- Explore the miles of walking paths and hiking trails.
- Grab your binoculars for rare and migrating bird sightings.
- Pitch a tent and sleep under the stars.
- Pack a picnic.
- Make a splash in Lake Michigan.
- Build sandcastles along 15 miles of shoreline.
- Grab your sunscreen and relax on the sandy beaches.
- Look for wildlife.
- Try to spot more than 1,100 native flowering plants and ferns.
- Enjoy a shuttle tour of the park (seasonal).
- Set out on a ranger-led sunset hike.
- Visit the Paul H. Douglas Center for activities and programs.
- Gaze at the stars through telescopes (monthly programs).
- Bike on paved or rugged trails.
- Paddle on the Lake Michigan Water Trail.
- Climb a sand dune.
- Discover some of the last surviving and highest quality oak savannas in the world.
- Take a scenic drive.
- Peep the colorful leaves in the fall.
- Search for beach glass and shells.
- Fly a kite on a windy day.
- Immerse yourself in history at Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead.
- Surf the waves on Lake Michigan.
- Check your coordinates and geocache.
- Fish for coho salmon, trout, perch, bass and more.
- Set sail or launch your boat at a designated boat launch.
- Snowshoe along the trails in the winter.
- Spot an abundance of wildflowers in the spring and summer.
- Mark your calendar for Apple Festival this fall.
- Experience “floating mats” of moss at Pinhook Bog on a ranger-led hike.
- Make crafts or build forts at the Playdate in the Nature Play Zone.
- Walk your furry friends along miles of trails.
- Watch the sunrise over Lake Michigan.
- Enjoy a game of volleyball or toss a flying disc.
- Listen to the sounds of classical music during the Symphony concert.
- Give back and donate to the Dunes National Park Association.
- Protect the lands by picking up litter along your hike.
- Spot insect-eating plants.
- Canoe through streams and rivers.
- Cross-country ski along your favorite trails.
- Saddle up for horseback riding along the Glenwood Dunes Trail. (partially closed due to flooding. Details here.)
- Paint your favorite scenery.
- Ride the historic South Shore Line through the park.
- Strike a pose and tag us at #alongthesouthshore.
- Feed farm animals at Chellberg Farm.
- Stroll through forests filled with maple, oak, beech, and black gum trees.
- Learn the difference between a bog and a fen.
- Bundle up and view shelf ice from the shore.
- Observe herons, egrets, and beavers from the Observation Deck.
- Walk the 900-foot breakwater at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk.
- Shuffle your feet in the sand to hear it "sing."
- Visit the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed.
- Paddle or fish along the Little Calumet River.
- Brush up on water safety at nps.gov/indu.
- Hike Mt. Baldy, the living dune, during a scheduled hike.
- Follow Indiana Dunes National Park on social media to enjoy the park anytime.
- Meet and talk with scientists during scheduled programming.
- Get your official National Park passport stamped!
More Around the Region
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South Shore Brewery TrailThe tap never runs dry along the South Shore. Find your favorite ale, stout or lager on your journey.
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EventsOur calendar of events will keep you informed about the latest concerts, festivals and much more.
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Family FunExplore fun things your family can do including waterparks, beaches, farm adventures & more.
