Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)

QUICKLINKS:

Steep Sand Dunes and Magnificent Lake Views

Experience these sights at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore:

Waves crashing on sandy beaches,
Karner Blue butterflies landing on wild lupines,
Sweaty draft horses working the Chellberg Farm fields,
Peaceful silence lingering along winter trails, and
Bank swallows flying from their nest inside the dunes.

photo of henry cowles from early 1900's with new word BioBlitlz added

BioBlitz 101 Educator Workshops

Dunes Learning Center, National Geographic Society & Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Presents: BioBlitz 101 Educator Workshops November 7-8 for elementary November 14-15 for middle and high school
Help make history at Indiana Dunes by participating in the first ever National Park Service/National Geographic BioBlitz. While the big event will be held May 15-16, 2009, educators are invited to learn monitoring techniques and research methods in these preparatory workshops in November. Join other educators of your grade level for an overnight retreat and get involved in planning and developing BioBlitz activities for your students. Participate in nocturnal animal surveys and receive curriculum materials for your classroom in this immersive workshop.
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building with large glass windows and curved roof

Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk

November 2008 will mark the opening of the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The site will provide access to an area of the park not previously available to the public. The land, buildings, and all facilities at this site are owned by the National Park Service. Though the site is part of the national lakeshore and owned by the National Park Service, it is within the city limits of Portage....
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Park Ranger talkiing with students next to a farm field in the fall

The National Lakeshore Outdoor Classroom

Thousands of school children visit the dunes annually to participate in the park's curriculum-based programs. To explore the national lakeshore, the park encourages teachers to reserve one of the park's many ranger-led educational programs. To learn more about these free programs, visit the “For Teachers” section on this website.
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bright yellow flowers on green cactus leaves

Exploring the National Lakeshore with a Park Ranger

Do sunsets from the top of Mt. Baldy, watching birds along the Little Calumet River, or smelling fresh baked cookies sound inviting? Throughout the year, activities such as these await you at Indiana Dunes. The national lakeshore publishes a schedule of ranger-led interpretive programs.
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Write to

1100 N. Mineral Springs Road
Porter, Indiana 46304

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(219) 926-7561 ext. 3

Beach Information
(219) 926-7561 ext. 2

Climate

The national lakeshore's weather is greatly affected by Lake Michigan and can change quickly. Summers are generally in the mid-80sºF (30C) with lows in the mid-60sºF (18C). There are about 15 days per year above 90ºF (32C). Highs in winter are usually in the low to mid 30sºF (0C) with low temperatures in the low 20sºF (-5C). There are about 15 days per year below 0ºF (-18C). Winters tend to be cloudy except for periods of extreme cold when skies are clear.