The Dune Succession Trail In Indiana That Leads To Incredibly Scenic Views
By Tori Jane|Published September 04, 2021
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Tori Jane
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Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
You know, folks might not immediately equate Indiana with great hiking, but maybe they should. The Hoosier State is home to more than 4,200 miles of trails weaving throughout, and each trail is more breathtaking than the last. The trails vary in difficulty from very easy to very challenging, and Indiana welcomes hikers of all skill levels to its gorgeous public lands. We’d like to shine a spotlight on a wonderful, mostly-easy trail the features incredible lake views, a wonderful boardwalk, and, of course, plenty of things to learn along the way.
The Dunes Succession Trail is short and sweet - but it packs quite the educational punch.
If you so choose, you can grab a tour pamphlet when you arrive at the West Beach entry gate. You'll find numbered signs corresponding to tidbits of interesting information sprinkled throughout the hike.
Alternatively, you could just put your headphones on and start walking.
From the parking lot at West Beach, you'll walk north on a paved parkway toward Lake Michigan.
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You'll arrive at the top of a sandy lookout point, where you'll be amazed at the incredible views of Lake Michigan and, on particularly clear days, the distant Chicago skyline.
From there, the trail is quite easy to follow, featuring a convenient boardwalk that makes the trek much simpler than it would be if you had to trudge through thick sand instead.
The trail highlights all four stages of dune development, and if you grabbed that pamphlet at the beginning of the hike, you'll see exactly where each phase is and what's next for each.
Though it might be tempting to wander off the boardwalk, please respect our beautiful dunes by sticking to the trail. Your cooperation helps ensure that the dunes will be as pristine as they are currently for generations to come.
The shores of Lake Michigan, which you will have access to during the hike, are impressive enough on their own.
Throw in the unique landscape of the Indiana dunes, and you've got quite the fascinating place to explore. If you took the trail and only the trail without any stops along the way, you can expect it to take about 40-45 minutes.
We suggest you stick around for a while to admire the natural beauty of the area.
One thing is for sure: this boardwalk trail in Indiana is simply breathtaking, and everyone – be they lifelong Hoosiers or just visiting – should experience it at least once. Do you have any favorite boardwalk trails in the Hoosier State? Tell us about it using this form, and you might just see an article about it sometime!
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