Places to Explore / Indiana

Indiana Dunes State Park

Sandy climbs, wooded dune trails, and wide-open views of Lake Michigan.

Chesterton, IndianaDunes · Woodland · Beach · Lake MichiganPhotographs from Brian’s past visits
A sandy shoreline bordered by dune slopes and bare trees beside turquoise water at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Where the dunes meet the beach

Lake, sand & woodland

A shoreline with a different view around every bend

Indiana Dunes State Park brings together Lake Michigan beaches, high dunes, and forest in Chesterton, Indiana. It is a separate state-managed park within the wider Indiana Dunes region.

These photographs follow the landscape from the beach and creek mouth to sandy ridges and quiet woodland paths. Golden grasses, bare branches, exposed roots, and weathered wood stand out against the blue water.

The photographs record past visits rather than current trail or beach conditions.

Dark blue creek water curving through pale beach sand beside Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Dunes Creek at the beach
A long wooden stairway descending over grassy dunes toward woodland at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Stairs over the dunes

Up through the dunes

Wooden stairs, sandy climbs & lake overlooks

The collection includes the summit signs at Mount Holden and Mount Jackson, part of the park’s 3 Dune Challenge. Other photographs show the changing character of the walk: sheltered woods, wooden stairways, open slopes, and views over the lake.

The official trail map rates Trail 8, the 1.5-mile route over the three highest dunes, as rugged. Choose a route that suits your ability, and stay on marked trails to protect the dunes.

Pause and look closer

Birds along the lakeshore

A Bufflehead on the water and a gull at the shore add small moments of wildlife to this landscape collection. Watch the water as well as the sand; birds can be easy to overlook against such a wide horizon.

The park is also a spring and fall migration destination, with a bird observation platform. Check the nature center for recent sightings.

A gray-and-white gull with yellow legs standing on wet sand at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Gull at the water’s edge

Through Brian’s lens

Photographs from Indiana Dunes State Park

Explore 32 photographs of the beach, dunes, wooded trails, and lakeshore wildlife. Select any photograph to open the slideshow.

Blue Lake Michigan and a sandy beach seen from a dune above the shoreline at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Lake Michigan from the dunes
A sandy path through leafless trees and golden grasses toward Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A sandy opening toward the lake
A small Bufflehead with a white cheek patch floating on turquoise lake water at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Bufflehead on Lake Michigan
A broad sandy beach below pale dune ridges and leafless trees at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Beach and dune ridges
A sandy climb between grass-covered dunes with protective fencing at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A climb through the dunes
A sandy shoreline bordered by dune slopes and bare trees beside turquoise water at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Where the dunes meet the beach
Leafless trees casting branching shadows across sand above Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Trees at the edge of the dunes
A pale sandy ridge bordered by leafless woodland at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A wooded dune ridge
Load additional photographs (24)
A leafless tree on a sandy dune with blue Lake Michigan beyond at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Lake view beside a dune tree
Exposed roots and sparse grasses across the face of a sandy dune at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Roots on a sandy slope
A narrow sandy trail passing through bare trees toward blue lake water at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Through the woods toward the water
A long wooden stairway descending over grassy dunes toward woodland at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Stairs over the dunes
Wooden steps with railings descending through leafless woods at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Woodland stairway
A broad sandy trail climbing through leafless woodland at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A sandy woodland trail
The Mount Holden 3 Dune Challenge sign with Lake Michigan beyond the trees at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Mount Holden overlook
The Mount Jackson 3 Dune Challenge sign and a bench overlooking wooded dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Mount Jackson summit sign
Slender leafless trees and brown leaf litter on rolling woodland ground at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Woodland between the dunes
A hiker climbing a sandy route through dry dune grasses at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Climbing a grassy dune
A grassy dune slope with a small evergreen against a clear blue sky at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Golden grasses and blue sky
A hollow between grass-covered dunes opening toward blue Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Lake Michigan beyond a dune hollow
A sandy path following a ridge bordered by golden grasses and leafless trees at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Along a grassy dune ridge
Weathered bare trunks and low evergreens on dune slopes above Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Weathered trees on the dunes
A hiker standing on a sandy ridge overlooking Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A pause above Lake Michigan
Rolling sandy dunes and a long stretch of beach beside Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Dune ridges and open shoreline
A pale sandy path winding between grass-covered dune slopes at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A winding dune path
A narrow sandy trail climbing beside dune grasses with the lake to the left at Indiana Dunes State Park.
A narrow lakeside climb
Small waves along a broad beach below a bank of golden dune grasses at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Beach below the dune grasses
A long sandy beach bordered by low dunes under a clear blue sky at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Looking along the beach
Clumps of golden grasses growing across low sandy dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Grasses anchoring the sand
A sun-bleached fallen tree resting among dune grasses with Lake Michigan behind at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Weathered wood above the shore
A gray-and-white gull with yellow legs standing on wet sand at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Gull at the water’s edge
Dark blue creek water curving through pale beach sand beside Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Dunes Creek at the beach

Plan a visit

Exploring Indiana Dunes State Park

Getting there

The park address is 1600 North 25 East, Chesterton, Indiana. Use the state park’s official map to find parking, trails, and facilities.

Choose your walk

Combine a shoreline visit with a woodland walk or a dune climb. The trail map describes routes of different lengths and difficulty levels.

Come prepared

Bring water and footwear suited to loose sand. Follow posted closures and beach instructions, and use marked paths through sensitive dune habitat.

Check before you go

Consult Indiana DNR for current entrance fees, hours, beach information, and alerts. State park visitor requirements are separate from those of the neighboring national park.

Visitor information and further reading: Indiana DNR — Indiana Dunes State Park · Official park and trail map (PDF).

Photographs by Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife.

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