[SWIM] Rip currents
Lake Michigan can have rip currents and large waves. Do not swim when a rip-current warning is posted. If you are caught, swim parallel to shore. Do not swim against the current.
FIELD GUIDE / SUMMER 2026
Indiana Dunes National Park
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Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.
Current conditions
Lake Michigan has dangerous rip currents and large waves. Swim parallel to the shore if you are caught in a rip current.
[PARK] Beach lots fill
Lake View, Dunbar, Kemil, Porter, and Portage lots can fill by mid-morning on summer weekends. West Beach is larger and usually has space except on holiday weekends. Do not park on the roadside.
[X] Mount Baldy summit closed
The Mount Baldy summit is closed except on ranger-led walks. The beach trail is open. Stay on marked trails.
[TIME] Portage hours shortened
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is open 8 am to 9 pm. Gates lock at 9 pm. Vehicles left inside stay until the next day.
[$] State park pass is separate
A national park pass does not enter Indiana Dunes State Park. Buy the correct pass for the land you will use.
NPS conditions (large page)
Services by place
Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.
- Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
Food: No Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Unknown - West Beach
Food: Seasonal Water: Yes Toilets: Seasonal Fuel: No Signal: Unknown - Porter Beach / Kemil Beach
Food: No Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Unknown - Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
Food: Seasonal Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Unknown
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center ↑
Do this: Start here for maps, passes, and current beach conditions. Buy fuel and food in Porter or Chesterton.
- Food: No restaurant. Bookstore only.
- Water, toilets: Yes when the building is open.
- Fuel: No. Buy fuel in nearby towns.
- Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it at the beaches.
Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center at 1215 State Road 49, Porter. Shared with Indiana Dunes Tourism. Phone 219-395-1882.
West Beach ↑
Do this: Use the restroom and fill water here. Check the rip-current forecast before you swim.
- Food: Seasonal concession when open.
- Water: Yes. Potable water year-round.
- Toilets: Yes year-round. Seasonal showers in summer.
- Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it.
Open 6 am to 9 pm. Large lot. Lifeguards may be on duty in summer 10 am to 6 pm. Swim at your own risk.
Porter Beach / Kemil Beach ↑
Do this: Arrive early. Carry water. These lots fill fast on hot weekends.
- Food: No dependable food.
- Water, toilets: Yes at the beach lots.
- Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it.
Porter Beach closes at 9 pm. Kemil Beach is listed as 24 hours. Entrance pass required.
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk ↑
Do this: Use the pavilion restrooms when open. Leave before the 9 pm gate lock.
- Food: Seasonal snack bar when open.
- Water, toilets: Yes when the pavilion is open.
- Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it.
Part of the riverwalk trail is closed for erosion. The pier stays open from both sides.
Other places
- Mount Baldy — Use the lot restroom first. The beach walk is steep loose sand both ways. Food: No dependable food. · Water, toilets: Yes at the parking lot. · Fuel: No. Michigan City is the nearest town. · Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it. Summit closed except on ranger-led walks. Beach about 0.75 mi from the lot.
- Paul H. Douglas Center / Miller Woods — Use this west-end center for trail maps and the Miller Woods hike. Carry water on the trail. Food: No dependable food. · Water, toilets: Yes when the building is open. · Fuel: No. Gary and Portage are nearby. · Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on it. Gateway to the Paul H. Douglas Trail through Miller Woods.
- Dunewood Campground — Reserve a site before you arrive. Lake View Beach is about 1.5 miles north. Do not park in neighborhood streets. Food: No store. · Water: Yes. Potable water in each loop. No site hookups. · Toilets: Yes. Restrooms and showers in each loop. · Fuel: No. Beverly Shores and Michigan City are nearby. Open April 1 through November 1. 67 sites. Reserve on Recreation.gov.
- Heron Rookery — Bring all water. There are no toilets. The trail can be muddy and slippery. Water: No. Bring water. · Signal: Unknown. Assume none. Inland trail along the Little Calumet River. East lot is the main start. Pass required.
Drive times
Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.
Visitor Center to West Beach
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center → State Road 49 → U.S. 12 west → County Line Road → West Beach
West Beach is the large west-end beach. Buy your pass before you need a space at a full lot.
Visitor Center to Porter and Kemil
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center → U.S. 12 east → Porter Beach → Kemil Beach
These lots are small. Arrive early on hot weekends.
Visitor Center to Mount Baldy
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center → U.S. 12 east → Michigan City → Rice Street → Mount Baldy
The beach is a steep sand walk from the lot. Do not carry large coolers.
West Beach to Portage Lakefront
West Beach → U.S. 12 east → State Road 249 north → Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
Follow park signs past the industrial area. Park only in marked lots.
Visitor Center to Heron Rookery
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center → inland roads east → Heron Rookery east lot
This inland trail has no water or toilets. Fill bottles before you leave the visitor center.
Help
Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.
Park information: 219-395-1882
This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.
Permits
Entrance pass
A national park entrance pass is required. A private vehicle pass is $25 for 1 to 7 days. A motorcycle pass is $20. A per-person pass is $15. The pass is not valid at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Where to buy a pass
Buy a pass at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, the Paul H. Douglas Center, or West Beach. The visitor center takes cash or card. Douglas Center and West Beach take card only.
Camping
Reserve Dunewood Campground on Recreation.gov. The campground is open April 1 through November 1. The fee is $25 per night. There are no electric or water hookups.
Picnic shelters
Some picnic shelters can be reserved. Others are first come, first served. Call 219-395-8138.
Mount Baldy summit
You may walk the beach trail. The summit trail is open only with authorized staff on listed ranger programs.
Short hikes
Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.
- West Beach / Dune Succession Trail: 0.9 mi loop. About 270 stairs. Views of Lake Michigan. Loose sand.
- West Beach / West Beach three-loop system: 3.4 mi. Succession, West Beach, and Long Lake loops. Easy to moderate.
- Mount Baldy / Mount Baldy Beach Trail: 0.75 mi. Steep loose sand to the beach. The only way out is back up.
- Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk / Portage Lakefront Trail: 0.9 mi. Paved and boardwalk. Part of the riverwalk is closed for erosion.
- Heron Rookery / Heron Rookery Trail: 3.3 mi. Easy and flat. No water. Muddy after rain.
- Paul H. Douglas Center / Miller Woods / Paul H. Douglas Trail: 3.4 mi. Oak savanna, wetlands, and beach. Carry water.