Indiana Dunes National Park, IN
A flat gravel path opens a short window into rare prairie.
Overview
Hoosier Prairie became both a State Nature Preserve and a National Natural Landmark in 1977. A decade-long campaign led by Irene Herlocker-Meyer helped save it from development. Fire once kept trees from overtaking prairie plants; carefully controlled burns now help maintain the open habitat. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. Ticks are present year-round, and poison ivy can grow along trail edges. Paper maps are available at the trailhead kiosk; there is no restroom or potable water at the lot.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this prairie survivedMap & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Indiana Dunes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Indiana Dunes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Hoosier Prairie: A Short Walk Through Three Habitats“You're approaching Hoosier Prairie, where a short walk links dry prairie, marsh and scattered oaks.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Indiana Dunes Tour Guide.
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hoosier Prairie Accessible Trail is the flat, crushed-gravel opening stretch of the Hoosier Prairie trail system. Walk south from the parking lot to the junction with Prairie Marsh Trail, then return on the same path. The best-supported distance for this stand-alone out-and-back is about 0.15 mile; allow 10 to 15 minutes with a stop. It is the quick, level way to see the preserve rather than a substitute name for the longer hike.
The gravel route ends where the natural-surface Prairie Marsh section begins. The full featured hike continues through Prairie Marsh and the Savanna loop for about 0.7 mile, on a mix of loose sand, packed dirt and gravel. The accessible designation applies to this flat opening section only; it does not establish that the longer circuit is accessible. The trail map marks a wheelchair-accessible side access along the route, but its length and exact view are not specified, so it is not included in the mapped main line.
The preserve changes with the ground: dry black-oak savanna grows on sandy rises, mesic prairie sits on slopes, and wet prairie, sedge meadow and marsh occupy the lower ground. Hoosier Prairie supports more than 350 native plant species, including dozens uncommon or rare in Indiana. Stay on the gravel tread and respect closed-area signs; walking into the vegetation damages fragile habitat.
Wildlife
85 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
48 sightingsSandhill CraneMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
113 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
23 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
49 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
13 sightingsBarred OwlMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Indiana Dunes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyHoosier Prairie Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · At the trailheadA short prairie walk where savanna and marsh meet.
EasyHobart Woodland Trail2.2 mi · 1.3 hr · 7.8 mi awayFollow the old rail trail to a small Lake George loop.
EasyOak Savannah Bike Trail4 mi · 2 hr · 7.8 mi awayA flat paved rail-trail walk crossing Lake George.
ModeratePaul H. Douglas Trail (Miller Woods)3.4 mi · 2 hr · 11.4 mi awayWetlands, oak savanna and dunes on the way to Lake Michigan.EasyDouglas Center Loop0.9 mi · 30 min · 11.4 mi awayA half-hour loop through wetlands and rare black oak savanna.
EasyMarquette Trail4.6 mi · 2 hr · 13.8 mi awayA flat rail trail through woods and wetlands
EasyTolleston Dunes Overlook Boardwalk0.2 mi · 15 min · 14.4 mi awayA brief boardwalk leads to two shaded wetland overlooks.
ModerateDune Succession Trail0.9 mi · 1 hr · 14.7 mi awayA sandy loop, 270 stairs and a Chicago view over Lake Michigan.Parkwolf’s Indiana Dunes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
