Why I Hike (and Why You Might, Too)
Nothing clears my head between showings like lacing up the trail shoes and lighting . Lucky for us, the Dunes region has an embarrassment of riches—more than 50 miles of marked paths that trade asphalt for sand, prairie, woods, and wetlands. Here are just a few of my favorite treks for April and May.
Richard Hawksworth
1. Heron Rookery
Indiana Dunes National Park · ~3.3 mi out‑and‑back · Easy
Spring may be peak beach‑house shopping season, but it’s also peak season for ephemerals (and more!) along the Little Calumet River. The Heron Rookery is a unit of the Indiana Dunes National Park and beginning in mid-April, it carpets itself with trillium, trout lily, and Dutchman’s breeches—making every step feel like a postcard. The path is flat and family‑friendly, so you can scout listings in the morning and stretch your legs under towering beech trees by lunch. You won't need bug spray yet, but bring your camera because the floral display is simply out of this world.
Trailhead: 1336 N County Rd N 600 E, Michigan City, IN 46360
When to go: Third week in April is peak Trillium season, give or take two weeks depending o the weather.
Pro tip: Pack a thermos from Red Cup—because the views just beg for periodic coffee breaks.
Mche Lee | Unsplash
2. Miller Woods Loop
Indiana Dunes National Park · 3.5 mi lollipop loop · Moderate
If you crave variety, 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 (that's "gardening" in these parts) produce prolific displays of lupine, puccoon, cleft phlox, and bird's-foot violets.
Trailhead: Paul H. Douglas Center, 100 N Lake St, Gary, IN 46403
When to go: Lovely any time, but the Lupines paint the dunes in stunning shades of lavender beginning in early May.
Pro tip: Time your hike for golden hour—then swing by Tiny's Coffee Bar on Lake Street for a post‑trail espresso.
Richard Hawksworth
3. Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve
Chesterton · 2.5 mi of interconnected loops · Easy
Need a micro‑escape between back‑to‑back showings? Coffee Creek delivers prairie grasses, boardwalk wetlands, and songbird‑filled woodlots—all five minutes from downtown Chesterton. The paved and crushed‑limestone paths make it stroller‑ and dog‑friendly, while strategic overlook decks double as pop‑up offices (yes, the cell reception is solid). Early May is prime time for redbuds lining the creek—nature’s own open‑house balloons.
Trailhead: 2401 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304
When to go: May through fall, you really can't go wrong.
Pro tip: Grab a salad or a sandwich to go from Tiger Lily Cafe´on the way; the amphitheater steps are a perfect picnic perch.
Alexander Grey | Unsplash
4. Brinka Cross Gardens
Pine Township · ~1.5‑mile garden & woodland loop · Easy
The trails here are designed for meandering, rather than hiking. It's a lovely place, especially in the springtime when the grounds explode with thousands of daffodils. The 25-acre garden was the life's work of Bill Brincka and Basil Cross, who built their Prairie-Style home here in 1969. The April daffodil display is followed closely in May by flowering crabapples, which give way to more than 400 varieties of Hosta.
Trailhead: 427 E. Furnessville Rd, Pine Township, just south of Route 20.
When to go: Don't miss the April daffodil display, but the grounds are impressive in any season.
Pro tip: Bring a macro lens—this former private garden turned county park hides sculpture nooks that are IG-ready.
Eve over at Dig the Dunes has great information on dozens of hikes in Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan. Be sure to check them out!
BONNIE HAWKSWORTH
REALTOR®
@properties | Dunelife Team
219-309-7638
bonniehawksworth@atproperties.com
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Bonnie Hawksworth
Real Estate Advisor | Dunelife Team
Mobile: 219-309-7638
bonniehawksworth@atproperties.com
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