Three Easy Hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park Plus Complete Hiking Guide
Hiking in Indiana Dunes National Park is a must-do to really get a good grasp of all this park has to offer! In this guide, we’ll share with you three of our favorite easy hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park, plus give plenty of tips and helpful information to help you plan for a day on the trails in Indiana Dunes.
While not the first place that may come to mind when you think of hiking in a National Park, don’t underestimate Indiana Dunes National Park! While it doesn’t have epic mountain views or alpine scenery, hiking in Indiana Dunes National Park is still the best way to explore this diverse area.
Indiana Dunes National Park actually has over 50 miles of hiking trails to choose from! In this guide, we’ll share with you our three favorite and easy hikes in Indiana Dunes to help you decide which hike(s) you might want to tackle during your visit.
Ok, now that you know all about the park, let’s get into some of the best hiking trails at Indiana Dunes!
Article Contents
Why Hike in Indiana Dunes National Park?
We’re glad you asked! We didn’t know this when we first visited, so we want to share the scoop with you before you go so that you have a greater appreciation for the park while you’re on the trails in Indiana Dunes!
Indiana Dunes National Park ranks fourth among all National Parks in its diversity! Yup, you read that right. Sounds crazy but it’s true. And being on the hiking trails in Indiana Dunes will allow you to see why that is. From beaches to bogs, to forests and oak savannas, to dunes and marshes, Indiana Dunes supports a huge amount of flora and fauna that you can experience on the trails. Plus, many Indiana Dunes hiking trails serve as learning opportunities where you can learn about the ecological significance of the area and about dune formation and succession.
While we wouldn’t say to put Indiana Dunes at the top of your National Park to-do list, if you do find yourself in the area, we highly recommend hiking.
Which Indiana Dunes hiking trails should you choose?
There are over 50 miles of hiking trails in Indiana Dunes National Park spread across 14 different trail systems.
These Indiana Dunes trails range from short half mile strolls to longer hikes through forest, swamps, and marshes (the longest being 6.8 miles). The good thing about hiking here is that most Indiana Dunes hikes are relatively easy. We’re not scaling mountains here…most hikes are pretty short with minor elevation gain. The harder ones are those that climb up and around dunes, which often involve walking on sand or climbing stairs. Combine that with the heat of midday and you can really start feeling it! But for the most part, many of the hikes in Indiana Dunes are doable for many people.
We recommend choosing 2-3 hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park to give you a good overview of what the park has to offer, and to observe a few different habitats and ecosystems.
Best Time to Hike in Indiana Dunes National Park
Some hikes in Indiana Dunes require climbing up long staircases up the dunes!
Spring, summer, and fall months are all good times to visit and hike at Indiana Dunes.
The weather in Indiana Dunes follows typical Midwest weather. Summers can get hot and humid, with average temperatures in the 80s. When we visited in mid-July, it was in the 90s. If you’re hiking midday, the sun can be strong, but the good thing is you’re never too far from a beach! Spring and fall have milder temperatures which may be better to hike in.
The park is still accessible in the winter, but it gets cold with average temperatures in the 30s and possible snow, making hiking difficult but skiing possible. Hiking in Indiana Dunes National Park along the Lake Michigan Shore in the winter will also give you views of the ice shelf that forms over the lake.
Three Easy Hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park
During our quick half day visit to Indiana Dunes, we wanted to pick a few trails that would give us a good representation of the park and its habitats. We ended up choosing these three trails in Indiana Dunes and want to share them with you to help you decide if these would interest you, too!
These Indiana Dunes hikes are on the easy side, especially to those used to hiking, although some portions may be considered moderate for those not used to it, but we promise, these are three totally doable hikes!
Map of Hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park
Below is a map showing the locations of the three hiking trails in Indiana Dunes that we’ll talk about in just a second.
Location of our three favorite Indiana Dunes hikes (map taken from the NPS)
Dunes Succession Trail
Distance: 0.93 miles
The Dunes Succession Trail was our favorite hike in Indiana Dunes National Park, mostly for its views.
This is a nearly one mile loop that is found at the West Beach parking area. This is one of the more crowded areas of the park because of the popularity of West Beach. Here, you’ll find water, restrooms, showers, and a concession stand. Plus, after your hike, you can take a dip in the refreshing water of Lake Michigan. Even though the parking lot and beach itself may be crowded, the trail itself probably won’t be (we found this to be the case for all of the hikes in Indiana Dunes!).
Hiking the Dunes Succession Trail
You’ll see the start of the Dunes Succession Trail at the top of the parking lot to the east of the restrooms- the big staircase will give it away…and on this Indiana Dunes hike, you will be climbing lots of those!
