The Cowles Bog Trail Offers Some Of The Most Breathtaking Views In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published June 24, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Ask any Hoosier who fancies themselves an “outdoorsy” person whether or not they think Indiana’s great outdoors is beautiful, and you’re more than likely going to get a resounding “well, duh” and then a slew of ideas and places you definitely need to see to prove the point. Honestly, we’re inclined to agree: Indiana really is one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. One of the first places they might mention may be Indiana Dunes National Park, an amazing place filled with so much natural awe (and intensely unique landscapes) that you could make a day hike out of it… or longer. Enter the Cowles Bog Trail, a strange little challenge of a hike that delivers rewards for attempting it in spades. Come see why the strange and wonderful Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park is one of the best hikes in Indiana:
The Cowles Bog Trail is a fascinating, 4.7-mile somewhat challenging hike through a portion of Indiana Dunes National Park, nestled right on beautiful Lake Michigan and excellent for a day spent outdoors.
The region you'll be hiking through features such an impressive array of biological diversity in the "flora" department that it was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965 to protect and conserve it.
Today, you get to hike right through it and take in the surreal beauty of one of Indiana's strangest - and most beautiful - landscapes.
On your hike, you'll pass through numerous different plant biomes and habitats, like black oak savannas, marshes, ponds, swamps, and, of course, absolutely awe-inspiring beaches that seem to rival the Caribbean at times - especially when the sky is as blue as the water and both seem to go on forever.
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The trail is open year-round, and each season is worth a visit. In autumn, for example, the trees and surrounding plant life comes ablaze with stunning golds, oranges, and reds, making Cowles Bog Trail one of the best autumn hikes in Indiana.
In summer and spring, you'll be greeted by lush, flowering greenery, wildflowers, and other strange-but-interesting plants living their best lives (like carnivorous plants, which you'll only find in Indiana right here at Cowles Bog) and thriving in the sunny warmth.
No matter when you show up, Cowles Bog Trail is a fascinating and rigorous hike in Indiana that you won't soon forget. Toward the start of the trail, you will need to scramble up a steep, sandy dune, so do make sure you're prepared with good shoes, lots of water, and appropriate hiking attire. Hiking poles may be helpful for getting up the dune (and for the rest of the hike, really).
If one were to keep moving and make no stops, typically the hike takes about an hour and a half to two hours.
Of course, we strongly suggest you make plentiful stops along the way. There's so much intriguing biological diversity in this little area that you could easily kill hours at a time here.
Few people can resist staying until sunset, because trust us: the views from Cowles Bog Trail are among the best in Indiana for watching the sky slowly turn dark as well as the last remaining wisps of sunlight dancing on the water's surface.
This trail is a tough one, but it's worth every step - come for the exercise, stay for the dune and lake views!
Nature lovers of Indiana won’t be able to resist coming back for this hike time and time again; it’s easily one of the most beautiful hikes in Indiana – if not the whole Midwest. Be sure to visit the official Indiana DNR website for the most up-to-date trail information, including closures and advisories.
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