Partial Trail Closures on Bailly / Chellberg Trail
Portions of Bailly / Chellberg Trail (with stairs) will be closed through October (10/30/26), to allow completion of boardwalk replacement project.
Official NPS sourceSTATE & NATION TRAVEL
Indiana Travel.
National parks, historic sites and practical visitor updates, directly from the National Park Service.
NPS sources checked 10/3/2026, 3:09:57 PM Eastern
Travel Alerts & Closures
CHECK BEFORE DEPARTUREPartial Closure - Upland Trail
The middle boardwalk was lost due to a tree strike, making the full loop inaccessible. At this time, there is no timeline for replacement.
Official NPS sourceClosure - Heron Rookery Trail
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.
Official NPS sourceOther Park Conditions and Updates
For more information on storm related repairs and other park conditions like beach and hiking safety visit our park status page.
Official NPS sourceWater Safety Alert
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.
Official NPS sourcePartial Trail Closure - Dunewood Trace
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.
Official NPS sourceClosure - Hobart Woodland Trail
Closed. The Woodland Trail is closed indefinitely, and no reopening date is available. However, the paved Oak Savannah Trail remains open.
Official NPS sourceGeorge Rogers Clark NHP in the Eastern Time Zone
George Rogers Clark National Historical Park is located in the Eastern Time Zone. The memorial closes 15 minutes before the visitor center.
Official NPS sourcePartial Trail Closure at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk
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.
Official NPS sourceOfficial conditions for each destination
Latest NPS News
Browse the archiveIndiana Dunes National Park Releases 1600 Lab Grown Native Mussels into the Little Calumet River to Improve Water Quality
PORTER, Ind. — Indiana Dunes National Park recently celebrated the release of more than 1,600 native fatmucket mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) into the East Branch of the Little Calumet River.
Official NPS sourceIndiana Dunes National Park Welcomes Alumni to Celebrate Newly Restored Good Fellow Camp Lodge
Restoration Made Possible by Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund - PORTER, Ind. — Indiana Dunes National Park today celebrated the completion of the Good Fellow Camp Lodge rehabilitation project, part of a $25.4 million effort to rehabilitate historic structures across the park.
Official NPS sourceNew federal report highlights scale and breadth of recreation at Indiana Dunes National Park
PORTER, Ind. — A newly released federal report highlights both the scale of visitation and the wide range of recreational experiences at Indiana Dunes National Park.
Official NPS sourceMount Baldy Access Site Reopens After Sand Management Project
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Indiana Dunes National Park will reopen the Mount Baldy access site to the public Monday, June 15. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed work to move approximately 27,000 tons of sand at Mount Baldy as part of ongoing shoreline management efforts.
Official NPS sourceSpring Prescribed Fires Planned for Indiana Dunes National Park
The National Park Service plans to conduct eight prescribed fires this Spring starting Monday, Feb. 28.
Official NPS sourceCompetitive Opportunity for Portage Lakefront Concession Stand
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK, Ind.-- Indiana Dunes National Park is excited to announce a competitive selection process for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) to operate the concession stand at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Pavilion. The CUA will permit food, beverage, and light retail sales at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Pavilion in Portage, Indiana.
Official NPS sourceSpring Prescribed Fires Planned for Indiana Dunes
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: The National Park Service plans to conduct eight prescribed fires at Indiana Dunes National Park this spring. Approximately 1,534 acres are planned to be burned as part of the park’s natural resources and fuels management programs. The prescribed fires will occur between March 1 and April 30 as appropriate weather conditions allow.
Official NPS sourceCompetitive Concession Stand Opportunities
PORTER, IN – Indiana Dunes National Park is pleased to announce the application period for the two competitively selected Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) providing snack bar services. The concession stands, strategically positioned at two of the park's most frequented locations, West Beach and Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, play a crucial role in providing essential amenities to the park’s roughly 2 million annual visitors. The competitive selection process emphasizes criteria such as sustainability practices, menu diversity, retail convenience items, and customer service standards.
Official NPS sourcePortage Lakefront Hours Shortened for the Remainder of the Summer
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Beginning on August 2nd, the hours of operation for Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk at Indiana Dunes National Park will be temporarily shortened to 8:00 am – 9:00 pm due to a spike in overnight vandalism and illegal beach fires. Gates will be locked at 9:00 pm and remaining vehicles will not be able to be retrieved until the following day.
Official NPS sourceRide Historic South Shore Railroad Cars at East Troy Railroad Museum
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Join rangers from the National Park Service and volunteers from Indiana Dunes National Park on July 13th for the annual Chicago Day program at East Troy Railroad Museum in Wisconsin and learn about the story of the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad and it’s part in the Indiana Dunes. The East Troy Railroad Museum owns nine South Shore cars, with six of them in regular service, and a seventh being restored now. Visitors will have the chance to ride on the restored South Shore cars, several of which were donated to the museum by the National Park Service in 2010. Younger visitors can earn a Junior Ranger award and East Troy Electric Railroad pin after completing a Junior Ranger program during the event.
