shifts globally every year! More perplexing is that the sand migrates in large belts called sand shadows that stretch for miles underwater. Intricate currents carry the grains long distances before depositing them in new locations. So, the very sand formations we see today were not here years ago, demonstrating the dynamic nature of beaches. The Micro Marvels Taking a closer look, each grain of sand is a minute miracle. Under a microscope, their shapes - rounded, angular, or elongated - tell stories of the forces that wore them down from rocks and polished their edges during travel. More incredible than their structures are their constituent elements. Most beach sands contain over 90% silica in the form of quartz. But other common yet tiny components include corundum (a mineral harder than quartz), zircon, rutile, and monazite. These durable crystals withstand erosion to eventually materialize as multicolored specks within the ordinary sand. Such compositional diversity packed into one scoop of sand bursts our perception of its simplicity. You can learn more about beaches by following Westhampton Beach news. The Invisible Border Control What truly demarcates where the land ends and sea begins is another enigma, revealed only at high or low tides. Known as the shoreline, this boundary between water and Earth is governed by complex tidal patterns. Differences in tidal ranges around the globe also make for head-scratching sightings. In places like the Bay of Fundy in Canada, tides vary by over 16 meters - high enough to submerge harbors! On the contrary, tides along the Atlantic coast of the USA are a mild 1-2 meters. Consequently, exactly defining the coast is tricky business, owing to the ocean's fluid occupation and abandonment of shore spaces throughout each day. The Living Beach Combers Lurking within the beach sands is a whole unseen universe teeming with critters. A single handful contains multitudes of crabs, clams, snails, worms, and more - true beachcombers that sift nutrients from the grains. Some, like the mole crab, have adapted shovels and gills for an underground existence. Others like sand dollars appear genteelly gliding over the ocean floor but are in fact agents of filtration. Their ensemble supports a delicate food web that cascades onto shorebirds, fish, and more. Together, these coastal colonizers comprise an integral living fabric woven into the very landscape we walk upon unaware. The Secret Of White Sand Beaches Most travelers envision picturesque white sand beaches when dreaming of tropical paradise destinations. However, few realize that the white sand creating such idyllic shores is far from a natural geological phenomenon. Its genesis can be attributed to an unlikely source - the excrement of colorful reef inhabitants known as parrotfish. Parrotfish play a vital role in marine ecosystems through their prolific feeding habits. With their specialized beak-like jaws adapted for grazing coral structures, they consume vast amounts of dead coral rubble. However, their digestive systems lack the ability to break down the indigestible coral skeleton remnants. As a result, kilograms of crushed coral limestone are processed and expelled from the fish in the form of fine white granules. To Wrap Up These are but a few astonishing truths behind our literal and metaphorical shorelines. Indeed, beaches hold more puzzles and poetry than first meets the eye. Their ever-shifting sands, microscopic marvels, cryptic borders, and thriving undercover life form a picture far richer than their placid outward appearance projects. The more we learn to look, the deeper the discoveries and wonder we gain from nature’s simple yet most complex creations – the beach. Read Also: Best Beaches In Costa Rica For Family Vacation A Guide To Traverse City Beach – 10 Best Beaches To Explore These Are The Closest Beaches To Ohio That You Need To Go For A Dreamy Vacation!