Northwest Indiana Trail Maps & Details

Northwest Indiana and parts of Eastern Illinois contain more than 125 miles of biking and walking trails. On this page, you can find details on trails in the Indiana Dunes and throughout Northwest Indiana including maps, trail length, difficulty and more.

Indiana Dunes State Park Trails

Provides an opportunity to view succession in the dunes area. Excellent for late spring wildflowers, including prickly pear cactus.  Photo from Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Indiana Dunes National Park Trails

Image provided by the National Park Service This short paved trail features the Calumet Dunes ridge, which was the shoreline of Lake Michigan over 12,000 years ago. The lake has slowly receded over time, forming three major parallel dune ridges: Glenwood (640' above sea…

Image provided by the National Park Service The Cowles Bog Trail highlights an area of such outstanding plant diversity that it was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This location, where Dr. Henry Cowles conducted much of his early work in plant ecology and…

The Dune Ridge Trail offers great views of the extensive wetlands and forests south of this tall, forested dune. The different habitats you'll see along the trail help make Indiana Dunes National Park one of the top five most biologically diverse of all the national parks…

West Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. There are great views from the top of the Dune Succession Trail stairs, a beautiful pinery of jack pines, birding opportunities along Long Lake and…

This extensive trail system features interconnected loops ranging from less than a mile to nearly 15 miles and is popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. In addition to the Glenwood Dunes Trail, the 4.4 mile round trip Dunewood Trace Campground…

A really nice birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. Flocks of coots, mallards, and wood ducks now glide over the wetland's surface. Kingfishers, tree swallows, and rusty blackbirds rest during migration. Green herons…

The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. After 60 years of nesting here, the herons have moved on to new nesting grounds. These woods remain alive with dozens of birds including kingfishers…

Hobart Prairie Grove consists of forested ravines and a portion of scenic Lake George, which is part of the Deep River. The Hobart Woodland trail offers views of forest ravines and has an overlook of Lake George. The Oak Savannah rail trail runs through the Hobart Prairie Grove…

Hoosier Prairie is a large remnant of the prairie landscape that was once common in northwest Indiana. This tract preserves the topographic and biotic diversity of the sand plains north of the Valparaiso Moraine. Dedicated as both a State Nature Preserve and a National Natural…

West Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. After hiking, relax and swim at the beach. Long Lake Loop Trail (Loop 3) is the final section of the hiking trail loops at West Beach. This section is…

The Beach Trail hike (unrestricted access) is short hike with a steep climb down loose sand to the beach. Be sure to plan accordingly as the only way out is up the steep trail. Do not bring large cooler and other beach items as the climb up from the beach is difficult. Trail…

The Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods winds through several habitats including wetlands, globally rare black oak savanna, open dunes and beach. The views of the lake and the dunes are incredible. The oak savanna's native grasses and wildflowers, including lupine, thrive…

The Pinhook Bog Trail System features two very different habitats. The Upland Trail highlights a rich beech and maple forest growing on top of a glacial moraine formed about 15,000 years ago. The Bog Trail leads to a bog in a depression in the moraine created when a large piece…

The Tolleston Dunes Trail winds amid 4,700-year-old sand dunes that were formed when Lake Michigan's water level was 25 feet higher than today. Tolleston is the youngest of three distinct dune systems found within the national park. Together these dune ridges…

West Beach offers a great combination of hiking and relaxing at the beach. The trails are varied and encompass many habitats. The West Beach Trail is one of three trail loops near West Beach. After hiking, relax and swim at the beach. The West Beach Trail is an easy hike…

Lake County Park Trails

The around 575-acre Buckley Homestead is a living history farm that has been in the care of Lake County Parks since 1983. There are live animals throughout the park, an old-fashioned schoolhouse, and the 100+ year-old Buckley Barn earns the entire homestead a spot on the National…

Lemon Lake was dedicated as the very first Lake County Park in 1972. Today, the park boasts 402 acres, 5 disc golf courses, playgrounds, walking trails, and a large open dog park. Lemon Lake has something to offer all ages and interests! Features of Lemon Lake 5 World-Class Disc…


 

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