INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK Indiana Dunes National Park 1600 North 25 East • Chesterton, IN 46304-1142 • (219) 926-1952 10 INDIANA DUNES STATE PARK 2,182 acres Established 1925 It should be noted that one of Big Blowout the purposes for the park is to protect and preserve this rare Paradise Valley landscape. Many sensitive plants and animals live on the • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited except in designated areas. dunes and are easily affected by • Maps and information available at park gatehouse. erosion caused by foot traffic Furnessville Blowout Trail 10 and other activities. Hiking in 9 The l Boardwalk areas other than marked trails or Trai 10 Pinery ge r ta designated areas is prohibited. o LAKE MICHIGAN P ia n Ind LOCATION MAP Lake Michigan can be dangerous. Beach Lake Michigan For your safety, swim in guarded areas only. House Blowout J.D. MARSHALL Pets are strictly prohibited on Swimming Beach. 9 To Michigan City UNDERWATER 10 DUNES Gate Entrance 94 PRESERVE 10 NATURE 12 100 acres 9 PRESERVE To Gary Chesterton Prevent Dune Erosion 2 1,530 acres 49 Please Stay on Marked Trails 20 9 Wetland Mt. Holden • INDIANA DUNES Observation EL. 184 Platform STATE PARK 4 7 MAR SH T r a i 8 l 8 10 2 4 8 B o North a r Mt. Jackson d Indianapolis Mt. Tom 8 w SWIMMING ONLY EL. 176 a • EL. 192 lk Pavilion Devil's 7 9 Slide MAR SH 8 4 7 Beach Nature T Campground 10 ResidenceAsst. P.M. r Shelter Center 2 To Michigan City Indiana Dunes a atu DNR il N re To Mt. Baldy National Park C e Bird Annex nter Trail Observation City West Platform Shelter North Orchard Shelter TRAIL TABLE Campground Trail mileage is approximate. Gatehouse Gate TRAIL MILEAGE TRAIL TYPE 8 2 3 Easy Southwest Wilson 2 3 1 Moderate Shelter Shelter 4 .75 Moderate 3 7 1.1 Moderate Duneside Park 2 8 1.5 Rugged 3 Office Shelter 2 9 3.75 Rugged Property 10 5.5 Moderate DUNES Manager's Area 1 Nissaki PRAIRIE Residence Youth LEGEND NATURE Tent Tremont Shelter PRESERVE Area 2 Camp Dunes Highway Boundary Accessible 58 acres k Chicago Southshore & South Bend Railroad Road Parking C r e e 12 e s n Hiking Trail Comfort Station Waverly Road Waverly u 0 ¼ ½ D Area 3 Calumet Trail Hike/Bike Trail Camp Store Entrance Approximate Scale in Miles Connecting Trail Restaurant Marsh Area State Park Road Picnic Area Nature Preserve Shelter Indiana Dunes National Park Boardwalk Dump Station 49 Please carry out all trash you produce Railroad Observation Platform in order to keep your park clean and Dunes Park and To Bailly Homestead beautiful for others to enjoy. Nature Center South Shore and Chellberg Farm To Chesterton Calumet Trail Access Train Station (National Park) 11/2020 THE INDIANA DUNES RULES AND REGULATIONS DESCRIPTION OF HIKING TRAILS Visitors can enjoy Indiana Dunes State Park in a wide • Do not injure or damage any structure, rock, tree, TRAIL & DESCRIPTION DISTANCE DIFFICULTY variety of ways. A campground, many picnic shelters flower, bird or wild animal. Do NOT gather limbs, brush Trail 2 3 miles Easy and picnic areas, more than 16 miles of hiking trails, a or trees (either dead or alive) for firewood because they swimming beach, and the Nature Center are available for rebuild the natural humus. The best trail for early spring flowers and ferns. Climax visitors’ use and are operated with visitor safety in mind. • Any firearm (except lawfully possessed handguns), forest is used for cross-country skiing during the winter During the summer season, a beach pavilion provides BB gun, air gun, CO2 gun, bow and arrow, paint gun season. shelter, restrooms with outside showers only, a snack or spear gun in possession in a state park must be bar, and gift shop. unloaded or un-nocked and stored in a case or locked Trail 3 .75 miles Moderate Dunes Nature Preserve, encompassing 1,530 acres and within a vehicle, except when owner is participating in Provides an opportunity to view succession in dunes located within the boundaries of the state park, provides an activity authorized by written permit. visitors with an opportunity to explore pristine and unique area. Excellent for late spring wildflowers, including • Dogs and cats must be attended at all times and kept prickly pear cactus. landscapes. on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Indiana Dunes State Park features a wide variety of • Vending or advertising without permission of the habitats, including beach, sand dunes, black oak forest, .75 miles Moderate Department of Natural Resources is prohibited. Trail 4 wooded wetlands, and a button-bush marsh. Together, Goes through dunes covered with black oak forest. these areas contain some of the most diverse flora and • Camping is permitted only in the campground. Youth fauna in the Midwest. Botanists from across the country groups must be under adult supervision. No