When I planned my trip to Indiana Dunes, I wasn’t expecting much. That’s not because the pictures didn’t look nice, but it didn’t look that different from where I call home. Both Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park sit on the shores of Lake Michigan. The scenery is beautiful, but as someone who has lived within ten miles of Lake Michigan their entire life (just in Wisconsin, not Indiana), I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it. So when I planned my trip, I focused more on the Indiana Dunes hikes rather than relaxing at the lake.
After my visit, I can say it was worth the stop, even for those of us who are used to views of Lake Michigan.
My mom and I spent a half day at Indiana Dunes which is enough for a little bit of hiking. For most people though, I’d recommend a full day here. This allows you to hike Indiana Dunes in the morning and hang out on the beach in the afternoon. We skipped the beach in the afternoon since that’s something we could easily do at home.
Here’s how we spent our day and how I recommend other people spend their day in this area.
Paul H. Douglas Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park
We started our morning early with some hiking at Indiana Dunes National Park. At the time we visited, the Paul Douglas Center was closed for renovations which meant parking was extremely limited (aka, there were four parking spots available). This trail was very high on our list and I’m so glad we were able to do it. Now days, most of the renovations are complete so parking isn’t as tricky as it was during my visit.
The Paul H. Douglas Trail is a 3.5 mile out and back trail that takes you from the visitor center, through the woods, and all the way out to the shores of Lake Michigan. For such a short trail, you certainly get a lot of variety.
The first mile is pretty easy, but after that, you will hit dunes. This next 2.5 miles (1.25 miles to Lake Michigan and 1.25 miles back) is the hardest. It was relatively flat (although there were some minor hills – this is Indiana Dunes), but you’re walking on sand so this part takes a lot longer.
The trail was beautiful and was a joy all by itself. However, I’m a sucker for the Chicago skyline. Imagine my surprise when we arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan and I could actually see Chicago in the distance. Unfortunately I don’t have any good pictures of it because I had to zoom in too much to get a decent photo, but if you have a clear day you will be able to see the Chicago skyline in the distance. You’ll also see the industrial plant from Gary on your left and from Burns Harbor on your right. Block out those and enjoy Lake Michigan.
Since parking was extremely limited, we only passed two people on the trail. There were more people on the beach, but still very few. Although keep in mind, when I hiked in 2022, the main parking lot was limited to just four cars.
This trail took us about two hours, including our long break once we reached Lake Michigan. If we only count time spent hiking, it was closer to an hour and a half, but I’d recommend spending a least some time on this beach. I’ve lived within ten miles of Lake Michigan my entire life and even I enjoyed sitting and enjoying the view here.
The Paul H. Douglas Trail is part of Indiana Dunes National Park and costs $15 per vehicle to visit. Stop at the Visitor Center to pay your fee (there are no fee stations to get into the park). If you have an America the Beautiful pass, leave your pass clearly displayed on your dashboard while you hike.
3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park
We were doing great on time, so we headed to Indiana Dunes State Park to do some more hiking. We were visiting Indiana Dunes, so taking on the 3 Dune Challenge seemed like a great option.
There are several hiking trails that weave their way through the state park and you could easily follow one of those. The 3 Dune Challenge takes you to the top of the three tallest dunes in the park by utilizing a combination of three of these trails.
At only 1.5 miles with only 552 feet of elevation gain, it seems like it should be pretty easy Indiana Dunes hike. It wouldn’t be that bad, but you’re walking up sand dunes so each step is difficult because you can’t find firm ground. So it feels like one step forward and half a step back.
When you exit the Nature Center, head to the left (right if you’re facing the building). This challenge does make a circle so you could go either way, but heading to the left to tackle Mount Jackson first is the best option. By doing this, you’ll get the hardest parts of the hike over early.
The challenge is very clearly marked so watch for signs. You’ll climb to the top of Mount Jackson at 176 feet, Mount Holden at 184 feet, and will be incredibly relieved when you get to Mount Tom and see the stairs. Rather than climbing up a sand dune, you get to take actual stairs to the 192 foot peak of Mount Tom. After climbing in through the sand for the other two dunes, the stairs will be a welcome relief. We finished the challenge in just over an hour. When you’re done, don’t forget to go back to the Visitor Center (not the Nature Center where this hike starts). Everyone who completes this challenge gets a free vinyl sticker.
Time for a Break
We still had another two and a half hours of driving ahead of us and by now we were sweaty, sandy, and ready to be done hiking. We did make a quick stop at the Pavilion in the state park and arrived just before 11:00. There were already a lot of people here. It was clear that this was the beach that people went to have fun. We didn’t stay long, but after a morning full of hiking at Indiana Dunes, this is a great place to go to cool off in the waters of Lake Michigan.
We instead headed out of the park and on to our next destination. However, we did make a quick stop at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center to get our free sticker.
For people who aren’t in a rush to get to their next destination, there is a public access beach behind the Pavilion which makes a great place to spend an afternoon.
So How Should You Spend Your Time?
I highly recommend the Paul H. Douglas Trail. It was definitely a highlight and gives a great overview of the different ecosystems that exist around Lake Michigan. If you can only do one Indiana Dunes hike, I recommend this one.
If you still have the energy or are looking for a challenge, The 3 Dune Challenge can be a great option to do some hiking at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Spend the afternoon at the beach. We live on Lake Michigan (in Wisconsin, not Indiana), so this was less important to us. But for others, this can be a great way to just have some fun.
For one full day, you can hike the Paul H. Douglas Trail first thing in the morning, do the 3 Dune Challenge, and finish with a picnic lunch and an afternoon on the beach.
Where to Stay
For those needing a hotel near Indiana Dunes, look at hotels near Chesterton, IN. Our hotel in Chesterton was a 20 minute drive from the Paul H. Douglas Trailhead and 10 minutes from the Nature Center and the start of the 3 Dune Challenge.
Know Before You Go
Admission for Indiana Dunes National Park: $15 per vehicle, which valid for 7 days. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass. Pay your admission fee and the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center located as 1215 IN-49 in Porter, IN.
Admission for Indiana Dunes State Park: $7 (Indiana License Plates) or $12 (Out of State License Plates). You will go through a booth to pay your fee as you drive into the state park. For more information, visit Indiana DNR Website.
Continue Your Adventure
Similar National Parks: If you’re after epic sand dunes, consider visiting Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park or New Mexico’s White Sands National Park.
More in the Midwest: If you’re in the Midwest, there’s plenty more you can check out. Indiana Dunes is not far from Chicago, IL.
Slightly Further Away: It’s a bit of a drive, but you’re close enough to two other national parks. Visit Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Or, be like me, and head down to Kentucky for Mammoth Cave.