The Dunes Succession Trail is a loop hike. If you start the trail on these stairs, you’ll be completing the hike in a counterclockwise direction. Alternatively, you can continue straight on the path through the concession stand area and to the beach. The other trailhead at the other end of the Dunes Succession Trail begins after a short walk east on the beach. It doesn’t really matter which direction you hike the Dunes Succession Trail…you’ll be climbing about the same amount of stairs each way. We hiked in the counterclockwise direction, and liked ending our hike on the beach, because it gives you a chance to cool off in the water at the end of the hike if you wanted to. I thought it might also be harder to tell where to go in the clockwise direction starting along the beach, because we didn’t notice a sign or anything along the beach indicating the location of the trailhead here. But maybe we missed it!
The entire Dunes Succession hike in Indiana Dunes is either walking in sand or walking up and down stairs. We counted 255 stairs going up and 262 going down in the counterclockwise direction (give or take a few!), but we didn’t find the stairs too bad or grueling because they were pretty shallow steps.
Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to read about the stages of dune development as you climb up and over mostly forested dunes on your way to the beach. There are some open viewpoints along the way where you get views of Lake Michigan and even all the way out to Chicago on a clear day!
The park recently created a challenge around the Dunes Succession Trail called the Diana of the Dunes Dare in honor of Alice Mabel Gray, who broke traditional ways of life to live and hike among the dunes. The dune you climb along the trail is even called Diana’s Dune. If you finish this Indiana Dunes hike, you can collect a commemorative sticker at one of the visitor centers.
At the end of the Dunes Succession hike in Indiana Dunes, you’ll finish at the beach and can go for a dip in the summer!
Map of Indiana Dunes hiking trails at West Beach
West Beach trail map of hikes in Indiana Dunes (taken from the NPS)
Overall, the Dunes Succession trail is a great hike in Indiana Dunes if you’re looking for views, beach, and an opportunity to explore the park’s namesake – the dunes! It’s short and quick, and though there are lots of stairs, it’s not difficult if you’re a regular hiker (though it is the hardest Indiana Dunes hike on this list!).
Great Marsh Trail
Distance: 1.36 miles
The Great Marsh Trail is a flat and easy hike in Indiana Dunes National Park that takes you through the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. We picked this Indiana Dunes hike because it’s a great trail for birding, especially for spotting birds such as herons and cranes. It’s also a great trail to peep on the abundance of flowers and plant life in the park.
A trail map of the Great Marsh Trail in Indiana Dunes…this is found at the trailhead parking lot
The Great Marsh Trail is on Broadway Avenue, just off of Route 12. There are two lots (see the Great Marsh Trail map above for reference). The South lot (the first one you come to) is the main lot. It’s pretty small, but there were only one or two cars when we got there.
The North Lot is really meant for handicap accessibility as it allows for parking right near the observation deck over the marsh.
Hiking the Great Marsh Trail
This Indiana Dunes hiking trail is a lollipop-shaped trail, with a side branch to the North lot and the observation deck. The observation deck is really the only place along the trail where you can see the marsh. The rest of the trail is through forest and wetlands.
The Great Marsh Trail in Indiana Dunes is a relaxing stroll through marsh and forest
We actually didn’t see too much on this Indiana Dunes hike. We heard lots of birds, but they were hard to spot! Often, they took off just as I would notice one, but I did see a couple of cool birds with blue and red colors, and an egret walking around in the marsh in the distance. If you really are looking to spot some cool birds, you’ll need some time and patience and a good eye! It would definitely help to bring along a pair of binoculars or a camera with a good zoom on it.
Also, just north along Broadway Avenue you can see the marsh right from the road, so you might have a better chance of observing and spotting them there, too!
Some things to note about the Great Marsh Trail, however, are
It’s very buggy here since you are in a marsh environment, so bring bug spray!
The trail can be overgrown in some places, so you might be walking through some brush as times. Watch out for poison ivy here and when you’re done, check for ticks!
In general, even if you don’t end up spotting too much in the way of wildlife, the Great Marsh Trail a pretty nice, quiet, and peaceful walk in Indiana Dunes. The abundant flowers along the trail are beautiful, too.
Mount Baldy Beach Trail
Distance: 0.64 miles
The Mount Baldy Beach Trail is a short hike in Indiana Dunes that allows you to experience both the dunes and the beach.
