Indiana Dunes National Park

Dunes National Park is a special place to really feel connected to the Earth. We visited in mid-October—it was very windy, cool, but that just added to the experience. The park rangers were friendly and welcoming. Some areas were closed, so we couldn’t explore everything, but still enjoyed the trails and open spaces. From a distance, Chicago looked almost like the Emerald City.

Dated on Monday, October 6th. My mother and I explored Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center and it opened after a few days after the government shutdown. We went to see the Lake View Beach by Michigan Lake, one of the five Great Lakes. Oh my god! It’s a massive lake to see! The water is clearly blue and a bit teal color. We spent around a half hour to sit down and enjoyed our beach view.

This park is definitely different to a lot of the other national parks out there. If you're willing to explore, you can find some quiet, peaceful areas of the park. The beach can be accessed in a number of different spots and the lake was very calm during my visit.

Great beach that you can take a dog (on leash) water was clear and comfortable. Not many people when we visited. Smallest hike I recommend shorts and sandals. Good amount of stairs with sometimes deep sand. Highly recommend for a day trip, seems safe and comfortable for kids and pets.

Went and did the little trail to the beach for Mt baldy. Drove the roads next to the lake and saw the historical houses. Very cool little pit stop you shouldn't miss! Ended our journey with the Diana of the dunes trail loved learning about her and her history of the area. Looks like a great place to have a beach day in the summer.

Indiana Dunes National Park, just an hour from Chicago, is a scenic escape with 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and a wide variety of landscapes. Visitors can relax on sandy beaches, swim, or watch the sunset, while more adventurous explorers can hike over 50 miles of trails through sand dunes, prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. The park is also a hotspot for biodiversity, home to hundreds of bird species and rare plants, making it a favorite for nature lovers. While it’s a convenient and beautiful getaway, the park can get very crowded in summer, with parking lots and popular beaches filling up early. Trails are well-marked but should be followed carefully to protect fragile dune ecosystems. With its mix of outdoor recreation, wildlife, and easy access from the city, Indiana Dunes offers a refreshing balance of relaxation and adventure.

This national (and state) park is one of the most unique, beautiful parks that’s centered along water. Me and my wife spent 4 days in Michigan city and this was the main attraction for the entire trip! there is so much you can do here, so many awesome views, trails, sunsets, dunes you can climb, and miles of shoreline to explore. The best part is (esp if you dont like the ocean and the crowds) this place brings the best of both worlds: Feels and looks JUST like the ocean (but cleaner and not humid) but don’t have to worry about sharks and all that stuff. We also did the 3 Dunes Challenge (if you don’t know, look it up 😉 which was really cool and rewarding. We couldn’t explore every trail and area of the park since there was so much to see so definitely take a few days to go to everything.