West Beach Picnic Shelters

Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles (24 km) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the park will continually enchant you, and hikers will enjoy 50 miles (80 km) of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests. West Beach offers eight universally accessible picnic shelters. Seasonal restrooms and potable water are available at the picnic area from mid-May through mid-October, while year-round restrooms and potable water are available at the contact station. A bathhouse with showers and lockers is open seasonally. The West Beach parking lot has 596 spots, including 20 bus/RV spaces; note that the lot may fill up on holiday weekends. There is no one-size-fits-all trip to the dunes; each season offers new and different ways to enjoy the park. Spring splashes the river banks of the Heron Rookery with an abundance of colorful wildflowers in this birder's paradise. Lake Michigan summer sunsets paint the skies with vibrant rays that offer a picture-perfect picnic setting. In the fall, maple trees burst with warm red and golden hues, crafting a spectacular backdrop for a hike by Chellberg Farm, and winter brings a scenic canvas of virgin white snow begging for a cross-country skiing adventure in the Glenwood Dunes. As the seasons change, so do the recreational opportunities, facility hours and closures, and safety concerns. Activities in the park include beach-going and swimming, biking, bird watching, camping, fishing and boating, hiking, geocaching, historical sites, horseback riding, interpretive programs, picnicking, winter activities, and guided tours. The park is a treasure of diverse natural resources within an urban setting, featuring communities of both scientific and historic significance to the field of ecology. Four National Natural Landmarks, including Pinhook Bog and Cowles Bog, and one National Historic Landmark, the Bailly Homestead, lie within its boundaries. Its 15,000-plus acres (6070 ha) take in dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests, along with 15 miles (24 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning the distance from Gary to Michigan City. Lake Michigan is part of the largest complex of freshwater lakes in the world, and the park's beaches are its most significant recreational resource.