Official NPS sourceShipwreck Site Near Mt Baldy to be Dedicated
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: On July 18th, the dedication of Indiana's 2nd official Shipwreck Nature Preserve - the "Muskegon" will take place just offshore from Indiana Dunes National Park’s Mount Baldy. Dr. Charles Beeker and colleagues from Indiana University's Center for Underwater Science, along with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service staff, will visit the site to install a mooring buoy, place a bronze commemorative plaque, and collect high-quality underwater photos and footage.
Official NPS sourceTerrain360 and the National Park Service-Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Embark on a Historic Mapping Expedition of the Yellowstone River
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Terrain360, the National Park Service’s (NPS) Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and the Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc. is proud to announce a project that aims to map a portion of the Yellowstone River. The mapping will use state-of-the art 360° ultra-high-definition spherical imagery to capture 507 miles of river starting just south of Livingston, Montana to the confluence of the Missouri-Yellowstone Rivers. This monumental endeavor will generate over 1 million ultra-high-resolution images, providing an unparalleled view of this historically significant river.
Official NPS sourceScience Fridays Series at Portage Lakefront Pavilion - Water Safety
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Expand your knowledge and join fellow nature enthusiasts for a night of educational fun and wonder. Science Fridays at Indiana Dunes National Park is a monthly series of presentations given by subject matter experts with a different topic each month.
Official NPS sourceSafe Boating at the National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park has become an increasingly popular destination for local boaters. Lake Michigan can be a dangerous place. It is important for boat operators to follow national park regulations to help keep themselves and swimmers safe. All waters within 300 feet of the national park’s shoreline are under national park rules, regulations, and fee requirements.
Official NPS sourceLewis and Clark National Historic Trail 2023 Annual Report Released
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail has released its 2023 Annual Report. The report documents a year of work with partners across the U.S. to commemorate and protect the 4,900-mile-long historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Official NPS sourceIndiana Dunes Earth Day Park Cleanu
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Celebrate Earth Day and show your support for environmental protection on Monday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m-12:00 pm, by spending the morning at the Indiana Dunes National Park’s 3rd annual Earth Day Cleanup. Family, friends, neighbors, and park employees will join forces to collect a winter’s worth of trash and debris from roadsides, beaches, the Little Calumet River, and trails throughout the area to help beautify the parks and make the region a cleaner place to live.
Official NPS sourcePortage Lakefront Pavilion Temporarily Closed for Renovations
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Your fee dollars are at work on stunning Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Pavilion at Indiana Dunes National Park. The interior of the pavilion will receive a fresh coat of paint and a new flooring will be installed. Cabinets will also be constructed in the classroom area. The construction will close the facility to the public immediately and will continue through March 31st, 2024. Access to the beach, trails, and breakwater will still be available to the public during the renovation work.
Official NPS sourceLincoln Boyhood National Memorial to host Solar Eclipse programs April 6-8, 2024
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial has teamed up with the National Science Foundation for hands-on activities and formal space science presentations that will take place at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial Visitor Center. Join us for activities throughout the weekend including a night sky event, special Junior Ranger programs, and make and take “SpaceCrafts”.
Official NPS sourceUpcoming NPS Events
NEXT 90 DAYSAstronomy Night
Come explore the night sky!
Official NPS sourceMiller Woods Hike
Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center for a ranger-led hike through Miller Woods on the Paul H. Douglas Trail to the shore of Lake Michigan. This amazing hike goes through a globally rare black oak savannah and around towering sand dunes and interdunal wetlands. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. 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 12. For more information on this or other programs at Indiana Dunes National Park, call 219-395-1882 or check the park's website .
Official NPS sourceOfficial destination calendars
National Parks & Federal Sites
4 DESTINATIONSNational Historic Trail
Lewis & Clark
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean. Follow the trail to find the people, places, and stories that make up the complex legacy of the expedition.
Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · North Dakota · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Dakota · Washington · West VirginiaNational Historical Park
George Rogers Clark
The British flag would not be raised above Fort Sackville Feb. 25, 1779. At 10 A.M., the garrison surrendered to American Colonel George Rogers Clark. His American army, aided by French residents of the Illinois country, had marched through freezing floodwaters to gain this victory. The fort’s capture assured United States claims to the frontier, an area nearly as large as the original 13 states.
IndianaNational Park
Indiana Dunes
Lake Michigan's might has influenced Indiana Dunes for millennia. Wind and waves have shaped the land, leaving a rich mosaic of habitats along these 15 miles of Indiana coast. Over 50 miles of trails lead through shifting sand dunes, quiet woodlands, sunny prairies and lush wetlands. Known for its striking plant and bird diversity, it's easy to find inspiration throughout the park’s 16,000 acres.
IndianaNational Memorial
Lincoln Boyhood
Abraham Lincoln grew from youth to manhood on this southern Indiana soil. Many character and moral traits of one of the world's most respected leaders was formed and nurtured here. Explore Lincoln's boyhood and learn about the boy who would one day become the leader of our nation.
IndianaDestination directory sourced from NPS state listings, October 3, 2026. Official NPS directory
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