Home › Indiana › Porter › Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 13,163 Google reviews · Running trail in Porter, Indiana · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Boardwalk
- Distance
- 50 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Indiana Dunes National Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Park with hotels & eateries, plus 15 miles of shoreline for swimming, hiking, bird-watching & more.
What runners say about Indiana Dunes National Park
“The trails were beautiful and well kept, and every turn opened up to another incredible view.”
“I woulda been fooled into thinking it was the ocean if I hadn’t known it was Lake Michigan… what a beautiful breeze.”
“The combination of massive sand dunes, peaceful wooded trails, and endless Lake Michigan views makes this place feel almost unreal for Indiana.”
West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Park absolutely took my breath away. The combination of massive sand dunes, peaceful wooded trails, and endless Lake Michigan views makes this place feel almost unreal for Indiana. Watching the sunset here felt like standing at the edge of another world.
We drove from Bloomington, IN. Something we have always wanted to see since we moved to Indiana. The information center was friendly and informative. We took the three dune challenge. Picked up our sticker. Then jumped in the Lake. By noon the place was packed at the lake. Good thing we came early.
It’s beautiful. Good place to spend time with friends and family. I went to the west beach. Beach is clean. Lake Michigan will welcome you with its beauty. The trails are also great. View from the top is amazing
Quite the ominous and moody weather when I visited in March of 2026. It was a nice change of pace from high trafficked summer visits to National Parks. The visitor center is a joint effort by the state and national parks and it did not disappoint.
Trail conditions & character
“The combination of massive sand dunes, peaceful wooded trails, and endless Lake Michigan views makes this place feel almost unreal for Indiana.”
“Whether you want a challenging dune climb, a quiet beach walk, or simply a place to clear your mind, this spot delivers every time.”
“The combination of massive sand dunes, peaceful wooded trails, and endless Lake Michigan views makes this place feel almost unreal for Indiana.”
“The combination of massive sand dunes, peaceful wooded trails, and endless Lake Michigan views makes this place feel almost unreal for Indiana.”
“Do be careful touching plant life encroaching the boardwalk and stairs and there is a TON of poison ivy.”
Plan your run at Indiana Dunes National Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceBoardwalk — flat and scenic, and slick when wet, so watch your footing
- Distance50 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(219) 395-1882
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–11 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–11 PM |
Running trails near Porter
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Three Dunes Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 8 reviews
Indiana Dunes State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 7,842 reviews
Dune-lined park for hiking, swimming, fishing, cross-country skiing, birding & more, plus campsites.
Indiana Dunes National Park Cowles Bog Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 318 reviews
Popular hiking trail through marsh, forest, and dunes with beach views.
Calumet Trail Trailhead
3.9 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews
Parking & staging area for a 19-mile bike trail with a flat, gravel surface & wetlands views.