Photo by: Jacob Lips
The Indiana Dunes National Park is the newest addition to the list of American parks. It used to be known as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, until it was designated as a national park on Feb. 15, 2019.
Expect more than just dunes in this 15,067-acre park in Indiana, as it is also popular for its forest ecosystem, prairie, river, and dunes.
History
There is little evidence that the Indiana Dunes were permanently inhabited by Native Americans. However, there is evidence that it was a popular area for seasonal hunting. The evidence lies in the mounds found in the dunes. The arrival of the Europeans compelled Native Americans to move from the east to the west, traversing through the Indiana Dunes, which remained a popular hunting ground.
Europeans settled in the area around the 19th century, with fur trader Joseph Bailly documented as the first to homestead in the dunes. Other settlers soon followed.
In 1899, a botanical journal featured the unique flora in the dunes, which prompted a movement to preserve the area. It wasn’t until 1916 that hearings started on the petition to create the Sand Dunes, a National Park. But it was the Indiana Dunes State Park that became official, in 1926. The state park is adjacent to the national park, with 15 parcels of land that are not necessarily contiguous.
The fight to save the dunes never stopped. Finally, in 1966, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was passed. The land area covered by the law was expanded in 1976, 1980, 1986 and 1992. Early this year, the lakeshore was formally designated as a park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Things to do
The Indiana Dunes covers a diverse landscape that includes 16 miles of Lake Michigan’s southern shore, wetlands, prairies, rivers, forests, and the rugged dunes. This means that there is also a myriad of activities in the park.
Swimming
With 15 miles of sandy beach offered by Lake Michigan, swimming is a popular activity in the park among locals and tourists. The shore also provides a perfect opportunity to have romantic walks along the beach or a walk among friends and families, while enjoying the great panoramic vista. There are at least eight beaches in the park.
Biking & hiking
Nature is the perfect backdrop for biking or hiking. With such jaw-dropping views available in the park, either of the activities will feel like a breeze. Of course, biking and hiking trails range from easy to strenuous.
Bird watching
The park is an important resting area for migratory birds. Since there are forests in the park, birds find plenty of food in the area. There are various viewing decks for birders at the Indiana Dunes National park. Among the birds that visitors can spot are bitterns, cormorants, ducks, grebes, geese, herons, loons and swans, among many others. On the third weekend of May, the park also hosts the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.
Documenting Historical Sites
There are over 60 historical spots at the Indiana Dunes. For history buffs, the park is the best way to not only learn more about the park’s history but to also take some photographs, to commemorate the tour. Among the most popular spots is the Bailly Homestead, which is a National Historic Landmark. This was the home of Joseph Bailly, the first person to build a home in the area.
The Chellberg Farm is another historical structure that tells the story of a hardworking Swedish family. The home was built in 1885, which represents a typical brick farmhouse from the late 1800s. There are other houses in the area that speak of the evolution of home building in Indiana.
Camping
Visitors can camp at the Dunewood Campground, which has more than 67 campsites. The campground is peaceful and surrounded by trees.
Boating, canoeing, kayaking & sailing
Any of these activities are allowed at the park. For those who intend to take out their boats in the middle of Lake Michigan for fishing, require an Indiana Fishing License to do so and a stamp if they intend to get trout and salmon.
Kayakers may follow the Lake Michigan Water Trail. They may also traverse Little Calumet River and Burns Waterway. Canoeing is not advisable using the trail because of the wind. But the Little Calumet River is okay for canoeing.
Geocaching
It’s like Pokemon Go but with players catching hidden containers, instead of Pokemons. Geocaching is an app for playing and Indiana Dunes just happens to be a great place to hide and seek containers.
Flora and fauna
The park is also home to several rare plants and animals. It has more than 1,400 species of vascular plants, ranking eighth among the national parks, in terms of the highest number of plant species. Among them are the mead’s milkweed and pitcher’s corydalis. Some of the Endangered species in the park are eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Indiana bat, piping plover, and rufa red knot.