Indiana Dunes National Park guide · 2 min read
Biking the Calumet Trail and Marquette Greenway
Biking at Indiana Dunes National Park happens on designated bike trails that form an interconnected system spanning 37 miles across the length of the park.
Routes range from short, easy rides to challenging all-day treks. E-bikes are allowed wherever traditional bicycles are, but riders may not use the motor to move the bike without pedaling.
The Calumet Bike Trail is a 19-mile round trip that takes riders between 1.5 and 2 hours. It follows the South Shore Railroad tracks alongside power lines, and the ride gains only 23 feet in elevation. The gravel surface makes it unsuitable for road bikes. Early in the morning, riders may spot deer and other wildlife along the wooded stretches it skirts.
Conditions matter on the Calumet Bike Trail. There is no shade along the route. Standing water covers much of it, in spots 4 to 6 inches deep, which can make parts impassable and leave shoes soaked. Take care on the gravel sections of the Marquette Bike Trail too, and always wear a helmet.
The Porter Brickyard Bike Trail is a paved, seven-mile round trip of about 45 minutes with some hills. Its north trailhead shares a parking lot with the western end of the Calumet Bike Trail. The route crosses United States Highway 12 and United States Highway 20 on pedestrian overpasses and winds past the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm complex.
The Dunes Kankakee Bike Trail is a paved 3.6-mile round trip of about 30 minutes along State Road 49, flat apart from its highway overpasses. It connects to the Calumet Bike Trail and the Dune Park South Shore Railroad station. The Marquette Bike Trail is a flat, easy gravel rail trail of 4.6 miles, about 30 minutes, starting from an east trailhead in Gary. It has no restrooms or drinking water, so bring what you need.
