Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)

QUICKLINKS:

Steep Sand Dunes and Magnificent Lake Views

Experience these sights at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore:

Waves crashing on sandy beaches,
Karner Blue butterflies landing on wild lupines,
Sweaty draft horses working the Chellberg Farm fields,
Peaceful silence lingering along winter trails, and
Bank swallows flying from their nest inside the dunes.

old photo of a round house with large windows, three stories tall with each level being smaller than the one below

Annual Architecture Tour Featuring The Century of Progress Homes

The National Park Service and the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana have announced the Annual Architecture Tour at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to be held on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12. This year’s tour will feature the homes from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, A Century of Progress. The Cypress Log Cabin takes center stage in this year's tour as the first of the five to be fully restored.

The guided tours are limited in size and will be by reservation only. Reservations will be taken beginning September 22 on the website of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Tickets are $10 per person. Tour times will be assigned when making the reservations.

Parking information and tickets will be mailed after the reservations are received. Please contact Jennifer Gregar for more information about the tour and tickets. more...
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building with large glass windows and curved roof

Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk

November 2008 will mark the opening of the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The site will provide access to an area of the park not previously available to the public. The land, buildings, and all facilities at this site are owned by the National Park Service. Though the site is part of the national lakeshore and owned by the National Park Service, it is within the city limits of Portage....
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Park Ranger talkiing with students next to a farm field in the fall

The National Lakeshore Outdoor Classroom

Thousands of school children visit the dunes annually to participate in the park's curriculum-based programs. To explore the national lakeshore, the park encourages teachers to reserve one of the park's many ranger-led educational programs. To learn more about these free programs, visit the “For Teachers” section on this website.
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bright yellow flowers on green cactus leaves

Exploring the National Lakeshore with a Park Ranger

Do sunsets from the top of Mt. Baldy, watching birds along the Little Calumet River, or smelling fresh baked cookies sound inviting? Throughout the year, activities such as these await you at Indiana Dunes. The national lakeshore publishes a schedule of ranger-led interpretive programs.
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Write to

1100 N. Mineral Springs Road
Porter, Indiana 46304

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(219) 926-7561 ext. 3

Beach Information
(219) 926-7561 ext. 2

Climate

The national lakeshore's weather is greatly affected by Lake Michigan and can change quickly. Summers are generally in the mid-80sºF (30C) with lows in the mid-60sºF (18C). There are about 15 days per year above 90ºF (32C). Highs in winter are usually in the low to mid 30sºF (0C) with low temperatures in the low 20sºF (-5C). There are about 15 days per year below 0ºF (-18C). Winters tend to be cloudy except for periods of extreme cold when skies are clear.