Prairie Duneland Bike Trail

Prairie Duneland Bike Trail is a paved, point-to-point shared-use route between Chesterton and Hobart, crossing Portage. One-way mileage varies: the official end-to-end figure is 11.2 miles (22.4 miles out and back), the connected mapped line between those access points is 10.15 miles, and some other published figures say 10.3. Plan for 11.2. It is almost level and wheelchair accessible, so it works as an easy ride or a very long walk. A bike takes about an hour one way; on foot, allow several hours and arrange a ride at the other end rather than doubling back. Six additional lots along the corridor let you choose a shorter section.

This is a former rail corridor, not a backcountry hike: the surface is wide, smooth asphalt, with woods and open fields between residential and suburban stretches. Wooden bridges cross drainage ditches; the route passes yards and farmland as well as Portage neighborhoods, so the scenery changes without getting far from roads.

Pay attention at road crossings even though the grade is easy. The trail bridges State Road 149 and Salt Creek, passes beneath I-90, and goes through a tunnel under Willowcreek Road. The Chesterton end connects to Porter Brickyard Trail. At the Hobart end, the mapped line reaches the listed west lot via the connected Oak Savannah Trail, so that access stretch is part of the route shown here.

Paved lots serve the East Trailhead, 198 South Jackson Boulevard in Chesterton, and the West Trailhead, 4 North Hobart Road in Hobart; six additional lots serve shorter outings. Bicycles are allowed, and dogs must stay on a leash six feet or shorter. Neither endpoint has restrooms or drinking water, so carry what you need for the full crossing.