Lake Michigan's Best-Kept Secret A Peaceful Alternative to Indiana Dunes

While Indiana Dunes National Park justifiably takes center stage, Lake Michigan is home to another undiscovered gem that provides a more private and tranquil experience.

This lesser-known location, tucked away along the lake’s edge, offers stunning views, spotless beaches, and a calm environment away from the throng. Come explore this undiscovered gem and learn why it’s a good substitute for Indiana Dunes.

Warren Dunes State Park: Explore This Underrated State Park by Indiana Dunes

The relaxed ambiance of Warren Dunes State Park is charming, despite the fact that there are several tiny state parks scattered around the Lake Michigan coast—many of which even have their own striking dunes.

Warren Dunes has dunes twice as tall as Michigan’s Mount Baldy, although it might not be as impressive as the imposing 460-foot Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, located nearly four hours further north.near 120 feet, that dune near the southernmost point of Lake Michigan is the tallest dune in Indiana Dunes National Parks.

Situated in Porter County, Indiana, about 36 miles from Indiana Dunes, Warren Dunes is located in southwest Michigan. Considering everything, it almost seems absurd to battle the summer crowds.

Lake Michigan's Best-Kept Secret: A Peaceful Alternative to Indiana Dunes
Image By: Michigan Water Trails

Between sledding down sandy mountains and looking for sea glass along the seashore, explore interdunal marshes, dense forests, and a dazzling coastline.

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Ideal time to go to Warren Dunes State Park

Any time of year is a good time to visit Warren Dunes State Park and its untamed coastline. With warm summers, chilly shoulder seasons, and very cold winters, this location is suitable for four seasons. Every season offers a variety of outdoor pursuits, such as swimming and cross-country skiing.

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Some hikers can witness wildflowers blossoming along the paths in the spring, and although most people won’t want to swim at this time of year, metal-detecting along the shore is a fun activity. Warren Dunes State Park is most beautiful in the summer.

Take a lakefront swim, try hang gliding, or look for sea glass. From the top of the dunes and along hiking trails, fall provides expansive views of the changing foliage.

Lake Michigan's Best-Kept Secret: A Peaceful Alternative to Indiana Dunes
Image By: Pure Michigan

This region receives 71 inches of snow on average annually! The weather at Warren Dunes State Park is not as harsh as it is in the north because it is located close to Michigan’s southern border. However, that doesn’t stop anyone from enjoying themselves in the snowdrifts, locals or tourists.

Visit the park’s cross-country ski paths, or for a more leisurely approach, put on some snowshoes. The snow-covered dunes and frozen lakeshores provide stunning vistas of the state park that are rarely seen by most visitors, even in the bitter cold.

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What is there to do at State Park Warren Dunes?

Visitors can enjoy a plethora of enjoyable outdoor activities at Warren Dunes State Park. The dunes are the main attraction, of course. Tower Hill, the highest point at 240 feet, is the most popular.

You can sled or sandboard down the dunes in the summer and ski or snowboard in the winter, in addition to exerting yourself to reach the summit. Chicago may be seen on a clear day off to the west of the lake.

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Both stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking are excellent ways to explore Lake Michigan and gain a different viewpoint of the dunes from the water. It is also feasible to hike without becoming coated in sand. Trails range in length from leisurely 3/4-mile walks to 3-mile routes suitable for hiking or cross-country skiing.

There are four campgrounds in Warren Dunes State Park, which make an ideal starting point for exploring the dunes and the surroundings.

Remember to register for a Recreation Pass, which enables guests to enter all of Michigan’s state parks by car. Each car can purchase an annual pass for $14 from Michigan citizens when they renew their driver’s license.

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