Enjoy A Secluded Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Indiana River
By Tori Jane|Published February 13, 2024
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Tori Jane
Author
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.
All my river lovers, sound off and check in: how many of us are obsessed with the water? I, personally, almost always need to have some kind of body of water in my camping trips, hiking adventures, and days out. It’s just so refreshing to the spirit, and here in Indiana, goodness knows we have hundreds of options. Hidden away at Indiana Dunes National Park is a lesser-known trail that most folks overlook entirely in favor of the more dunes-themed hikes: it’s the Little Calumet River and Mnoke Prairie Trail (whew!) and it’s worth a day at the park just to experience it.
While most folks think about, well, dunes at Indiana Dunes National Park, they're overlooking a few things without ever even realizing it.
Turns out, this incredible National Park is filled from top to bottom and in every nook and cranny with stunning wilderness and all the trails in the world with which to explore it. Game on!
While most people go for trails like the famed Cowles Bog Trail and Dune Succession Trail, you're now in the loop about a "secret" trail: the Little Calumet River and Mnoke Prairie Trail.
Well known among those already madly in love with it and acquiring new fans all the time, this relaxing hike is rated as moderately challenging - just be sure to bring water and wear good hiking shoes for this one.
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Perhaps predictably, this jaw-dropping trail leads hikers along and around parts of the Little Calumet River.
The river itself is clear and beautiful, teeming with life from small fish to larger fish and then out into the ecosystem beyond. It's all connected - and it's all breathtaking.
There's a feeling of freedom here, and while it's a popular trail among those who know it's here, there are some times - particularly during the week on the off-seasons - that you might just have the whole thing to yourself.
Some of the most intriguing bits along the way include a cemetery, historic homes and farms, and sometimes lots of mud.
...remember that thing I said about wearing good hiking shoes? Yes. Definitely do that, especially after snowmelt or rainfall. You'll be glad you did.
This well-marked trail takes on average about one hour and 20 minutes to do, unless you're one of those folks like me who makes about 1,000 stops along the way to admire EVERYTHING.
And truly: there are so many things about Indiana to admire. One just needs to go outside to experience it.
Interested in upping your hiking game? I highly recommend checking out AllTrails Plus. You’ll wonder how you ever hiked without it! For more information about the beautiful Calumet River Trail, be sure to visit its official AllTrails listing. What takes your votes for the best hikes in Indiana? Let me know!
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