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Fishing in Indiana Dunes National Park

Lakes
3
Rivers
9
Access
3
Boat Ramps
0
Shops
0
Species
15

Indiana Dunes National Park sits along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, where the Great Lakes meet a landscape of dunes, wetlands, and river corridors.

The fishing here spans genuinely different environments — open Great Lakes water, a river system, and inland lakes — all within a relatively compact stretch of shoreline between Chicago and Michigan City. Lake Michigan is the dominant water.

Shore fishing along the park's beaches and at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk produces smallmouth bass, carp, catfish, and seasonal runs of salmon and trout.

The Portage Lakefront includes a fishing pier and a 900-foot breakwater with handrails, which makes it one of the more accessible spots for working the nearshore zone. Summer draws yellow perch close to the Lake Michigan shore.

Spring and fall are when the salmon and trout fishing picks up — Chinook, Coho, lake trout, and Skamania steelhead move through in fall, while spring brings smelt runs along with early salmon and trout activity.

The Little Calumet River runs through the park and can be accessed from the Heron Rookery and the Little Calumet River Trail. Summer steelhead fishing on the river is a draw for anglers willing to work moving water.

Long Lake, accessible from marked trails at West Beach, offers a quieter option with a public access area; motorboats are permitted there. Smelt fishing has its own rules.

It requires a separate permit — a Smelt Season Fire Permit — which can be obtained from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center. Smelt are typically targeted at Kemil Beach within the national park.

Fishing with a crossbow is not permitted inside the park, even though Indiana state law allows it. Chumming is also prohibited, and all fishing must be done with a hook and line that is closely attended.

Only recreational fishing is allowed; commercial fishing is prohibited. A valid Indiana state fishing license is required to fish in the park. A trout and salmon stamp is needed for those species.

The park has no boat launches — motorized vessels cannot be launched from park lands — so anglers bringing boats need to use facilities in the surrounding communities. The fishing here rewards knowing which water to be on and when.

The lake fishes differently than the river, and the river fishes differently by season. That range, more than anything, is what keeps anglers coming back.

Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)

See the best times to fish Indiana Dunes National Park and check the forecast before you go.

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Park alerts & road status

Closures and conditions Indiana Dunes National Park has posted, from the National Park Service.

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Hours & fees

When Indiana Dunes National Park is open and what it costs to get in, from the National Park Service.

Plan your visit on nps.gov

Hours

The general areas of the park are open year-round. Please check individual areas for specific hours of operation.

Entrance fees

Entrance - Motorcycle$20
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Private Vehicle$25
7-Day Park Entrance Fee - Family-Size Vehicle Per private family-sized vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from date of purchase).
Entrance - Per Person$15
7-Day Per Person Entrance Fee (Organized, non-commercial groups) Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, boat, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan$25
Entry for commercial sedans with 6 or less people. Cost is $25.00 plus $15 per person (not to exceed next highest rate).
Commercial Entrance - Van$40
Commercial Tour Fee - Van (7-15 persons) - $40.00 Entry for commercial vans with 7-15 people.

Parking & getting around

Where to leave the car in Indiana Dunes National Park. Lots fill early on busy days, so plan where you will park before you head for the water.

  • Central Avenue Beach

    Closed

    Paved parking lot with 68 parking spaces. 0 spaces are accessible. The beach is located 0.2 miles from the parking lot. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot is paved. There are no accessible parking spaces.

  • Dunbar Beach

    Closed

    Dunbar Beach parking lot is paved and has restroom and potable water facilities located within the parking lot. The beach is located across the street from the parking lot. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot is paved, and the restroom and potable water facilities are accessible. The parking lot is on top of a hill and there are steps down to the beach.

  • Kemil Beach

    Closed

    The parking lot is paved and there are restroom and potable water facilities located on site. The parking lot is located 0.2 miles from the beach. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot is paved, and the restroom and potable water facilities are accessible. There is a paved sidewalk down to the beach, which is located 0.2 miles away.

  • Lake View

    Closed

    The parking lot of Lake View is paved and accessible. Restroom and potable water facilities as well as a shelter are also accessible. There are stairs down to the beach. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot, restroom and potable water facilities, and shelter are all accessible. There are steps down to the beach.

  • Mt. Baldy

    Closed

    The parking lot is paved, and restroom and potable water facilities are located on site. The beach is located 0.33 miles from the parking lot via a rustic sandy trail. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot and restroom and potable water facilities are accessible. The trail to the beach is not accessible.

  • Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

    Closed

    Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk has 3 separate parking lots and has an accessible pavilion with restrooms and potable water facilities. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The parking lot, pavilion, and restroom and potable water facilities are paved and accessible. There are some steep hills and stairs closer to the shoreline.

  • Porter Beach

    Closed

    Porter Beach has 2 parking lots. The North parking lot is closest to the Lake and has restroom and potable water facilities. The South parking lot is also paved. The North parking lot is located at the beach, and the South parking lot is located 0.15 miles from the beach. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

    Accessibility: The North parking lot is paved and closest to the beach and accessible restroom and potable water facilities. The South parking lot is paved and is located 0.1 miles from the facilities.

  • West Beach

    Closed

    The parking lot is paved and there are accessible restroom and potable water facilities located on site. The beach is located 0.3 to 0.5 miles from the parking lot via a paved access road. There are 12 accessible picnic shelters at the parking lot and an accessible bath house at the beach with a concessionaire. An entrance pass, annual pass, or lifetime is needed to park in this lot. Visit https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/fees.htm for more information.

Getting around

Visitors can access the national park via Interstate 94, the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90), U.S. Highway 12, U.S. Highway 20, Indiana State Road 49, and various other local roads. The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located on Indiana State Road 49, between U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94 (1215 IN-49, Porter, IN 46304). For a driving map to the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center or other locations, check out our maps page.

Directions on nps.gov

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Fishing near Indiana Dunes National Park

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Gateway towns

Where to base yourself for fishing in Indiana Dunes National Park.

  • ChestertonIN

    The main base town for the park, with lodging, dining, and the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center nearby.

  • PorterIN

    Sits close to park trail heads and beaches, with vacation rentals and quick access to multiple park entrances.

  • Michigan CityIN

    Eastern gateway to the park with the broadest range of hotels, restaurants, and shopping for visitors.

  • Beverly ShoresIN

    A small community inside the park boundary offering secluded lakefront vacation rentals steps from the beach.

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