youth enjoy studying the unusual collection of plant life. In fact, groups permitted in the family campground. Campers Trail 7 1.1 miles Moderate it was here that Henry Cowles, known to many as the must be 18 to register for a campsite. Similar to Trail 4. Most direct route from Nature Center “father of ecology” did his landmark studies of succession • Fires shall be built only in designated places. to beach. in the early 1900s. As a result of his work, Indiana Dunes • Please comply with the Carry In/Carry Out trash policy became known as “the birthplace of ecology." in all day-use areas. Overnight guests must put waste Trail 8 1.5 miles Rugged The dunes provide an opportunity to explore an exciting in receptacles provided for that purpose. and ever-changing landscape. In several areas, huge Goes over the tops of the three highest dunes of the • Motorists shall observe posted speed limits and park “living” or “moving” dunes are slowly being blown inland, Indiana Dunes. only in designated areas. burying forests as they go. A prime example can be seen from Trail 9. • Swimming is limited to places and times designated by Trail 9 3.75 miles Rugged the Department of Natural Resources. Other interesting features include “tree graveyards” Provides best representative view of the dunes. Good (places where forests have been buried by sand and • Drinking water should be taken only from pumps, view of lake. then, more recently, re-exposed by wind erosion). “Tree hydrants or fountains provided for that purpose. graveyards” can be seen in Big Blowout, near Trail 10. • Report lost or found articles to the park office. The Indiana Dunes area also is renowned throughout • All-terrain vehicles are prohibited in the park. Trail 10 5.5 miles Moderate the Midwest for its birding. Visit the Nature Center to ask • Metal detectors are allowed on the beach from Hikers are rewarded by stands of white pine and a about good birding locations. September to May, with written permission from the "tree graveyard" in Big Blowout. A good morning hike. Indiana Dunes State Park is surrounded by Indiana property manager. Dunes National Park, a federally administered park PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. comprising approximately 15,000 acres. For more ALWAYS BRING ENOUGH WATER. information about the National Park, write: Indiana Dunes For a complete list of rules and regulations, inquire at property office. National Park, 1100 N. Mineral Springs Rd., Porter, IN 46304; or call (219) 926-7561. CALUMET TRAIL FRIENDS OF INDIANA DUNES The Calumet Trail is a 9.2-mile trail designed for bicycling, jogging, hiking and cross-country skiing. It lies THIS IS YOUR PARK Friends of Indiana Dunes, Inc., fosters understanding, adjacent to Indiana Dunes State Park and passes through appreciation and enjoyment of the dunes by sponsoring Visitors shall observe the following rules, which are Indiana Dunes National Park, providing a link to several special events and educational programs. For information designed to fulfill the purpose for which state parks were points of interest. on membership and upcoming events, contact: established, namely, to preserve a primitive landscape in The Calumet Trail was developed on land leased from its natural condition for the public's use and enjoyment. the Northern Indiana Public Service Company. It lies P.O. Box 166, within the company’s utility corridor, and was developed Please let wild animals remain wild. Beverly Shores, IN 46301 with the assistance of the Northern Indiana Public Service Feeding deer is prohibited. Feeding of wild animals can StateParks.IN.gov/2980.htm Company and the National Park Service. result in harm to both animals and people. Animals who (Click on the "Activities" tab.) depend on handouts become a nuisance to visitors and a danger to themselves. Please lock up all food and coolers For a list of park events, visit inside cars or campers. Roll up car windows tightly. interpretiveservices.IN.gov ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM BIRDING—Excellent spring and fall migration Reservations for all types of camping, family opportunities. See Nature Center for current cabins, and shelters at state parks, reservoirs sightings. CAMP. and forests can be made online or by calling Indiana Dunes CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEM CAMPING—Campground has two comfort stations toll-free. that are equipped with flush toilets, hot water and Call: 1-866-6campIN (1-866-622-6746) showers. 140 campsites with 50 amp. service can Online: camp.IN.gov accommodate camping structures up to 50 feet long. Reservations for the Indiana State Park Inns and Occupancy is limited to 14 consecutive nights. Inn-operated cabins can be made online or by phone. Reservations are available through the Central Reservation System.