Trail #7 of the Indiana Dunes National Park 1966 Hiking Challenge is the Tolleston Dunes Trail in Ogden Dunes, Indiana. Before this location was created a park, it was the site of former sand mining. The Tolleston Dunes are known for the rare black oak savanna and plants such as the prickly pear cactus, butterfly weed, and the wild blue lupine flower. We hiked the outer loop of the lollipop shaped trail with a surface that was mostly loose sand with some sections of packed soil, gravel, and a boardwalk.

After the first half mile from the parking lot to the loop, the trail took an incline up a sand dune into the woods. It felt like we were completely alone in a jungle world of ferns besides the extended notes of muffled train horns rooting us in reality. Fern-land was a little overgrown and buggy so we wore our net caps to keep the tiny pests out of our faces. Like bugs attracted to light, we trudged up and down the sand dunes into the setting sun in the early evening hours.

The deeper we got into the belly of the forest, the more we encountered the wildlife living there. The warbling calls of an Indigo Bunting followed us on the trail along with the pee-weee of an Eastern Wood-Pewee and “drink-your-teeaaa” trills from the Eastern Towhee. I tried to photograph the birds as they peeped in and out of the trees but was able to identify them by their song recordings on the Merlin Bird App.

We came across a roadblock of a fallen Black Oak tree that we had to take a detour around its branches. The National Park Service conducts mechanical clearing and prescribed fires to protect the Black Oak savanna habitat but it can also weaken the trees and create overhead hazards. The only other surprising incident that happened on the hike was when I was taking one of my photo pit-stops and Derek was farther ahead on the trail. I heard a shuffling sound in the brush just over my shoulder and paused just in case there might be a bird nearby. As I turned my head, I was startled by the face of a deer just an arm’s length away! I tend to be easily spooked and jumped with a high-pitched yelp that scared all of us as the deer scrambled away from the strange intruder!

This wasn’t our favorite hike deep in the woods, but we did become immersed in the habitat. The Tolleston Dunes is known for the wild blue lupine flower that is vital to its ecosystem. Lupine is the only known food source for the endangered karner blue butterfly caterpillars. We didn’t see the karner butterfly or the lupine flower, but were able to identify the lupines by their leaves which were plentiful throughout the forest.

Observations:

Location: Tolleston Dunes Parking Lot- 5800 U.S. Highway 12 (Dunes Highway), Ogden Dunes, IN 46368

Trail Length: 3 miles
Difficulty level: Moderate with consistent changes in elevation

Highlights:

• Birding!
• Black oak savanna habitat on dune hills
• Wetland areas accessible by boardwalk
• A get-away from the city into the deep forest
• Great place for cross-country skiers in winter

Tips/Suggestions:

• Wear long pants, hiking shoes, and bug spray
• Stay on the main trail for the outer loop or cut your journey short by turning left at the half-mile check-point where the trail map is posted
• Be prepared for some hills- might be a good idea to carry water in your pack

The Tolleston Dunes Trail has been completed on the 1966 Hiking Challenge!