Description
The Calumet Bike Trail traverses the south side of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a unique ecosystem of forest, marsh, dunes and beach along Lake Michigan. This dirt and crushed limestone path stretches between two interesting natural features: the Cowles Bog, an 8,000 year-old marsh, and Mount Baldy, a 123-foot-tall sand dune.
The route parallels the South Shore Rail Line, which carries passengers from Chicago to South Bend, and passes through residential and commercial areas, including a unique and unexpected sight: the Bailly Nuclear Power Plant.
Parking and Trail Access
A parking lot is available mid-way along the trail on Kemil Road/E. State Park Boundary Road and Rte. 12. The Mt. Baldy parking lot is also an option on the trail's eastern end.
Love this trail!
By
fatjoey
in
April, 2013
Ok, so it is not a gorgeous trail. I like that it is crushed gravel and it gets lots of mud puddles on the western end. About 5 miles in you can stop and get an ice cream! Parking on either end is great. Yes, it gets overgrown with weeds...I love to go ...
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By
jvansanten
in
August, 2012
I rode the full length of the trail this morning, beginning at the LaPorte/Porter County line and heading west - then returned. About 18.6 miles round trip. The trail is not very well maintained - with a lot of weeds growing up in the middle of the trail, ...
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