We Visited All 63 U.S. National Parks

When visited:          May, 2013

When established:   February, 2019

Park ranking:            62 out of 63

Why to go:               Sand Dunes – closest National Park to Chicago

Why not to go:         There are many national monuments and state parks with more to offer than this park – it is the 5^th smallest national park

We attended Indiana Dunes in May, 2013 on a trip from Elizabethtown, Pa to Chicago.  We only attended for a few hours and in 2013 it was not yet a national park. On February 15, 2019, Congress authorized the name change from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to Indiana Dunes National Park. Indiana Dunes became the 61st national park.

We enjoyed the views of Lake Michigan and we enjoyed hiking the dunes – we spent a fun few hours getting some air and exercise.  We would dune climb and run or roll down.  We were dismayed that there was a power plant (or some industrial site) within close proximity to the dunes on the lake shore – it was a negative blight on the landscape.

In revisiting the national park website to refresh my memory about our visit, I was taken with the history of the conservation fight to protect this land.  It was a fight I was unaware of and I am hopeful that the Park Service is able to protect the lake shore, the dunes, the birdlife and wildlife.  I am providing a link to the park service site here:  History & Culture – Indiana Dunes National Park (U.S. National Park Service).  Cudos to the National Park Service for its effort to restore this place to more of a wilderness experience.

The Park Service is making more opportunities for activity.  Swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and cross country skiing are available in the park.  Perhaps in 25 years the Park will feel more like other national parks.  But for this ranking, it ranks as the 62nd park on the list.  Our family enjoyed Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore more than we did this park and the park does not compare to Great Sand Dunes National Park or Death Valley National Park that have better and taller dunes. I am happy for the people of Indiana and the residents of Chicago that a park has been added close to them that is readily accessible – and I am glad the Park Service has the authority now to help return this area to an area where wildlife thrives and we can enjoy beautiful Lake Michigan and its dunes with less distraction.