National Park
Waterfalls in Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is a national park of the United States located in northwestern Indiana managed by the National Park Service. It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019. The park runs for about 15 miles (24 km) along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and covers 15,349 acres (6,212 ha). Along the lakefront, the eastern area is roughly the lake shore south to U.S. 12 or U.S. 20 between Michigan City, Indiana, on the east and the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plant on the west. This area's conservation scheme is enhanced by the older Indiana Dunes State Park. To the west of the steel plant lies West Beach and a small extension south of the steel mill continues west along Salt Creek to Indiana 249. The western area is roughly the shoreline south to U.S. 12 between the Burns Ditch west to Broadway in downtown Gary, Indiana. In addition, there are several outlying areas, including Pinhook Bog, in LaPorte County to the east; the Heron Rookery in Porter County, the center of the park; and the Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve and the Hobart Prairie Grove, both in Lake County, the western end of the park.
1 documented waterfall in Indiana Dunes National Park
Every named waterfall we've catalogued inside the park boundary, sorted by popularity. Click through for height, access, photos, live streamflow, and seasonal guidance.
Plan your visit
For fees, hours, current alerts, lodging, and downloadable maps, the National Park Service is the authoritative source. We link directly so you always see the freshest info.
Official NPS page
https://www.nps.gov/indi/index.htm
Fees and passes
Entrance fees and the America the Beautiful pass
Current conditions
Road status, closures, weather impacts
Park maps
Downloadable PDFs and interactive maps
Lodging and food
Lodges, campgrounds, in-park dining
Alerts and news
Active closures, fires, wildlife encounters
When the park is busy
2,780,000 visitors per year (2023-2024 average). Peak is Jul, quietest is Jan.
Showing typical monthly distribution for parks with similar climate. Plan around the peak if you want fewer crowds — shoulder months often have the same scenery without the wait.
Source: NPS IRMA Visitor Use Statistics. Annual total reflects 2023-2024 average; monthly shape is climate-modeled.
Questions visitors ask
Is there a fee to enter Indiana Dunes National Park?
Yes. Indiana Dunes National Park charges an entrance fee that varies by vehicle type and pass. The America the Beautiful annual pass covers most National Parks. See the official NPS fee page for current amounts: https://www.nps.gov/indi/index.htm/planyourvisit/fees.htm
How many waterfalls are in Indiana Dunes National Park?
We've documented 1 named waterfall inside the park boundary using OpenStreetMap, USGS GNIS, and point-in-polygon checks against the official NPS boundary.
What's the best time of year to see waterfalls in Indiana Dunes National Park?
We don't have season data on enough waterfalls inside Indiana Dunes National Park yet to recommend a window.
Can I bring my dog to Indiana Dunes National Park?
Most National Parks restrict dogs to developed areas (parking lots, paved roads, campgrounds) and prohibit them on most trails. Check the park's specific pet policy before visiting: https://www.nps.gov/indi/index.htm/planyourvisit/pets.htm
What are Indiana Dunes National Park's hours?
Indiana Dunes National Park is generally open 24/7, but visitor centers, roads, and specific facilities have their own hours and seasonal closures. Always check current conditions: https://www.nps.gov/indi/index.htm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Answers cross-reference official NPS pages and our point-in-polygon dataset. NPS is authoritative for fees, hours, and current conditions — always click through before driving.