Bike the Parks

Parks / Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Park

Flat trails behind Lake Michigan's dunes.

3/5
Worth bringing a bike

Flat crushed-limestone trails like the Calumet Bike Trail make for easy riding between beaches and dunes on Lake Michigan.

Riding here

Indiana Dunes stretches along Lake Michigan's southern shore, and a network of flat trails links its beaches, wetlands and dune areas. The Calumet Bike Trail runs about 10 miles on packed crushed limestone, and shorter trails like the Marquette and Oak Savannah add to it. It's easy, family-friendly riding with a beach at the end.

Where you can ride

Bikes may use main roads, designated bike trails (Calumet, Marquette, Oak Savannah, and part of the Long Lake Trail) and the Lake Michigan shoreline from Lake Front Drive to the Central Beach access point.

Where you can't

No bikes off-trail or on sand dunes.

Rides

  • Calumet Bike Trail

    • Gravel
    • 10 mi one way
    • Packed crushed limestone
    • Easy

    A flat off-road trail behind the dunes, run by Porter County Parks.

    Start: Highway 12 near Mt. Baldy, or Cowles Bog lot at Mineral Springs Road

  • Marquette Trail

    • Gravel
    • 2 mi one way
    • Packed crushed limestone
    • Easy

    A short, flat multi-use trail from West Beach to Grand Boulevard.

    Start: County Line Road at West Beach

  • Oak Savannah Trail

    • Paved path
    • 1.5 mi one way
    • Paved
    • Easy

    A short paved trail through oak savanna.

    Start: Western end of the park

When to go

Late spring to fall. Summer weekends are busy at the beaches.

Safety

Trails are shared with walkers. The park's bicycling page was last updated in 2018, so confirm trail details with the park (219-395-1882).

E-bikes

The park's own bicycling page doesn't spell out e-bike rules. Under the NPS e-bike rule (36 CFR 4.30), an e-bike with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts is generally allowed where regular bikes are, and riding on the motor alone is barred anywhere cars can't go. Parks can restrict them, so confirm with the park before you bring one.

Fees

Arriving by bike, you pay the park's individual (per-person) entrance fee, normally valid for 7 days, or ride in on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Amounts change, so check the park's Fees & Passes page.

Rentals, tours and shuttles

  • Your bike shop hereSample listing

    This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Indiana Dunes: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

    Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

Run a shop near Indiana Dunes? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

  1. Bicycling Information — Indiana Dunes (NPS)
  2. Calumet Bike Trail — Indiana Dunes (NPS)
  3. NPS e-bike regulations (2020)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

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