This Is One of the Newest and Most Biodiverse National Parks in the U.S.-and It's Just 1 Hour From Chicago

"Just an hour from Chicago, Indiana Dunes National Park stretches along Lake Michigan's southern shore-its 15,000 acres of beach, forest, and wetland feel far removed from the city. And even though it's one of the lesser-known national parks, it's one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the country. "First-time visitors are often surprised to learn what the Indiana Dunes National Park offers beyond the beach,""

"Nearly 2,000 recorded species live here, including more than 350 types of birds-it's considered to be the fourth most biodiverse national park in the U.S. After decades of advocacy from conservationists such as Dorothy Buell and the Save the Dunes Council, Congress granted the park national status in 2019, making it the 61st national park in the U.S. and one of the newest in recent history."

"Indiana Dunes National Park is open year-round. Entry costs $25 per vehicle for a seven-day pass or $15 for walk-ins and cyclists. Annual passes cost $45 and are available online at recreation.gov or at park entry points. The park stretches 15 miles along Lake Michigan's southern shore, and there's no single entrance. Trailheads, beaches, and facilities are scattered across the coastline. Popular areas such as West Beach fill early on summer weekends."

Indiana Dunes National Park lies an hour from Chicago along Lake Michigan's southern shore and covers 15,000 acres of beach, forest, and wetland. The park includes forests, wetlands, prairies, and rivers that support nearly 2,000 recorded species, including more than 350 bird types, ranking it among the most biodiverse U.S. parks. The area gained national park status in 2019 as the 61st park. The park spans 15 miles with no single entrance and dispersed trailheads, beaches, and facilities. Entry fees, annual passes, visitor center hours, and ranger services are available year-round; weekdays are best in summer to avoid crowds.

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