Glenwood Dune Trails @ Indiana Dunes National Park

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 Trail connects the Glenwood Dunes trail system to the National Park's Dunewood Campground to the east. The 2.6 mile round trip Glenwood Dunes Extension Trail connects the system to the Dune Park South Shore Railroad Station to the west. In the center, the Glenwood Dunes Trail connects to the Calumet Dunes Paved Trail.

Bring a trail map as there are 13 trail junctions. The trail system is accessible from either the Glenwood Dunes Trail or Calumet Dunes Trail parking lots.

Trail Features: Fall Colors, Wildlife

Getting There
Trailhead Parking Lot
Glenwood Dunes Lot (main): 1475 North Brummitt Road, Chesterton, IN 46304
Calumet Dunes Lot (alternate): 1596 North Kemil Road (300E), Chesterton, IN 46304

Trailhead GPS Coordinates
Main: 41.648245, -87.015382 (Decimal Degrees)
Alternate: 41.661836, -87.010109 (Decimal Degrees)

Need to Know

Hours & Information

• Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
• Passes are required.
• Hke Length – Less than 1 mile to 6.8 miles, with extensions to over 15 miles. There are 13 trail junctions; pay attention to where you are and bring a trail map.
• Hike Time – Less than 1 hour to 4 hours.
• Difficulty – Easy to moderate with some change in elevation.
• Trail Surface – Packed dirt with some sections of sand or boardwalk.
• Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water at both the Glenwood Dunes and Calumet Dunes trailheads.
• Pets – Prohibited on the equestrian portion of the trail for safety. Permitted elsewhere on a leash (6’ or shorter).
• Prohibited – Littering, hunting, or removing plants.
• Prohibited – Bicycles and motorized vehicles.
• There are covered picnic shelters at the Glenwood Dunes parking lot. First come, first served. No advance reservations. Wheelchair accessible.
• Cooking fires at the picnic shelters are permitted in the provided grills or an approved carry-in grill. An approved grill is a non-combustible container with an enclosed bottom and enclosed sides with a minimum depth of 2 inches. Charcoal must be cooled and safely disposed of in a non-combustible container or removed from the area.
• Horseback riding is permitted on the Glenwood Dunes Trail only from March 16 - December 14. However, if there is sufficient snow cover for cross-country skiing (3 inches or more) before December 15 or after March 15, the trail will remain closed to horseback riding. Horses are prohibited in the winter to prevent accidents with skiers on the trail.
• Visitors must provide their own horses or ski equipment.
• Skiers and horseback riders should complete the Glenwood Dunes Trail in a counter-clockwise fashion to allow for one-way traffic.
• Horses are not permitted on any of the surrounding roads.
• The parking lot is paved and large enough for horse trailers.

Safety

• Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
• Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
• Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the trail.
• Mosquitoes and flies can be bad in summer months.
• Be prepared for changing weather conditions.
• In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.

Accessibility

• The trails and picnic shelters are not wheelchair accessible. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Part of the Indiana Dunes National Park