Day 22: Indiana Dunes State park on Lake Michigan

After leaving Madison, Indiana, and then a short stay-over in Indianapolis, I headed to Indiana Dunes in northern Indiana to meet up with a hiking group from Indianapolis. I never did connect with them in the large and heavily populated park and beach, but I walked the planed trail anyway and spent some time on the beach before heading out for Port Huron, Michigan.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is on the southern shore of Lake Michigan in Indiana. It has a string of sandy beaches, and trails through dunes, marshland, and jack pine forests. The dunes are enormous (practically have their own ecosystem) and offer great views if you can climb them.

The Dune Succession Trail at West Beach has views of the Chicago skyline and the lake’s bird-rich wetland. Near the Little Calumet River are the Baily Homestead, an 1820s fur-trading post, and the restored Chellberg Farm.

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