Getting my crew outside and active is one of my goals every day of every trip. Indiana Dunes is breathtaking, really something to see. We visited Indiana Dunes West Beach Trails as a part of a familiarization trip with Visit the South Shore. 
After checking into our hotel in Merrillville, Indiana we went straight to the Dunes! Did you know that Indiana Dunes is a National Lakeshore? Yes! It’s on the National Parks list. The National Lakeshore has 15,000 acres of beauty to explore.
If you love to hike, you’ve come to the right place. There are 50 miles of trails over dunes, wetlands, prairies, rivers and forests.
We chose this trail at West Beach for our first hike because it was getting to be late in the evening, and it is a relatively short hike.
It took us about 25 minutes to make it to the lake. And the great thing about this trail is that it loops around so the walk back to the parking lot after enjoying the lake is a very short one.
I say we love to hike. The truth is the kids usually grumble when I tell them we are going for a hike, but they always end up having a great time.
The boys especially loved playing in the sticks, sand, rocks, and water, but the girls loved it too.
They all had a blast learning how to skip rocks, and it was here on Lake Michigan that a couple of the girls finally got the hang of it.
The boys were reluctant to quit skipping rocks when the sun was going down and everyone else was ready to eat!
Lake Michigan is huge. I mean it’s like an ocean! My husband kept saying that. 😉 You can’t see across it. It’s really neat to experience. There are 15 miles of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. This one little trail is just a glimpse, but it was our first glimpse, and we will always remember it!
Planning a trip to northwest Indiana? Click over to Visit the South Shore for ideas and inspiration.
I live on one of the Great Lakes (Ontario) and it’s always fun to go for a hike close to it. I hope to have my future kids into hiking this much! It’s a great way to get exercise.
Oh I’d love to visit Ontario! Yes, people ask me how I don’t get…bigger traveling so much. lol We always try to get in lots of walking!
My family loves Indiana Dunes. We visited a few years ago on a road trip and we had so much fun. It’s a beautiful area.
It really is gorgeous! I want to go back and explore more. 🙂
It looks like a fun place to hang out. It has a wonderful sandy beach. A lot of the lakes around here have no sandy beaches so its not quite as enjoyable.
Yes, the sandy beach is amazing! It really feels like the ocean!
We love hiking and checking out new places. This looks like a nice trail for the family to enjoy. I’ve never been to Indiana before and it looks like there are lots of great places to check out.
We spent 10 days in Indiana and wish we could have spent more. There is so much to see and do!
50 miles? that is awesome. Looks like a great place to take the family hiking.
Huge!! It really is a great place to take friends or family.
This looks like such a gorgeous place, although those steps are giving me anxiety lol.
Ha ha. My kids freaked out too, but totally doable and great exercise. lol
I have never been to Michigan but have heard it is wonderful! Those are a TON of stairs lol. Yeah kids will complain but they usually end up having fun!
Yes the kids usually come around…and then sleep better at night. 🙂
What a great way to spend a day with the whole family! The place looks amazing!
Thank you. It really is great.
Oh my gosh, the Indiana Dunes looks beautiful! I would love to visit it sometime.
I hope you plan on it. You’ll love it!
I love going to the Dunes. I have never been on this trail though! Something new to seek out.
I love Lake Michigan!! It really is like an ocean. We live in Michigan and every chance we get, we go to the beach in Holland. So nice!
Seems like a cute hike to do with kids. There are so many stairs though!
Some uphill some downhill, but the great thing is you only have to do them once. 🙂 Great exercise for everyone!
This looks like a great area! We lived in Terre Haute, IN for awhile and there is not much there, BUT Indiana does have some incredible parks!! We love French Lick ( which is south). Plus I met my husband there ++!
Thanks for the info, hope to check it out!
We went through Terre Haute! There is a man there that has built a backyard roller coaster for his grand kids. Really something!