Miles of beaches, sand dunes, bogs, wetlands, woodland forests, an 1830's French Canadian homestead, and a working 1900-era farm combine to make this 15,000-acre National Lakeshore a unique setting for studying humans and their impact on the environment. Dr. Henry Cowles conducted his landmark ecological studies in the Indiana Dunes, which is ranked 7th among national parks in native plant diversity. Research conducted over the last two decades has revealed 1,418 vascular plant species within park boundaries, of which over 90 are on the state of Indiana's threatened or endangered list.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is located approximately 50 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois in the counties of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte in Northwest Indiana. The national lakeshore runs for nearly 25 miles along southern Lake Michigan, bordered by Michigan City, Indiana on the east, and Gary on the west.

• Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore -

• Dune climb at the designated dune climb areas located in West Beach and Mt. Baldy.
• Look for the 250 to 300 species of birds which have been spotted in the park.
• Explore the miles of beaches, bogs, wetlands, and woodland forests ringing southern Lake Michigan.