Beach Hiking at Indiana Dunes National Park

I was not at all disappointed that this month’s hike took me to the beach! I am now 1/3 of the way through the 12 amazing hikes recommended by Only in Indiana for 2021, and each one is proving to offer a unique experience.

If your knowledge of Indiana is limited, you may not even be aware that there are beaches in the Hoosier state. There are in fact many awesome beaches all along the northern border of Indiana.

While this isn’t technically oceanfront, massive Lake Michigan sure feels like the ocean!

You may also be surprised to learn that Indiana has three national parks, including Indiana Dunes National Park. That is where my April hike led me, and although it wasn’t perfect beach weather, it was a great day for beach hiking!

Dunes Succession Trail

West Beach is located along Lake Michigan in Portage, Indiana. There are three trail options at West Beach, but I stuck to the Dunes Succession Trail (Loop 1), which is just under 1 mile and takes you to the water’s edge.

This trail is a loop so after parking you can go either direction. I chose the route that headed to the shoreline, and kept the stairs for the end! I followed the paved path while taking in the beauty of the sand dunes and and a few small ponds.

The trail then took me through the Bathhouse, which opened to a breathtaking view of the water!

The next stretch of the trail follows the shoreline to the east for a short distance. For me, hiking isn’t always about hurrying along the path, so I took plenty of time to soak in the view and lots of lake air.

April in Indiana can offer a wide range of weather patterns, and on this day the sun was shining. But the air was cool and the wind was strong. It was definitely jacket weather and not swimsuit season!

As the trail turned, it was time to venture away from the shore. This led me through the forest and atop the dunes.

The sand dunes themselves are protected, so heed the signs and stay off the dunes as you follow the trail.

Soon I reached the winding boardwalk that took me up in elevation and offered more breathtaking views of Lake Michigan at each level.

After less than a mile I was back to my starting point. Of course, those looking to extend their beach hike can opt to jump on the West Beach Trail (Loop 2) or Long Lake Trail (Loop3).

Hiking Terrain

Aside from the beautiful shoreline, another unique aspect of this trail was the variety of terrain. My adventure started on a wide, flat, paved path…easing me into the more difficult terrain ahead!

Next up was soft sand. If you’ve ever walked in soft sand you know that it can be slow going.

I was wearing hiking attire, not beach attire, and I definitely recommend hiking boots or tennis shoes for this trail.  Reserve your flip-flops for simply lounging at the beach.  I ended up with about a pound of sand in my shoes by the end of the trail, but my feet thanked me for the protection!

The other inevitable terrain on this trail is stairs. Lots of stairs! The boardwalk is very well built and the winding path provides plenty of flat walking between the sets of stairs to catch your breath. You will also find lots of excuses to pause as you take another look and several more photos of the vistas all around.

I found the stairs not to be too challenging but would not recommend the Dunes Succession trail for someone with mobility issues. And leave the stroller at home for this one as wheels typically don’t work well in sand or on stairs!

I’m not sure if it was the sand or the stairs, but even with this short trail, I managed to get in a decent workout. And my calves were feeling it for the next few days!

Diana of the Dunes

In addition to getting lots of fresh air and exercise, I also learned some things! Along the trail, there were several placards telling the history of “Diana of the Dunes” and I was quite intrigued by her story.

Back in 1915, a woman named Alice Mabel Gray, who became known as Diana, gave up her life in Chicago to live at the beach along Lake Michigan in a little shack for nearly ten years. She primarily lived off the land and was known for frequent skinny dipping.

There were numerous myths about Diana shared in local papers back in the day. Some of the myths romanticized living at the beach and others told a tragic tale of a woman who ended up falling in love with a man with a shady past. But one thing is certain, she loved the beach and the dunes.

Hikers at West Beach can share Diana’s love for the area as they walk in her footsteps and read the highlights of her time at the beach.

While I dream of one day owning oceanfront property, if my budget doesn’t allow, I may have to follow Diana’s lead and just build my own beach shack!

Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk

When I set out in the morning I packed my beach chair, book, and a picnic lunch envisioning time spent lounging by the shore after my hike. But the weather definitely was not on my side for lounging at the beach, and it would be quite a trek from the West Beach parking lot to the shore with all my gear.

Yet I wasn’t quite ready to leave the beach! So I found the next closest beach on google maps and headed to the Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk. There I was able to sit in the comfort of my vehicle munching on an assortment of meats and cheese while gazing at the beautiful lakefront.

I didn’t walk the trail at this beach, but I did venture across the boardwalk that protrudes out into the lake and offers amazing views of the Chicago skyline. A few fishermen were out trying to catch the big one. I simply attempted not to get wet each time a big wave came crashing against the massive rocks lining the boardwalk!

With my hike completed and far more photos of the shoreline than I needed, it was time to head home. But I’m thrilled that this year-long hiking adventure will bring me back to the Indiana Dunes before 2021 is over! Stay tuned!

Did you miss out on my first three hikes? Find them here, hike 1, hike 2, hike 3.

What beach do you enjoy hiking? I’m always up for another beach outing, so comment below!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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