Five Spring Hikes Worth the Walk
1. Heron Rookery
Indiana Dunes National Park · ~3.3 mi out-and-back · Easy
Spring is peak beach-house shopping season — but it's also peak season for ephemerals along the Little Calumet River, and the Heron Rookery is where to find them. Beginning in April, the forest floor carpets itself with Trillium, trout lily, Dutchman's breeches, and so many other species. It makes every step feel a little like walking through a painting. The path is flat and family-friendly — you can scout listings in the morning and be under towering beech trees by lunchtime.
Trailhead: 1336 N County Rd 600 E, Michigan City, IN 46360 When to go: Third week of April is peak trillium — give or take two weeks depending on the weather. Pro tip: Pack a thermos from Red Cup. The views beg for periodic coffee breaks.
2. Miller Woods Loop
Indiana Dunes National Park · 3.5 mi lollipop loop · Moderate
If variety is what you're after, Miller Woods is your sampler platter: black oak savanna, interdunal ponds, and a final push to the foredune and beach — with lake views clear to Chicago on a bright day. Spring prescribed burns produce prolific displays of lupine, puccoon, cleft phlox, and bird's-foot violets. I hike this trail often and it's never the same twice.
Trailhead: Paul H. Douglas Center, 100 N Lake St, Gary, IN 46403 When to go: Early May for the lupine — stunning shades of lavender across the open dunes. Pro tip: Time your hike for golden hour, then swing by Tiny's Coffee Bar on Lake Street for a post-trail espresso.
3. Great Marsh Trail
Indiana Dunes National Park, Beverly Shores · Easy
One of the most underrated hikes in the region, and one of the best for birding. The Great Marsh is the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed — and in spring, it's alive with coots, mallards, wood ducks, kingfishers, green herons, egrets, and the Sandhill cranes that have recently begun nesting here. The observation deck is a must. While you're in Beverly Shores, two short Shirley Heinze Land Trust trails nearby are worth adding to your visit.
Trailhead: Beverly Drive, Beverly Shores When to go: Spring and fall migration seasons are exceptional. Early May is particularly nice, though I love the gentians in September. Pro tip: This is prime territory for serious birders — bring binoculars and extra time.
4. Cowles Bog Trail
Indiana Dunes National Park · 4.7 mi loop · Moderate to Strenuous
This is the classic Indiana Dunes hike — and one that earns its reputation. Named for pioneering ecologist Henry Cowles, who conducted his landmark work in plant succession here in the early 1900s, the trail moves through an extraordinary range of habitats: ponds, marshes, swamps, black oak savannas, and ultimately a secluded Lake Michigan beach that many visitors never find. The dune climbs near the lake are steep, but the payoff — sweeping water views and a quiet stretch of sand — is worth every step.
Trailhead: If you go during the week, you can probably park at the north lot, near Dune Acres security office. On weekends, park near the tracks and walk west along the Calumet trail, which connects to the Cowles Bog loop. When to go: Spring and fall. Bring layers — the weather at the lake can be dramatically different from the trailhead. Summer is grand, but mosquitos emerge after mid-June. Pro tip: Pack a lunch. The beach at the end of the trail is one of the finest picnic spots in the region.
5. J. Timothy Ritchie Nature Preserve
Chesterton · ~1.5 mi · Easy
A quieter, more intimate experience than the national park trails — and one with a lovely story behind it. This pocket of rich floodplain forest along Sand Creek was named for my longtime Dune Acres neighbor Tim Ritchie and thoughtfully preserved by another Dune Acres friend and neighbor, Tom Roberts, who passed it on to Shirley Heinze Land Trust. In spring, the beech and maple woodland is covered with ephemeral wildflowers, including a beautiful display of large-flowered Trillium. It's the kind of place that rewards slow walking and a little patience.
Trailhead: Dune Acres — access details via Heinze Trust When to go: Mid to late April for the Trillium display; Fall for the brilliant colors. Pro tip: This one is best appreciated unhurried. Bring your camera, but disable your step-tracker and linger.
One more resource.
Eve over at Dig the Dunes has exceptional information on dozens of hikes across Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan — plus year-round events, get-togethers, group field trips, and more. Her site is well worth bookmarking for the season.
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