Indiana Dunes National Park

I wasn't really expecting much prior to coming here and was mostly going to do the 3 Dune Challenge, but was pleasantly surprised how nice this park was. There were a few different hiking trails to do, with a combination of climbing sand dunes to traditional nature walks through the woods. You can even access the beach at the lake. Both the visitor center and learning center were open when I was there this past summer. This was definitely a cool place to visit and a good workout.

A nice place to unwind outside the bustling city of Chicago. It’s not what you may think of when thinking of a National Park. No sweeping views from mountain tops (or mountains themselves) or big ancient trees or interesting rock formations. The dunes themselves are pretty impressive as well as the historical buildings. There are some nice costal areas with distant skyline views of Chicago. Also if you walk along the coastline far enough you can find some nice private places to take a dip into Lake Michigan. If you do find yourself here, make sure you don’t miss the sunset.

Where can we 4x4 at the dunes?

A gorgeous beach that is super clean. I mean SPOTLESS. No garbage or debris anywhere. This is a very peaceful area to spend time and it is also very spacious. The water is very clean and gives you a spectacular view. The air is clear and the parking is also free! There are also a few sandy trails and steep sand dunes to venture out on. Very family friendly and dog-friendly. I will definitely be coming back very soon!

Free parking, most of park doesn't require a fee which is good as some of our taxes go towards us. Water is clean & so beautiful. They do a decent job at maintaining it. I wish the govt spends more resources towards such beautiful national treasures.