Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center ~ Things You Should Know!

For us, a visit to the Indiana Dunes State Park just wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center. Here you can explore the diversity of native plants, animals and ecosystems found within the park.

The Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center is located within walking distance of the park’s campground. The two are actually connected by a paved walking trail, located next to Site #94, in the East Loop.

Also, don’t worry if you’re not camping! Parking is available for those who may not be staying at the campground or prefer to drive.

Whether you come by foot or car, you’re sure to enjoy exploring the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center!

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Welcome to the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center

Butterfly Gardens

The walkway up to the Nature Center is on a small incline lined with flower beds and a garden area, off to the side, with a pathway circling through it. We love to stop and take a look at the milkweed plants, found within these flower beds, in search of caterpillars.

The Indiana Dunes State Park falls within the migratory path of Monarch Butterflies. Depending on the season, the caterpillars may be seen munching on the leaves of the milkweed.

We highly recommend stopping to observe the Monarch caterpillars and then popping into the Nature Center with any questions you may have about these fascinating creatures.

Come Inside the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center

Once inside, the lobby is bright, welcoming and full of interesting things to see, as soon as you walk in. Be sure to look up at the ceiling at the various taxidermied species of birds native to the Indiana Dunes.

The information desk, and gift shop area are located just through the front entrance. Restrooms and the drinking fountain can be found to the right of the information desk, just down the hall.

Exhibits Area

Inside the exhibits area, there is a large diorama, brimming with all sorts of things to discover. You’ll find examples of native plants, as well as a variety of native animals that fly, crawl, swim and slither. Look high and low, you never know what creature you may find hiding in the scenery.

Several live animals call the Nature Center home, too. There is a wall of live animal exhibits, adjacent to the diorama, that allow guests to get an up-close look at some of the Indiana Dunes’ unique creatures.

On occasion, we’ve even seen special appearances by other wildlife, that the Nature Center will bring in to share throughout the year. The crayfish and Monarch caterpillars were interesting to “meet.”

J.D. Marshall Kids’ Play Area

The kids’ play area is designed to look like the pilot house of a ship and is home to several artifacts from the J.D. Marshall, a ship which sank in 1911, about 1/2 mile off the shores of the Indiana Dunes State Park. The J.D. Marshall capsized during a storm and sadly, four of the lives on board were lost.

The wreckage now lays at rest within the J.D. Marshall Preserve, Indiana’s first underwater nature preserve. There are several artifacts on display at the Nature Center, which were confiscated from salvagers. The ship’s propeller can be seen close to the beach pavilion, outside, on the east side of the building.

Library

We always enjoy spending time in the Nature Center’s library, looking through the many books and games which are available. (You know us and our love of books!)

There are plenty of beautiful, vintage, nature books to admire, which never fail to inspire us to explore the great outdoors!

Just outside the library is a re-creation of a canoe, which you can sit in, that features samples of various furs once traded in the area.

Bird Watching Room

Probably our favorite exhibit at the Nature Center is the Bird Watching Room. We always try to visit early in the morning when the birds seem to be most active. There is so much life outside the windows. Plus, there are speakers set up so you can hear all the chatter outside!

In the warmer months, hummingbirds are a frequent visitor that can be seen up-close on the window feeders. The Indiana Dunes is part of the migratory path of the hummingbirds. Each August, the Nature Center usually hosts Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations to gather information about the population and teach visitors about this unique bird.

The hummingbird banding is one of our “must-do” activities when visiting in August. I might actually plan my trips around it (they’re my favorite bird)! The banding is conducted by Great Lakes HummerNet (an expert in all things hummingbird), and is a phenomenal way to get an up-close look at these tiny, stunning creatures.

The Bird Watching Room also has bird identification books available and framed photographs of frequent birds seen at the feeders, to help you learn more about the beautiful, busy birds of the Indiana Dunes.

Outdoor Wildlife Feeding Area

The Bird Watching Room looks out over the outdoor feeding area, which features a variety of feeders, for birds of all kinds. There is also a pond for creatures to drink from or bathe in. (Wait until you see what animal we saw going for a swim…we’ve shared a picture below!)

