Places to Explore / Indiana

Cowles Bog

Wetland discoveries, woodland paths, and a sandy climb toward Lake Michigan.

Indiana Dunes National Park · Dune Acres, IndianaWetlands · Woodland · Dunes · ShorelinePhotographs from Brian’s past visits
A sandy dune trail opening toward blue Lake Michigan at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Lake Michigan beyond the dunes

More than sand dunes

A walk through changing habitats

Cowles Bog is part of Indiana Dunes National Park. The trail links wetlands, black oak savanna, dunes, and the Lake Michigan shoreline.

These photographs follow the details along the way: reflections in shallow water, ferns beneath the trees, wooden walkways, and openings where the lake comes into view. Leafless woodland scenes sit alongside the fresh greens of the growing season.

A wooden boardwalk beneath green woodland trees at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Woodland boardwalk
An adult Sandhill Crane with a small colt in green wetland vegetation at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Sandhill Crane and colt

Pause and look closer

Crane families and small discoveries

The photographs include Sandhill Cranes with their young, an Eastern Bluebird, a Swamp Sparrow, and an American Crow. A snake rests among tangled branches, while a tiny insect occupies a single green leaf.

Plants add another layer of detail: skunk cabbage, wintergreen berries, blue-eyed grass, columbine, and yellow puccoon flowers. Together, the images show how much there is to notice between the trailhead and the shore.

These are photographs from past visits, rather than a promise of what will be visible on any particular day.

From the photo archive

Cowles Bog in photographs

Click any photograph to open the slideshow. Use the arrows to browse, or swipe on a phone. Additional photographs expand into this same gallery.

A sandy dune trail opening toward blue Lake Michigan at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Lake Michigan beyond the dunes
A wooden boardwalk beneath green woodland trees at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Woodland boardwalk
An adult Sandhill Crane with a small colt in green wetland vegetation at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Sandhill Crane and colt
A Sandhill Crane standing among dry wetland grasses at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Sandhill Crane portrait
An Eastern Bluebird perched against a blue sky at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Eastern Bluebird
A Swamp Sparrow perched at the tip of a bare stem at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Swamp Sparrow
A patterned snake coiled among tangled branches and green leaves at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Snake among the branches
Red pointed skunk cabbage flowers emerging among wet leaves at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Eastern Skunk Cabbage
View 22 more photographs
Red wintergreen berries beneath green leaves on the woodland floor at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Wintergreen berries
A small pale blue flower with a yellow center among slender leaves at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Blue-eyed grass
Green ferns covering the ground beneath woodland trees at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Fern-filled woodland
Blue sky reflected in shallow water among wetland plants at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Wetland reflections
White three-petaled flowers with yellow centers above green leaves at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Arrowhead flowers
A pale pink wild rose with a cluster of yellow stamens at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Pink wild rose
A Sandhill Crane standing in bright green wetland vegetation at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Crane in the wetland
A narrow dirt path winding through leafy green woodland at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Woodland footpath
A cluster of bright yellow flowers beside woodland vegetation at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Hairy Puccoon
Exposed tree roots crossing a shaded sandy trail at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Roots along the trail
Purple and white flower buds on an upright stem at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Purple wildflowers
Nodding red columbine flowers with yellow tips at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Red Columbine
An open wetland bordered by grasses and shrubs beneath a pale sky at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Wetland opening
A wooden boardwalk through trees with bare branches at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Boardwalk before leaf-out
A sandy opening among leafless trees overlooking Lake Michigan at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Dune view toward the lake
Low sandy dunes and grasses below a clear blue sky at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Dunes beneath a blue sky
Tall dry grasses rising from pale dune sand at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Dune grasses
A dirt trail through bare woodland trees and fallen leaves at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Leafless woodland trail
A Sandhill Crane beside a small colt in green grass at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Sandhill Crane family
A broad sandy beach beside blue Lake Michigan at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Lake Michigan shoreline
An American Crow perched with its dark feathers catching the light at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
American Crow
A small dark insect resting on a bright green leaf at Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes National Park.
Small insect on a leaf

Plan a visit

Exploring Cowles Bog

Getting there

The main north trailhead is at 1450 North Mineral Springs Road, Dune Acres, Indiana. A second trailhead is at the Greenbelt lot, 1184 North Mineral Springs Road.

The hike

The full route is 4.7 miles. NPS rates it moderate to rugged, with steep climbs through loose sand near the lake. A cutoff avoids the steep dunes and shoreline.

Come prepared

Bring drinking water; there is no potable water at the trailheads. The trail is not wheelchair accessible. Stay on marked trails to protect fragile habitat.

Check before you go

A park entrance pass is required. Check the official park information for current passes, conditions, and visitor guidance before heading out.

Visitor information: National Park Service — Cowles Bog Trail.

Photographs by Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife.

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