You Have to Experience This Sand Dune Hike in Indiana for Yourself

Indiana Dunes National Park offers a variety of natural habitats across its 15,000 acres. My favorite way to experience several habitats in one compact hike is by taking the Paul H. Douglas Trail in Miller Woods. This 3.4-mile moderate hike delivers breathtaking landscapes from rare oak savannas to sand dunes and even a visit to a beach on Lake Michigan.

Start the hike at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education and take the trail north around the wetland. You may choose to stick to the .9-mile loop around the wetland for an easy and level hike, but I recommend taking the 1.2-mile out and back extension to Lake Michigan to enjoy the full wildlife experience. Take a right to continue the trail.

Leaving the wetland to enter the woods, I was in awe at the rare landscape surrounding me. Hiking through Miller Woods was a special experience as I admired the endangered black oak savanna ecosystem. Oaks grew here and there among the prairie plants. Only about .02 percent of the Midwest’s oak savanna habitat remains today, and those at Indiana Dunes National Park are some of the last in the world. 

I hiked the Paul H. Douglas Trail during summer, when ferns lunged toward the packed dirt path and colorful wildflowers dotted the prairie grasses. Birds chattered nearby, especially as I passed a series of small ponds teeming with water lilies and ringed by dunes.

After crossing a wooden bridge, I entered a land of Indiana sand dunes. The dirt path gave way to sand, and the magnificent dunes rose and fell around me. The dunes formed from the last glacial retreat about 14,000 years ago as sediment deposited on the coast. I was surprised to see tiny lizards scurry across the path and into the waving grasses. My pace slowed as I wound my way through the dunes walking on sand. Nevertheless, I was rewarded as the dunes opened up to reveal the beach and turquoise blue water of Lake Michigan.

I had the beach to myself, an incredible experience given the popularity of Lake Michigan’s beaches. A few stoic gulls and sprinting sanderlings were my only company as I watched the waves crash with Chicago’s skyline in the distance. There are no amenities or shade on the beach, so pack accordingly.

To return, take the same trail back to the visitor center. The hike takes about two hours total. I had to pour the sand out of my shoes after the hike, but the opportunity to experience these rare natural habitats made the Paul H. Douglas Trail an exceptional Midwest experience.

You’ll need to purchase an entrance pass to visit Indiana Dunes National Park. A standard entrance pass for a car costs $25 for seven days, and you can purchase one at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center or online. If you plan to visit a few national parks this year, consider an America the Beautiful Pass for the best value.

The Paul H. Douglas Trail is also beautiful to visit during winter. For more coastal views, check out this two-day lakeside route along Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline and this challenging sand dune trail. Do you have a favorite trail in the Indiana Dunes National Park? Let me know by filling out our nomination form.