National park · Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Park

Lake Michigan sand dunes preserved over a century of grassroots fighting, where rare ecosystems and 20th-century steel-mill country meet on the southern shore.

Entrance
$25 private vehicle
Hours
6:00AM - 11:00PM daily Indiana Dunes National Park general areas
Established
February 15, 2019
Region
Great Lakes & Upper Midwest
Indiana Dunes National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Indiana Dunes National Park patch

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History

Indiana Dunes National Park is significant for its unique ecosystems and the preservation efforts that began in the early 20th century to protect its natural beauty. It reflects the changing human interactions with the environment, from Native American hunting grounds to European settlement and industrialization.

Key events

  1. City West, a planned rival to Chicago, was partly built in 1837 but failed during a national economic panic.
  2. November 5, 1966Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore established by Congress along Lake Michigan.
  3. February 15, 2019Redesignated as Indiana Dunes National Park, the 61st U.S. national park.
  4. The Hoosier Slide, a large dune, was completely consumed by 1920 for its sand, which was ideal for glass manufacturing.

Trails

  • Dune Succession Trail 1 mi · Moderate
  • Cowles Bog Trail 4.7 mi · Moderate
  • 3 Dune Challenge 1.5 mi · Hard
  • West Beach Trail 2.5 mi · Moderate
  • Bailly Homestead Trail 2 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Indiana Dunes National Park general areas

6:00AM - 11:00PM, every day

The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation.

Entrance fees

  • Motorcycle $20
  • Private Vehicle $25
  • Per Person $15

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Summer. Best beach weather, swimming, all facilities open
  • Spring. Bird migration, wildflowers, Indiana Dunes Birding Festival
  • Fall. Fall foliage, fewer crowds, fall bird migration
  • Winter. Snow-covered dunes, cross-country skiing, solitude

Wildlife

CoyotesWhite-tailed deerBeaversGreat blue heronsBald eaglesSandpipersWarblersRed foxes

Nearby patches

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