Dunes Nature Preserve
Dunes Nature Preserve is a nature reserve in Indiana, at a modelled elevation of 180 m. Mount Lieber stands 214 m to the west-southwest, 11 miles off. The nearest named place is Indiana Dunes State Park, a park 0.3 miles away. The Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway passes 11 miles off. 42 named summits stand within 25 miles.
What to expect
- Operated by
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
How to reach it
- 10.6 mi off the The Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway
- 27.5 mi off the Lincoln Highway, National
Named places within 25 miles
- Indiana Dunes State Park: 0.3 mi
- Lituanica Park: 3.2 mi
- Dunewood Campground: 3.2 mi
- Brincka Cross Gardens: 3.3 mi
- Hawthorne Park: 3.6 mi
- J.D. Marshall Underwater Preserve: 1.2 mi
- Dunes Prairie Nature Preserve: 1.3 mi
- Cowles Bog National Natural Landmark: 3.1 mi
- J. Timothy Ritchie Nature Preserve: 4.1 mi
- Shirley Heinze: 4.1 mi
- Mount Russell: 0.3 mi
- Mount Holden: 0.5 mi
- Mount Jackson: 0.5 mi
- Mount Tom: 0.7 mi
- Barnett Hill: 0.7 mi
- Bill and Fran Meyer: 0.5 mi
- Charles and Lorraine Sandor: 1.0 mi
- Tremont (New City West): 1.4 mi
- Nike Missile Silos: 3.0 mi
- Verteran's Memorial: 4.4 mi
- Splash Down Dunes Waterpark: 2.6 mi
- Petting Yard: 8.4 mi
- Alligators: 8.4 mi
- Australian Aviary: 8.4 mi
- Hawks: 8.4 mi
- Waverly Beach: 1.0 mi
- Porter Beach: 1.5 mi
- East Beach: 1.9 mi
- Kemil Beach: 2.1 mi
- Ridge Beach: 2.2 mi
- Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery: 3.1 mi
- Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center: 4.1 mi
- Barker Mansion: 8.0 mi
- Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education: 12.3 mi
- Nelson Algren Museum: 12.4 mi
- Hosta Garden: 3.2 mi
- Formal Garden: 3.2 mi
- Daylily Garden: 3.2 mi
- Veterans Memorial Plaza: 8.1 mi
- Entrance Garden: 8.2 mi
- Duet: 8.6 mi
- Tuskegee Airmen: 11.4 mi
- Octave Chanute: 11.4 mi
- Father Marquette Monument: 11.6 mi
- Orville Redenbacher: 13.9 mi
- Indiana Dunes National Park Tremont Picnic Area: 1.4 mi
- Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Lake View: 2.8 mi
- West Beach Picnic Area: 9.2 mi
- Picnic Area: 24.4 mi
- Eggers Grove Picnic Grove 2: 24.9 mi
- Breakwater Light: 8.0 mi
- Michigan City East Pierhead Light: 8.1 mi
- Tool Shed: 8.1 mi
- Oil Shed: 8.1 mi
- Old Lighthouse Museum: 8.1 mi
- Rest Area Trucks Only: 8.5 mi
- Indiana Welcome Center: 13.9 mi
- Michigan Welcome Center 707: 17.0 mi
- Tremont: 1.4 mi
- 1 Foot Falls: 5.2 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Dunes Nature Preserve. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Lieber | WSW 250° | 214 m | 10.6 mi |
| Chanute Hill | WSW 253° | 195 m | 11.9 mi |
| Mount Holden | SW 231° | 194 m | 0.5 mi |
| Mount Tom | SW 233° | 193 m | 0.7 mi |
| Mount Jackson | SSW 211° | 192 m | 0.5 mi |
| Mount Baldy | ENE 66° | 185 m | 6.7 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 06:52 | 18:24 | 19:00 |
| June solstice | 05:15 | 19:45 | 20:27 |
| September equinox | 06:36 | 18:11 | 18:47 |
| December solstice | 07:13 | 15:37 | 16:22 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 25 | 28 | 38 | 48 | 59 | 69 | 73 | 72 | 65 | 54 | 42 | 31 |
| Precip in | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Indiana Dunes NP, 3 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of Indiana Dunes National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Jan and Feb; busiest: Jul.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapOfficial siteOpenStreetMap element way/437351391
Day trips start here
- Indiana Dunes National Park · 4 mi
- Portage · 9 mi
- Lake Station · 13 mi
- Hobart · 15 mi
- Gary · 16 mi
- Merrillville · 20 mi
Take the scenic way to Dunes Nature Preserve.
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