Indiana Dunes

Activities: Camping, Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing

Links

State Park: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/properties/park_dunes.html
National Lakeshore: http://www.nps.gov/indu/

Getting there

To get to the Dunes by train take the South Shore line from 55-56-57th street Metra station. The ride takes about an hour. The weekend fares are $5.50 one way as of 04/2005. The schedules and the fares are online at http://www.nictd.com.

Driving to the Dunes takes about 50 minutes.

Hiking

Trail Map (PDF, 196KB)

There are a number of trails in the park. Trail #10 that goes around the whole park (first through the dunes and then back along the lakeshore) takes about 3 hours.

Cross-Country Skiing

I have never skiied at Indiana Dunes. The trails are ungroomed and not good for skate skiing. The advantage of this area is the convenient access by either train or car. Rentals are (in theory) not available at the park. More information on rentals may be available by calling the number to the park.

Chesterton is a nice town.

Indiana Dunes State Park
1600 North 25 E.
Chesterton, IN 46304
219-926-1952

Camping

There are campgrounds in the State Park and the National Lakeshore. They are first come, first served. Resources > Camping And Hiking > Indiana Dunes