Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes National Park – A Natural Treasure on Lake Michigan’s Shoreline

Designated as a National Park in 2019, Indiana Dunes National Park is one of America’s newest additions to the National Park System, but its rich history and ecological significance have long made it a cherished destination. Spanning over 15,000 acres along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, the park offers a diverse landscape of towering sand dunes, lush wetlands, woodlands, prairies, and rivers, making it a haven for both outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The park is known for its unique geological formations and biodiversity, with over 1,100 native plant species, making it one of the most biologically diverse areas in the entire National Park System. The shifting dunes, some of which rise nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan, were formed thousands of years ago by retreating glaciers and continue to evolve due to wind and water activity.



While it wasn’t until 2019 that the area officially became Indiana Dunes National Park, it had previously been designated as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966. This change to national park status not only recognized the area’s natural beauty but also its historical and cultural significance, drawing even more visitors to experience its pristine landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities.