Indiana Dunes National Park

About an hour from Chicago, Indiana Dunes packs 15 miles of Lake Michigan beaches and 200 foot sand dunes into one small park. Beyond the shoreline, wetlands, prairies, oak savannas, and old growth forest hold more than 1,100 native plant species, making this the fourth most biodiverse national park in the country. The 3 Dune Challenge climbs the three tallest dunes in one short, steep loop, and ranger led hikes reach the top of Mount Baldy, the park's tallest moving dune. Summer is for swimming and sunset beach walks; spring and fall bring migrating birds and bright fall color.