Indiana Dunes National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Departure Point

• The tour starts along US 421 North, near the Bed & Biscuit Pet Resort.

Return Details

• N Lake Street, south of the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education

Duration
12 hours

Languages Available

• Audio guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Heron Rookery Trail Auxiliary (West) Lot
1301 North 450 East, Chesterton, IN 46304
The Heron Rookery trail is an easy and peaceful 3.3-mile nature walk through a bird sanctuary. A rookery is a collection of nests, high up in the trees. Unfortunately, the Great Blue Herons who used to nest here have moved on to new grounds. But you can still find plenty of other birds, like: Kingfishers warblers Red-headed woodpeckers Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more. In the spring, you may see ephemeral flowers, like Harbinger of Spring, which have small, white petals next to dark purple stamen. Or Yellow Trout Lilies, whose flowers sorta look like banana peels.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Mt. Baldy
Michigan City, Indiana
Mount Baldy is as tall as a 12-story building! And even more impressive, is that Mount Baldy’s what’s called a wandering dune. That means it can move up to ten feet per year. There used to be grass on the dune that held it in place. But after years of tourists climbing on it, the grass was destroyed. Now, the wind blows the sand around, causing the dune to change position. Mount Baldy is actually starting to overtake its own parking lot! Getting to the beach requires a half-mile roundtrip hike around the dune, and includes stairs.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Central Beach
IN 46360
Central Avenue Beach as seasonal restrooms and potable water. There are two picnic tables at the west end of the parking lot up the stairs. The National Park strongly urges visitors to remain on the beach area and not to climb up on the dune slopes directly behind the beach. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The beach and picnic tables are not wheelchair accessible. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous. During the spring and summer, watch the Bank Swallows come and go from their nests in the dunes.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Great Marsh Trail
S Broadway, Beverly Shores, Indiana
The Great Marsh Trail is a nice and easy birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. The trail features a separate wheelchair-accessible paved trail with quick access to an observation deck. Look for: ducks geese herons egrets warblers, and red-winged blackbirds
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Lake View Beach
East Lake Front Drive, Michigan City, IN 46360
In the spring, it’s a great spot for catching smelt; a small, oily fish that tastes fantastic. I’d say they’re best enjoyed dusted with flour, shallow fried, and eaten whole. Delicious!
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress Homes
127 West Lake Front Drive, Michigan City, IN 46360
The five houses that make up the Century of Progress Historic District originally debuted at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. The Homes of Tomorrow Exhibit, which consisted of 12 futuristic houses, was a particular crowd-pleaser. After the fair, a developer purchased five of the homes and moved them here. He called his new community Beverly Shores, after his daughter. While the houses are now owned by the National Park, they’ve been leased to private residents on the condition that they keep them maintained. That means people live in these houses, so you can’t actually go inside. Unless you’re lucky enough to score a ticket to the annual tour every September. And we do mean lucky because tickets usually sell out within an hour.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Dunbar Beach
Beverly Shores, IN 46360
This beach has seasonal restrooms and potable water. The parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Kemil Beach
East State Park Boundary Road, Beverly Shores, Indiana
This is a great beach to enjoy the night sky and nocturnal animals. This beach has year-round restrooms and potable water. The parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous. There's also the Dune Ridge Trail, which might just be the most diverse short nature trail in the park. It runs over forested sand dunes, through Black Oak Savannas, and has terrific views of The Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Highly recommend it if you have the time.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Calumet Dunes Trailhead
Beverly Shores, IN 46304
This trail is popular with bird watchers in the summer, and cross-country skiers in the winter. But, once upon a time, the Calumet Dunes Ridge was actually the shoreline of Lake Michigan! In the last 12,000 years, the water’s receded about one and a half miles. If you hike the trail, try to imagine what the Calumet Dunes must have looked like when the lake was right here. Just imagine everything that’s happened to transform these old sand dunes, melting glaciers, wind, water, and lots and lots of time...
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Glenwood Dunes Trail
Glenwood Dunes Trail, Chesterton, IN 46304
If you hike this trail system, popular with hikers, runners, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers, you'll definitely want to take a trail map with you. The trails vary in length, from less than 1 mile to 6.8 miles, with extensions that take it to over 15 miles. There are 13 trail junctions, which makes that trail map super important. Best of all, at 13,000 years old, the Glenwood Dunes are the oldest dunes in the park!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
1215 N State Road 49, Porter, Indiana
At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, you can check out the educational displays, watch a few short films about the park, shop the bookstore, and talk to a park ranger. But my favorite thing about the Visitor Center is the Indigenous Cultural Trail. The National Park wants to honor the Indigenous Potawatomi and Miami People who called this land home and educate visitors about their culture and contributions. The Indigenous Cultural trail shows just how connected they were to the diverse ecosystems of the park, creating an educational experience like no other. If you wanna learn more, just ask a ranger!
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Indiana Dunes State Park
1600 N 25 E, , Chesterton, Indiana
This place is popular, and can get busy! Depending on what time of year it is, or even the time of day, the park rangers may be out directing traffic. You may have to wait in line just to get in! Heads up: the state park requires a separate fee. If you want to check out the 3-Dune hiking challenge, then make your way to the Nature Center. Or, head straight for the beach. There, you'll find a large, art deco park pavilion with a general store and restaurants. There’s also a bird observatory west of the pavilion. If it’s winter, there’s a fantastic, 100-foot sledding hill near the pavilion called, The Devil’s Slide. And for the history fans, don’t miss the historical marker on the way to the pavilion, that marks the site of the 1780 Battle of Petit Fort.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Porter Beach
