6 closures · 2 cautions · 1 information notice
Portions of Bailly / Chellberg Trail (with stairs) will be closed through October (10/30/26), to allow completion of boardwalk replacement project.
Partially open. Persistent flooding west of the campground currently limits access to the entire trail. Hikers may not always be able to traverse the full length.
Closed. The Woodland Trail is closed indefinitely, and no reopening date is available. However, the paved Oak Savannah Trail remains open.
The middle boardwalk was lost due to a tree strike, making the full loop inaccessible. At this time, there is no timeline for replacement.
Closed. The trail is undergoing tree removal and rerouting due to riverbank collapse. It is expected to reopen in the fall, after mosquito activity decreases.
Marquette Greenway construction will require closing sections of the Glenwood Dunes Trail (April–December 2026) and Little Calumet River / Mnoké Prairie Trail (May–December 2026). Closure dates may shift as work progresses. Please follow all posted closures and check the park website or NPS App for updates.
After recent storms, E. coli levels are likely to reach above safe swimming standards. Entering the water after heavy rainfall is never recommended. Know before you go and always check our Beach Safety page before heading to park beaches.
Closed portion of Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Trail along Burns Waterway due to unsafe conditions from erosional damage. This trail portion will remain closed while funding is sought for repair work. Pier access remains open on either side of closure.
For more information on storm related repairs and other park conditions like beach and hiking safety visit our park status page.
The Central Beach Walk-In Sites has 5 sites, and you will walk a distance to get to your campsite. There is a primitive toilet (porta-potty) by the Central Beach parking lot for the entire season. There is no drinkable water in the area so you must bring your own water.
The Dunbar Group Site holds up to 30 people and is located less than 500 feet from the beach. The site overlooks the Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Parking and restrooms are located in the Dunbar Beach parking lot, 400 feet from the site.
Campground consists of two loops containing 66 camp-sites (53 conventional drive-in sites and 13 walk/carry-in sites). Four sites are wheelchair accessible (numbers 15, 30, 41 and 55). Each loop has modern restrooms and hot/cold showers. Some sites have limited recreational vehicle length. Convenience stores and a gas station are located 1/4 mile north of the campground at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Broadway Ave. in the town of Beverly Shores. Campground closed during winter, Nov 2 - Mar 31.
View lobby displays and pick up brochures about Porter County, Indiana, Dunes State Park, and Indiana Dunes National Park. Enjoy educational displays and watch two short orientation videos. Shop in the Eastern National bookstore. The visitor center is open everyday with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located on Indiana State Road 49, between U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94 (1215 IN-49, Porter, IN 46304). GPS Coordinates: 41.633349, -87.053762 (Decimal Degrees).
The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is your gateway to the stunning Paul H. Douglas Trail through Miller Woods. This facility connects you to the natural environment through educational hands-on exhibits, ranger-guided hikes, lectures, animals, crafts, and a Nature Play Zone. Open hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time and is closed Monday and Tuesday.
The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is located in the western portion of the national park at 100 North Lake Street, about one mile north of U.S. Highway 20 in the Miller neighborhood of Gary (100 North Lake Street, Gary, IN 46304). GPS Coordinates: 41.606286, -87.267483 (Decimal Degrees).
Changes detected in official NPS alerts for Indiana Dunes.
Lake Michigan exerts a major microclimate influence, causing rapid weather shifts, lake-effect snow in winter, and cool breezes in summer.
Before embarking on hikes, backcountry routes, or winter travel, verify immediate conditions directly with National Park Service staff:
Alerts, closures, and operating notices on this page are fetched directly from the official U.S. National Park Service Developer API. Records are compared using content hashes to detect genuine status updates over time. Secondary topic labels assist quick trip scanning and do not alter official NPS classifications.