STATE & NATION TRAVEL · news
Miller Woods hikers no longer need a park pass for two Indiana Dunes trails
By Staff Writer · Published October 14, 2026
The waiver covers the Douglas Center Loop and Paul H. Douglas Trail in Gary, not every Indiana Dunes destination.
Official announcement: National Park Service · October 14, 2026
Visitors can now walk two Miller Woods trails in Gary without an Indiana Dunes National Park entrance pass. In an October 14 release, the National Park Service says it has waived entrance fees for the Douglas Center Loop and Paul H. Douglas Trail, both reached from the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education.
The change makes it easier to combine the center's exhibits and educational activities with an outdoor visit. It is a limited waiver: NPS says entrance-fee requirements elsewhere in the national park remain in place. A Miller Woods outing therefore does not establish free admission for the other stops on a dunes itinerary.
What Travelers Need to Know
Use the trailhead at 100 North Lake Street in Gary. The easy Douglas Center Loop is 0.9 mile, with an estimated half-hour walking time; the moderate Paul H. Douglas Trail is a 3.4-mile round trip to Lake Michigan, estimated at two hours.
The longer walk includes loose sand. Stay on designated trails, obey posted closures and bring water. NPS says the trails are not wheelchair accessible, although the center and its walkway to the marsh boardwalk and picnic tables are accessible.
Check the center's operating schedule before pairing a hike with indoor activities. Confirm current conditions and fees for any other national park stops; Indiana Dunes State Park has separate admission arrangements. Questions about the waiver can go to the national park at 219-395-1882.
About the Location
Miller Woods brings several of the southern Lake Michigan shore's habitats into one walk. NPS identifies wetlands, black oak savanna, dunes and beach along the Paul H. Douglas Trail. Crossing the Grand Calumet River takes hikers from the wooded and wetland setting toward the lakeshore dunes.
The trail is a partnership between NPS and the City of Gary. Its education-center starting point distinguishes this destination from a beach-only visit: visitors can connect the landscape with hands-on exhibits and ranger-led learning, when those programs are available.