Porter, IN 46304
Porter Beach is right next to the State Park beach but offers none of the amenities. But, you're welcome to park here and walk a quarter mile along the beach to the state park. There are no lifeguards at Porter Beach, so swim at your own risk. Seasonal restrooms are available at the parking lot.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Indiana Dunes National Park Cowles Bog Trail
Chesterton, IN 46304
The Cowles Bog Trail is a moderate 4.7 miles, with 202 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rugged, with steep dune climbs in loose sand. Cowles Bog was named after ecologist Doctor Henry Cowles. It turns out sand dunes are great for studying how plants react to environmental changes. And that’s exactly what Doctor Cowles did! His research in the area led to the Indiana Dunes being called, the birthplace of ecology.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Indiana Dunes National Park Bailly Cemetery
Porter, IN 46304
If you’re a history buff, or just a fan of weird, cool things, you won’t wanna skip the Bailly Cemetery. This place is totally unique. Take our shortcut hike, less than half a mile roundtrip, to an old cemetery hidden in the woods. And hear the story about how one family took over the cemetery and made it their own.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Indiana Dunes National Park Bailly Homestead
733 Howe Road, Porter, IN 46304
The Bailly homestead is a National Historic Landmark and was the home of Joseph and Marie Bailly. Joseph was one of the first settlers in this region and established a trading post here in 1822. At one point, the Bailly homestead was the only stopping point for travelers between Chicago and Detroit. The Homestead is a collection of 5 different buildings, ranging from rustic log cabins and brick structures to the imposing late 19th century main house.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Indiana Dunes National Park Chellberg Farm
1100 North Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304
The Chellbergs were Swedish Immigrants who purchased this land in 1869. Their original wooden farmhouse burned down in 1884, and they replaced it the next year with the brick house you can see today. And in the 1930s, they started making maple syrup. You’ll actually walk past the syrup shack on your way to the farm. Every March, the national park holds a maple syrup festival! This is the only National Park in the country that makes its own maple syrup. Check the national park website calendar, because there are ranger programs that allow you to tour the old farmhouse, and even feed the cows, chickens, and goats on the farm!
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Mnoke Prairie
Porter, IN 46304
The Mnoké Prairie is a restored pre-settlement tallgrass prairie. That means you can walk through this area, and see what it would have looked like before European-American settlers ever reached Indiana. The prairie is an excellent place to spot birds, like Double-Breasted Cormorants, Rock Pigeons, and Cooper's Hawks.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
Riverwalk Dr, Portage, Indiana
This is a great beach and trail to observe birds in the spring and summer. And in the winter, you can see the shelf ice on Lake Michigan. The riverwalk is just under a mile and is considered easy. You’ll also find the beach pavilion, which has snacks, gifts, restrooms, and ranger programs.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Tolleston Dunes Trail
Tolleston Dunes Trail, Ogden Dunes, IN 46368
The Tolleston Dunes are nearly 5,000 years old. The trail's about three miles long, and it takes you through 5,000-year-old sand dunes. It’s moderately difficult because it goes up and down the dunes…and it can get soggy after a rain, but plenty of trees means it’s mostly shaded from the sun. Keep a lookout for prickly pear cactus, sassafrass, and the wild blue lupine flower.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: West Beach
Portage, IN 46403
Welcome to West Beach, the biggest and busiest beach in the national park. Nestled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, this beach provides something for everyone: sunbathing swimming beachcombing birdwatching There’s also a picnic area near the parking lot and even a designated spot for dune climbing. There are hiking trails, like the Long Lake Loop, which winds through lush forests, wetlands, and rolling sand dunes. And then, there’s the Diana of the Dunes Dare. If you dare, you can take the one-mile Dune Succession Trail, which includes a strenuous climb up two hundred and seventy steps to the top of Diana’s Dune.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Marquette Park
1 N Grand Blvd, Gary, Indiana
Marquette Park belongs to the city of Gary, Indiana, and is outside the National Park. The park has a playground, a concession stand, hiking trails, a disc golf course, and more. The beach is great for swimming, walking, and just relaxing. It also has one of our favorite buildings in the area. The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium was built in 1921.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education
100 N Lake St, Gary, Indiana
Nestled in the Miller Woods, just outside Gary, Indiana, you'll find The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. The education center is a National Park visitor center with exhibits on the wildlife found throughout the park. Plus it’s got some excellent hiking trails. We recommend the Miller Woods Loop Trail. It’s less than a mile long, meanders through several habitats, and the views of the lake are incredible.
Duration: 30 minutes

Additional Information

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
• Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
• Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
• Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
• Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
• The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
• What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
• Additional Starting Points: New Buffalo and Sherwood Forest Paintball

Inclusions

• Tours NEVER expire
• Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
• Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
• Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
• Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
• Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive

Exclusions

• Private transportation
• Meals and refreshment
• Entrance Fees
• Parking Fees

Redemption Instructions
HOW TO REDEEM YOUR TOUR:

Thank you for purchasing the Indiana Dunes Tour.

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Voucher Info
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