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
Bank swallows flying from their nest inside the dunes

		White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement The National Park Service has released a draft White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore seeking public comment. This management plan is needed to ensure that the local deer population does not harm the park’s biodiverse natural communities. Impacts to park resources could compromise its purpose, as mandated by Congress, which is to preserve its exceptional biological diversity. The document is available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/indu or you can request a hard copy or CD by sending an E-mail. more...

National Park Service Plans Five Prescribed Fires this Spring

The National Park Service will conduct five prescribed fires this spring at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The areas prescribed for burns are: Mnoké Prairie, Cowles Dunes, Dune Ridge, Hobart Prairie Grove and multiple research project areas.

The total acreage of all five areas is approximately 825 acres. Throughout Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore approximately 60 small plots will be burned as a research project involving invasive plants. In total these research plots are less than one acre and are in five different plant communities.
more...

Photo of Henry Cowles from early 1900's with new words added BioBlitz

BioBlitz News Flash!!!

Teachers register now for May 15-16 BioBlitz education teams at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore www.ngsednet.org/bioblitz/teacher Register early to reserve a spot. Registration for schools ends March 31 or when slots are filled. New Teacher Workshop on BioBlitz

Scientists and Naturalists register now to participate in the National Geographic and National Park Service 2009 BioBlitz at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore at www.ngsednet.org/scientists.

Registration for the public and groups such as scouts and youth groups will open in late March.

The BioBlitz is part scientific endeavor, part festival and part outdoor classroom. It is a 24-hour event in which teams of scientists, volunteers and community members join forces to..
more...

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.