Indiana Dunes State Park Review

Indiana Dunes State Park is an Indiana State Park located in Porter County, Indiana, United States, 47 miles (75.6 km) east of Chicago. The park is bounded by Lake Michigan to the northwest and is surrounded by as well as within the authorized boundaries of Indiana Dunes National Park, a unit of the National Park Service; the NPS owns the water from the ordinary high water mark to 300 feet (91 m) offshore. The 1,530-acre (619.2 ha) Dunes Nature Preserve makes up the bulk of eastern part of the park, and includes most of the park's hiking trails and dune landscape. This was one of the first places Richard Lieber considered when establishing the Indiana State Park system. Like all Indiana state parks, there is a fee for entrance. Indiana Dunes State Park was established in 1925 and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.
Preserving the Indiana Dunes has resulted from the efforts of many citizens and politicians. In 2018-2019, Indiana Dunes was the most-visited state park, with more than 1.3 million visitors.
The beaches were formed by winds coming off Lake Michigan, which drop sand when the wind hits plants, dunes, and hills. As the lake level of Lake Michigan dropped at the end of the Ice Age, the shoreline receded, and new dunes were formed along the lakeshore. Vegetation took over the previous dunes, and eventually forests grew on top of them. There are "blowouts" along the dunes, where dead stumps were revealed after the wind blew away the sand from on top of them; the most notable such blowout is Big Blowout.
Native Americans used the area for years, primarily the Potawatomi and Miami people. The Dunes were along trade routes used by Native Americans. In the early 19th century, the state park area was home to the settlements of Petit Fort and City West.
Swimming and sunbathing: A small portion of the shoreline is set aside as a public swimming beach and is protected by lifeguards between Memorial and Labor Day weekends. It is a clean, all sand beach. The remainder of the beach (approximately 2 miles (3.2 km)) is open for sunbathing, beach combing, and other similar activities. Dogs are permitted on the non-swimming portion of the beach, so long as they are kept on a short leash and any feces is promptly and safely removed from the shores.
Beach house with concessions during summer season.
Observation platform near the top of Mt. Tom. Looking west, Chicago can be seen above the forested sand dunes. Gary, Indiana, is also visible.
Birdwatching: (A bird observation tower is located along Trail 10 overlooking a marsh community.)
The Nature Center is a year-round facility that has a wildlife observation window, library, and a large auditorium. An interpretive naturalist provides public hikes and programs.
Hiking trails extend for 16 miles (26 km), some of which pass not only the sand dunes, but also historic structures and wet prairie.[6]
Guided hiking tours
Cycling is not permitted everywhere within the park, but the Calumet Trail runs through the park and provides cycling opportunities in the park as well as access to Indiana Dunes National Park and some neighboring communities.
Interpretive Naturalist Service
Arts and crafts
The campground was totally rebuilt in 2004. It has 140 campsites laid out on sand with new, level, asphalt pads, 50-amp electrical hook-ups, and picnic tables. Drinking water hydrants are located throughout the campground. The roads were newly laid out and paved in 2004, and are arranged in several connecting loops. Most of the trees were spared during the rebuilding so that many sites have full or partial shade. There are two large newly built shower house/restroom structures. There is a short, level forest path to the swimming.
WIKIPEDIA
en.wikipedia.o...
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[@kellybecker4282]

Looks warm there 😮. Hope your having a good time

[@lovinlifeourway1998]

That was filmed in July. The weather was perfect 👍🏻

[@JosephBoczon]

Looking good guys!

[@lovinlifeourway1998]

Thanks brother 👍🏻

[@LovinLifeOurWay1]

Thank you!

[@jamesoleary38]

😂

[@lovinlifeourway1998]

👍🏻😂