Also, birds aren’t the only visitors that love the outdoor feeding center. It attracts creatures of all kinds, including squirrels, moles and chipmunks. On a few occasions we’ve actually seen raccoons enjoying the feeding area!

Our favorite memory was seeing a mother raccoon and her babies climbing about the trees and feeders. It was just as adorable as it sounds!

In addition to enjoying the birds that stop by to eat, definitely keep your eyes open for things that scurry along the ground and climb among the trees.

Feed the Birds Program

One of the interpretive programs at the Nature Center that we always look for is the Feed the Birds program. It is usually offered on Sundays at 10 a.m. in warmer months. The program is a great way to get involved and learn about the variety of birds that call the Indiana Dunes State Park home.

The Feed the Birds program gives visitors a chance to venture outside and help fill up the many feeders that attract the birds. This is a bit messy and SO fun for kids!

Watching and listening to all of the birds as they eat is pretty interesting. Blue Jays are known to be a more aggressive bird, and we can tell you after observing them at the feeders, we agree!

While helping out, we learned about the diets of several species and even saw several, curious, furry faces, watching as we filled the feeders. As soon as we were back inside the Bird Watching Room, the feeders were alive with hungry visitors.

Birding Backpacks (free program)

Ready to do some more bird watching in the park? The Nature Center has Birding Backpacks available, which visitors can check-out, free of charge! Each backpack contains two sets of binoculars, a birding basics book and a bird identification book. Currently, the Nature Center has two backpacks available for guests to use.

For more information, or if you’d like to reserve a Birding Backpack for your visit, contact the Nature Center by phone at 219-926-1390 or by email at dunesnc@dnr.in.gov.

Trails Just Outside the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center

After spending time at the Nature Center, we are always excited to get out and explore the park, in search of some of the native plants and animals that we learned about while there.

Thankfully, you can access some of the park’s hiking trails just outside the Nature Center, including a portion of Trail 8, which winds through the marshland. This section of Trail 8 is our favorite! It’s the perfect length and setting for kids and lets out next to a playground! We always make sure to use the restroom and refill our water bottles before leaving the Nature Center.

The sign for Trails 8, 9 and 10 can be found directly off the eastern edge of the parking lot, just to the right of the Nature Center (when facing it).

Marsh Overlook

To get to the marsh area, you’ll head south (turn right) onto Trail 8 when you reach the main intersection after hiking up a small hill. It will be the first intersection you come to and Trail 8 will begin to go downhill.

Be careful hiking down! The Indiana Dunes State Park does a great job maintaining the trails, however, the sand dunes can be “slippery” at times. As you approach the marsh, the trail will become a boardwalk and will take you to a platform deck, with benches, overlooking the marsh.

There are so many sounds to hear as you look out over the marsh. Our kids LOVE it! Birds singing, frogs croaking and plenty of mysterious splashes as creatures move about or jump in the water.

Playground

To finish up our adventures on Trail 8, we always plan on spending time at the playground. It can be found at the south end of the trail, next to the Wilson Shelter. Here you’ll find picnic tables available and plenty of room to run.

The playground is mostly surrounded by wooded areas, with the exception of the side that is up against the parking lot. Also, there is a large trash receptacle located in the parking lot, making disposal of any picnic waste quick and easy.

Our time spent on any of the park’s trails always seems to have a special way of connecting us to each other and the unique beauty of the dunes around us. It’s something we cherish and look forward to when visiting.

Know Before You Go

There is never a shortage of exciting, hands-on activities at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center. We’ve shared some information below, which we use to help us get ready for our visits. We hope you find it useful, too!

• Address: 1600 North 25 E., Chesterton, IN 46304
• Phone: 219-926-1390 (Direct line to Nature Center)
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST
• Days Open: Varies with the seasons. Open daily in the summer months, and a shortened schedule in the colder months. Check their calendar before stopping by.
• Nature Center Programs: For the most up-to-date schedule, check the Indiana Dunes State Park’s Facebook Events Calendar.
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• Website: https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/3295.htm

Check Out Our Other Adventures in Indiana

• Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
• Indiana Dunes Visitor Center