Indiana Dunes National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Overview

Get ready for a wild adventure through Indiana Dunes National Park with our hilarious and informative audio tour! Roam sandy beaches, lush forests, and rolling dunes while our witty guides spill the beans on the park’s history, quirky wildlife, and fun facts. Visit must-see spots like West Beach, Mount Baldy, and the Heron Rookery, all while chuckling at our entertaining tales. Discover the park’s cool conservation efforts and meet the critters that call it home. Perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone with a sense of humor, our audio tour promises a fun and educational escapade. Download, plug in your headphones, and let the laughter and adventure begin in this Midwest treasure!

*Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours*

City: Indiana

Wed 18 Jun

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $14.99

Make a reservation

Wed 18 Jun

Starting at $14.99

Make a reservation

Indiana Tours

Excellent Quality (6498) Best Conversion (1182) Classes & Workshops (622) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (3520) Tickets & Passes (921) Art & Culture (2658) Outdoor Activities (2067) DSA non-compliant (349)

What's Included

Tours NEVER expire

Offline map (no wifi or data needed)

Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations

Turn-by-turn directions using GPS

Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music

Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
Additional Starting Points: New Buffalo and Sherwood Forest Paintball

What To Expect

Mt. Baldy

Mount Baldy is as tall as a 12-story building! And even more impressive, is that Mount Baldy’s what’s called a wandering dune. That means it can move up to ten feet per year. There used to be grass on the dune that held it in place. But after years of tourists climbing on it, the grass was destroyed. Now, the wind blows the sand around, causing the dune to change position. Mount Baldy is actually starting to overtake its own parking lot! Getting to the beach requires a half-mile roundtrip hike around the dune, and includes stairs.

Great Marsh Trail

The Great Marsh Trail is a nice and easy birding hike with views of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. The trail features a separate wheelchair-accessible paved trail with quick access to an observation deck. Look for: ducks geese herons egrets warblers, and red-winged blackbirds

Kemil Beach

This is a great beach to enjoy the night sky and nocturnal animals. This beach has year-round restrooms and potable water. The parking lot is paved and can fill up quickly on summer weekends. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk; rip currents and waves can make swimming hazardous. There's also the Dune Ridge Trail, which might just be the most diverse short nature trail in the park. It runs over forested sand dunes, through Black Oak Savannas, and has terrific views of The Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Highly recommend it if you have the time.

Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, you can check out the educational displays, watch a few short films about the park, shop the bookstore, and talk to a park ranger. But my favorite thing about the Visitor Center is the Indigenous Cultural Trail. The National Park wants to honor the Indigenous Potawatomi and Miami People who called this land home and educate visitors about their culture and contributions. The Indigenous Cultural trail shows just how connected they were to the diverse ecosystems of the park, creating an educational experience like no other. If you wanna learn more, just ask a ranger!

Indiana Dunes State Park

This place is popular, and can get busy! Depending on what time of year it is, or even the time of day, the park rangers may be out directing traffic. You may have to wait in line just to get in! Heads up: the state park requires a separate fee. If you want to check out the 3-Dune hiking challenge, then make your way to the Nature Center. Or, head straight for the beach. There, you'll find a large, art deco park pavilion with a general store and restaurants. There’s also a bird observatory west of the pavilion. If it’s winter, there’s a fantastic, 100-foot sledding hill near the pavilion called, The Devil’s Slide. And for the history fans, don’t miss the historical marker on the way to the pavilion, that marks the site of the 1780 Battle of Petit Fort.

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

This is a great beach and trail to observe birds in the spring and summer. And in the winter, you can see the shelf ice on Lake Michigan. The riverwalk is just under a mile and is considered easy. You’ll also find the beach pavilion, which has snacks, gifts, restrooms, and ranger programs.

Marquette Park

Marquette Park belongs to the city of Gary, Indiana, and is outside the National Park. The park has a playground, a concession stand, hiking trails, a disc golf course, and more. The beach is great for swimming, walking, and just relaxing. It also has one of our favorite buildings in the area. The Gary Bathing Beach Aquatorium was built in 1921.

Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education

Nestled in the Miller Woods, just outside Gary, Indiana, you'll find The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. The education center is a National Park visitor center with exhibits on the wildlife found throughout the park. Plus it’s got some excellent hiking trails. We recommend the Miller Woods Loop Trail. It’s less than a mile long, meanders through several habitats, and the views of the lake are incredible.

Show 5 more stops

Cancellation Policy