America’s newest National Park is right here in Indiana, and it’s absolutely stunning. Featuring windswept sandhills, verdant plant life, and views that will take your breath away, here’s a peek into Indiana Dunes National Park; this National Park to visit in Indiana ASAP is truly a little slice of paradise in the Midwestern United States.

Formerly known as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and situated on a 15-mile stretch of Lake Michigan coastline, this natural preserve is the 61st national park in the country’s history.
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The park is a separate entity from Indiana Dunes State Park - not to be confused!
There’s so much to do and see at this incredible natural wonder turned National Park.
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The area is home to 50 miles of amazing trails that wind through wetlands, prairies, woodland, and, of course, the area’s famous dunes. You won't find landscapes like these anywhere else in the Hooser State.

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The dunes were formed over thousands of years by retreating glaciers, which carved out the unique landscape and deposited sand along the shore.
Daniel A. Leifheit / Getty Images
Aside from the impressive geological features, the Indiana Dunes are also home to several important ecosystems that offer protection to rare and threatened species of flora and fauna.
Of course, the first thing that springs to mind when you hear about a new waterside national park is probably: "what about the beaches?"
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Happily, the park offers 15 miles of pristine "seaside" along the southern shore of the lake. Central Avenue Beach is a great spot to observe local wildlife like Bank Swallows and spread a beach blanket for a few hours of sunshine.
Visitors should also be sure to head to West Beach to check out some of the park’s tallest dunes.
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Take the Dune Succession Trail stairs to the top of a giant dune and revel in gorgeous views of the lake and the distant Chicago skyline.

For more information about this beautiful new National Park to visit in Indiana, click here. If you want to learn more about America’s best parks, take a look at this list of some of our favorites.

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National Park to Visit in the U.S.A.

Tori Jane | February 01, 2022

What are some of the best state parks in Indiana?  

Indiana is host to plenty of amazing state and National parks – in fact, our little slice of heaven is home to 24 state parks! It’s hard to choose which ones are the best; they’re all wonderful and each one brings with it its own wonderful benefits and landscapes. Some of the state parks in Indiana that WE love the most (again, it’s so hard to pick!) include Indiana’s newest (National) park, Indiana Dunes. It was once Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, but it became a National Park in 2019. Awesome, and much deserved; this place is truly incredible and unlike any other places in Indiana you will ever visit. We also really love Shades State Park, which feels like something out of Middle Earth in a JRR Tolkien novel, and Turkey Run State Park is known for its amazing “Grand Canyon” of the Midwest. Other popular choices include McCormicks Creek State Park and Cataract Falls State Park, both of which are excellent if you’re a fan of waterfalls.  

What are the most popular hiking trails in Indiana?  

With plentiful state and National parks as well as thousands of miles of wide-open, beautiful spaces, Indiana is a great state for hiking. In our eyes, it doesn’t quite get the credit it deserves. There are more than 1,000 amazing hiking and biking trails in this beautiful state, and each one is awesome in its own way (much like all those state parks). Among the most popular hiking trails in Indiana are gems like Cowles Bog Trail, at Indiana Dunes National Park, which is under five miles long and leads hikers through some of the state’s most unique areas. Lawrence Creek Trail at Fort Harrison State Park is another good one, and it’s about the same length as Cowles Bog Tail (just under five miles). We also really love Hemlock Cliffs National Scenic Trail, and you can’t miss the Pate Hollow Trail, either. For more amazing ideas for your next Indiana hiking trip, check out this list.  

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Featured Addresses
Indiana Dunes National Park, Porter, IN 46304, USA