Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park is a 15,000-acre natural preserve along 15 miles of Lake Michigan’s southern shore, encompassing diverse ecosystems such as sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and prairies. With over 50 miles of hiking trails, the park offers abundant opportunities for outdoor activities like birdwatching, swimming, and exploring unique geological features like the “singing sands”—a rare phenomenon where sand emits squeaky sounds underfoot. Designated as a national park in 2019, it stands as Indiana’s only national park and ranks among the nation’s most biodiverse, hosting over 1,400 plant species and more than 350 bird species.