About this city
Also known as: The Birthplace of Ecological Succession
Indiana Dunes National Park is a globally unique environmental preserve stretching across fifteen miles of the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties, Indiana. Formally designated as America's 61st national park in 2019, it encompasses over 15,000 acres of exceptionally diverse ecosystems, featuring colossal wind-sculpted sand dunes, ancient oak savannas, rare maple bogs, and lush wetlands. The park ranks among the top five most biologically diverse protected areas in the United States national park system. It offers an incredible immediate juxtaposition of pristine wilderness trails and pristine sandy beaches alongside the historic heavy industrial silhouettes of the Rust Belt.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–3 days
Challenge yourself to climb the towering sand slopes of the legendary Mount Baldy or the Three Dune Challenge. Relax, swim, or view the sunset on the sandy expanse of West Beach. Hike through rare interdunal wetlands along the scenic Cowles Bog Trail. Explore early French-Canadian trade artifacts and historic buildings at the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm.
