Trail #15 of the Indiana Dunes National Park 1966 Hiking Challenge is the Dunewood Trace Trail in Chesterton, Indiana. This trail is part of the larger Calumet Dunes and Glenwood Dunes Trail systems in a rich landscape of woods and wetlands that are over 12,000 years old. Hiking the Dunewood Trace felt like a place where I could unplug from life and set off on an adventure through a dense forest where the only other soul you might come across is a wild turkey digging through the bushes for berries and insects.

The Dunewood Trace 1966 Hiking Challenge Route:

When first arriving, it may seem tricky to see where the trail begins. After parking at the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, you will walk around the main building to the left and pass by the greenhouse to enter the paved trail.

The paved path breaks off to the left after a tenth of a mile with a sign directing to the Dunewood Trace Campground Trail for a round trip hike of 4.4 miles to the campground and back. This trail also connects to the Dune Park South Shore Railroad Station that is part of the larger network connecting the Glenwood and Calumet Dunes trails.

This was a new trail for us to hike in the Indiana Dunes and it was a fun one to cross of the 1966 list. The terrain was a flat, easy path so it allowed us to settle into the hike and reflect on our surroundings. Venturing into the woods and seeking out new discoveries is a great way to decompress and appreciate the beauty around us.

While there weren’t too many memorable moments, what stood out the most to me was finding more than one turkey feather on the path left behind from our feathered friends. While we did not see a turkey on this hike, we have the photographic evidence that one had walked this trail before us! There was also this particularly obstinate plant species known as the Common greenbriar that grew sporadically along the trail’s edge that liked to catch my arms and snag its sneaky thorns along my pant legs.

Observations:

While some sections are a little overgrown, overall Dunewood Trace is a nice spot to get away from the crowds and embark on a forest hike. I also think that this trail would be a neat place to return to when the seasons change to see the fall colors and the wildflowers in spring. This time though, we were the only folks out hiking in the scene of green, so the trail was all ours.

Location: Calumet Dunes Parking Lot (USGS Office): 1596 North Kemil Road (300E), Chesterton, IN 46304

Trail Length: 4.4 miles
Difficulty level: Easy

Highlights:

• Wildlife (turkeys!)
• Part of a larger network of connected trails
• You may see people on horseback (permitted May-December)
• Cross-country skiing
• Fall colors

Tips/Suggestions:

• Easy to moderate trail with packed dirt and sand
• Out-and-back hiking route
• Year-round restrooms and potable water at trailhead
• No bicycles allowed
• Ticks, poison ivy, mosquitoes, or mayflies may be present
• Always enjoy the journey!

The Dunewood Trace Trail has been completed on the 1966 Hiking Challenge!