Hike through quiet, serene forests, then follow sand dunes along Lake Michigan back to the trailhead.

A relaxing hike through a marsh noted for its long boardwalk, ferns, and early spring wildflowers.

An easy hike exploring the restored Mnoké Prairie, Bailly Homestead, and Chellberg Farm.

The Dune Ridge Trail offers expansive views of the Great Marsh, an incredibly diverse area that contributes to the park's title as "one of the top five most biologically diverse of all the national parks." Along the dunes, certain "pioneer plants such as marram and little bluestem grasses and cottonwood trees" have "adapted to live in the dunes where moving sand sometimes partially buries or uncovers plant stems and roots."

The Calumet Dunes Trail is one of the easiest short hikes in Indiana Dunes National Park. According to the park, "the lake has slowly receded over time, forming three major parallel dune ridges: Glenwood (640' above sea level), Calumet (620' above sea level) and Tolleston (605' above sea level)." This hike wanders through these dunes and offers several trailside benches to relax and enjoy the view.

The Great Marsh Trail is an easy hike featured for its diversity of wildlife across "the largest interdunal wetland in the Lake Michigan watershed." The park notes how "flocks of coots, mallards, and wood ducks now glide over the wetland's surface," while "kingfishers, tree swallows, and rusty blackbirds rest during migration." This is one of the best trails for birdwatching, plus the northern trailhead is wheelchair accessible to an observation deck with stunning views of the marsh.

Named after the late ecologist and "father of plant ecology in North America" Dr. Henry Cowles, this hike showcases the plant diversity that helped Indiana Dunes earn the designation of a National Natural Landmark in the 1960s. Nearing 4.5 miles, this "lollipop" loop explores an area that contains "bog, fen, marsh, wet meadow, swamp, and pond habitats" that make up this wetland complex.

Glenwood Dunes Trail is unique and extensive network of trail in Indiana Dunes National Park. Instead of one loop or out-and-back pathway, the area hosts an elaborate network of trail with "loops ranging from less than a mile to nearly 15 miles," according to the park. Hikers and trail runners most often utilize the trail, though it is also open to equestrian users between March and December.

The Tolleston Dunes Trail is a moderate 3-mile hike that "winds amid 4,700 year-old sand dunes that were formed when Lake Michigan's water level was 25 feet higher than today," according to the park. One of four dune systems found in Indiana Dunes National Park, this area highlights a variety of habitats and plants including the eastern prickly pear cactus.

A 3-mile hike through the West Beach Recreation Area that highlights the diversity of plant and animal life while offering several spectacular views along the way.