Tolleston Dunes Trail

The trail starts out in what was once a sand mining operation. This is why the parking lot and surrounding area is so flat. After roughly a third of a mile, the trail enters the rolling ancient sand dunes of Lake Michigan. The footing is generally good with some sections of sand. The trail winds up and down through dune and wetland habitats.The trail is never crowded and is a great way to get away from the summer beach crowds. If you have the time, take the outer loop. While admiring the black oak savanna, keep an eye out for the karner blue butterfly and the prickly pear cactus.

The Tolleston Dunes parking lot is the site of former sand mining activities from before the park was created.Indiana Dunes National Park (formerly national lakeshore) was established to preserve portions of the Indiana Dunes and other areas of scenic, scientific, historic and recreational value. Up to two million annual visitors enjoy the park's 15,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, sand dunes, oak savannas, forests, and historic sites. The park's 15 miles of beaches hug the southern shore of Lake Michigan from Gary, IN, to Michigan City, IN. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm or https://www.facebook.com/IndianaDunesNPS.