Mount Baldy is an iconic dune in the park. It’s one of the most dynamic dunes in the area, moving inland at a rate of about 4 feet per year, but can move up to 20! It has even started encroaching on the parking lot, and when we were there, a section of the lot had been roped off because of the receding dune.
Mount Baldy encroaching on the parking lot in Indiana Dunes!
The Beach trail is a short out and back hike in Indiana Dunes that skirts around the side of Mount Baldy and brings you to a beach along Lake Michigan. The hike is described as strenuous, but we wouldn’t call it that. It does go uphill, but it’s super short.
Hiking the Mount Baldy Beach Trail
This hike in Indiana Dunes starts along the edge of the parking lot where you see a set of stairs. The trail goes through a forested area but you’ll be walking mostly through sand, which is what gives this trail any of its difficulty. It’s a slight uphill climb along the side of the dune until you reach a pretty overlook of the beach and Lake Michigan.
The short forested path on the Mount Baldy Trail in Indiana Dunes
The edge of the dune before the climb down to the beach on the Mount Baldy beach hike in Indiana Dunes
From here, it’s a steep climb down the sandy dune to the beach. This is the part that gives the trail its strenuous label…because to get back, you’ll have to climb back up this steep sandy section. However, it’s very brief and doable.
While at the beach, soak in the views (though keep your expectations at bay…these views also encompass the surrounding steel mills and industrial plants of the nearby areas!). You can even pack your beach gear and wear your suit to go for a swim, but we would recommend packing light for the hike out!
Walking along the beach at the end of the Mount Baldy hike in Indiana Dunes
The view of Mount Baldy sand dune from the beach
Important note about the Mount Baldy Trail: Along the trail, you’ll see an intersection for the Mount Baldy Summit Trail…this goes up to the summit of Mount Baldy, giving gorgeous views over the area and Lake Michigan. However, this trail has been closed to the general public for both safety concerns and for restoration efforts. You can only access the summit of Mount Baldy on a ranger-guided tour which is offered occasionally (primarily weekends) throughout the summer months. Check the park calendar to see when they are offered.
There was plenty of parking in the Mount Baldy lot on a midday in midweek, but we can imagine this lot gets pretty busy on the weekends in the summer. Restrooms and a water station can also be found here.
Other Indiana Dunes National Park Trails
We think these three Indiana hikes give a good representation of the park, but if you’re looking for more Indiana Dunes hiking suggestions, check out the National Park service site for a complete list of their 14 trails. Also, check out this page for a map of all the hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park.
What to Pack for Hiking in Indiana Dunes National Park
Some of the best hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park, well, climb the dunes!
Here are a few specific items we would recommend having if you plan to hit the trails in Indiana Dunes National Park.
Water – bring a reusable bottle. At the larger trailheads (like those with beaches), there are often water refill stations…make sure to take advantage of them! Drink lots because it gets hot in the summer months.
Bug spray – especially for marshy and forested trails.
Snacks/lunch – Indiana Dunes is a great place to enjoy a picnic in between hikes.
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses – You’ll need protection from the hot summer sun.
Sneakers – We wouldn’t say you need hiking specific shoes or boots, but sneakers would be good to walk along the sandy or muddy terrain.
Long pants – We would say to consider long pants for hiking through any marshy or forested habitats to help protect from any poison ivy or ticks/bugs.
Binoculars or a camera with a good zoom – if you want to spot birds and other wildlife!
Bathing suit and towel - Two of these Indiana Dunes hikes end at a beach! Especially during the summer months, taking a dip can be a refreshing way to cool off in the midday heat.
Final Tips for Hiking in Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park now requires an entry fee. It used to be that Indiana Dunes was free to enter, but not anymore! A park pass is required, and these cost $25 for one vehicle for 7 consecutive days. These can be bought on recreation.gov in advance or in person at the park’s visitor center. The park does also take the America the Beautiful Annual Pass, which covers entry fees to all National Park Service sites for a year, so if you plan on going to other National Parks soon before or after Indiana Dunes, we highly recommend it!
Check conditions and up to date trail closure information before you head out.
Consider the time of day you hike – in the height of summer, it can get into the 90s and humid. Try hiking early in the morning or evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Remember to check for ticks after your hikes, particularly after the marshy and boggy trails.
Before heading to a beach lot, check the beach parking information line offered by the park - it’s an automated recording updated throughout the day in the summer that allows you to plan ahead and avoid the disappointment of not finding parking. It also helps reduce congestion in the park’s busiest areas.
That’s a wrap! We hope this helped you and gave you a little bit better idea of which hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park might interest you! Are you planning on hiking at Indiana Dunes? Which hikes do you want to do?