Michigan City, IN Birding Trails and Maps

690 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Michigan City?

Find the top rated birding trails in Michigan City, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
64 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

312 RiverRun

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

2.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Cal-Sag Trail

13.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway

1.9 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Chicago Lakefront Trail

19 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Erie Lackawanna Trail

17.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Erie Trail

11.1 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi
State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Illinois Prairie Path

58.52 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail

17.5 mi
State: MI
Asphalt, Concrete

Iron Horse Heritage Trail

2.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

John Husar I&M Canal Trail

8.9 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Lake George Trail

3.1 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Lincolnwood Valley Line Trail

1.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Major Taylor Trail

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Marquette Trail

2.1 mi
State: IN
Crushed Stone

Mishawaka Riverwalk

2.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Brick, Concrete

Monterey Erie Trail

0.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

North Branch Trail

25.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

North Shore Channel Trail

8.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt
Accordion

Northerly Island Trail

1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete

Northside Trail

3 mi
State: IN
Concrete

Oak Savannah Trail

10.2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Old Plank Road Trail (IL)

21.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Panhandle Pathway

22 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Pennsy Greenway

14.5 mi
State: IL, IN
Asphalt

Prairie Duneland Trail

10.3 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Riverside Trail (IN)

3.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Route 30 Bikeway

7.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Salt Creek Trail (IL)

28.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Cinder, Woodchips

Thorn Creek Trail

17.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Tinley Creek Trail (North)

24 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Tinley Creek Trail (South)

3.6 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Valley Line Trail

1.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Veterans Memorial Trail (IN)

1.9 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Burnham Greenway

5.3 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Coal Line Trail

1.5 mi
State: IN
Concrete

Dunes Kankakee Trail

1.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

East Bank Trail

1.7 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Gary Green Link Trail

2 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Green Bay Trail

6.5 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

LaSalle Trail

3.5 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Little Calumet River Levee Trail

13 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

MapleHeart Trail

4.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Monon Trail (Lake County)

4.4 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Orland Park Bikeway

6.7 mi
State: IL
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Gravel

Singing Sands Trail

3.6 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Union Pacific Recreation Path

1.2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Calumet Trail

9.1 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Chessie Trail

1.45 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

El Paseo

0.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Elkhart River Greenway Trail

1.9 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Granger Paths

5 mi
State: IN
Concrete

Vale Park West Pathway

0.7 mi
State: IN
Concrete

Elkhart RiverWalk Trail

0.7 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Fairview Walking Trail

0.7 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

Lake Max Trail

1.63 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Lincoln Memorial Trail

1.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt, Concrete

Palos Heights Bike Trail

2 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Plum Creek Greenway Trail

4.15 mi
State: IL
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Preservation Path

2.1 mi
State: IL
Asphalt

Turkey Creek Trail

0.8 mi
State: IN
Asphalt

West Bank Walkway

0.6 mi
State: IN
Concrete
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The 312 RiverRun is a 1.1-mile biking and walking trail located on Chicago's northside along the North Branch of the Chicago River, nestled between Gordon Tech High School and Lane Tech High School....
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
Overview The Bloomingdale Trail, part of “The 606” park system, is a 3-mile, elevated rail trail on Chicago’s northwest side. Built on a former rail line, the trail sits 17 feet above four of the...
IL 2.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Closure Notice: The trail is closed at the 127th Street bridge until the end of 2024. Overview The Cal-Sag Trail (also known as the Calumet-Sag Trail) runs for 13.7 miles and connects several...
IL 13.7 mi Asphalt
The Chesapeake and Ohio Greenway (also referred to as the C&O Trail) offers a short, paved route through Merrillville, a town just a few miles south of Gary and the southern tip of Lake Michigan. The...
IN 1.9 mi Asphalt
Overview  The Chicago Lakefront Trail is aptly named; it spans 19 miles along the shore of Lake Michigan, going right through downtown Chicago to pass many cultural and tourist attractions...
IL 19 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Overview The Erie Lackawanna Trail runs for 17.6 miles and connects Crown Point and Hammond, two former rail junctions whose early fortunes were tied to the tracks carrying people and goods to and...
IN 17.6 mi Asphalt
The Erie Trail (otherwise known as the North Judson Erie Trail) occupies the railbanked right-of-way of the former JK Line Railroad, running over eleven miles from downtown North Judson southeast to...
IN 11.1 mi Asphalt
Note: This developing route is not yet fully contiguous – it is just over 50% complete. Please refer to the Trail Map for more information on the existing sections of trail, as well as the online...
DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY 3743.9 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The Illinois Prairie Path (IPP) was one of the nation’s first rail-trail conversions. The 58-mile trail consists of five connected trail segments with three main branches that converge...
IL 58.52 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI, and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails. The trail passes different sites like Notre Dame...
MI 17.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Iron Horse Heritage Trail in Portage, Indiana, runs for over 2 miles between Max Mochal Road (SR 149) at the east end and Hamstrom Rd. at the west end. The trail passes through a greenway corridor...
IN 2.4 mi Asphalt
The John Husar I&M Canal Trail is the northernmost trail developed on the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The Illinois & Michigan Canal provided the final link in the water route...
IL 8.9 mi Asphalt
As the name suggests, the Lake George trail travels along the north shore of Lake George, turning north at Calumet Ave/US 41 to skirt the east shore of Wolf Lake. From Lake George the trail also heads...
IN 3.1 mi Asphalt
The Lincolnwood Valley Line Trail connects the existing Valley Line Trail (Sauganash Trail) to the Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County.  Like the previous segments, this trail occupies a former Union...
IL 1.3 mi Asphalt
The Major Taylor Trail is named after legendary African American cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was one of the most celebrated bicycle racers of the late nineteenth century, setting several...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
The Marquette Trail is part of the Marquette Greenway, which will one day span more than 50 miles through Northwest Indiana, connecting communities along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The...
IN 2.1 mi Crushed Stone
The Mishawaka Riverwalk is a multiuse loop trail that winds along both banks of the St. Joseph River for 2.6 miles in the City of Mishawaka. Pedestrian bridges provide connections between the...
IN 2.6 mi Asphalt, Brick, Concrete
The Monterey Erie Trail occupies the same railbanked corridor as the longer North Judson Erie Trail to its west, and the two rail-trails are planned to be linked in the future. The paved pathway...
IN 0.6 mi Asphalt
Overview The North Branch Trail follows the North Branch of the Chicago River for 25.5 miles through Cook County. The trail was originally a dirt path often used for horseback riding; though it’s...
IL 25.5 mi Asphalt
Overview The North Shore Channel Trail extends 8.3 miles from the junction of Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard in northern Evanston to the junction of Lawrence Avenue and Francisco Avenue in...
IL 8.3 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt
Accordion
Note: Erosion caused by surging waves off Lake Michigan has caused the trail to collapse in sections. The eastern half of the trail along Lake Michigan is closed indefinitely. See the Chicago Park...
IL 1 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails, some of which have their own unique identity. The trail also passes...
IN 3 mi Concrete
First-time visitors to the Oak Savannah Trail might be surprised at the profusion of natural areas they’ll encounter as they travel the 10.3 miles between Hobart and Griffith in northern Indiana’s...
IN 10.2 mi Asphalt
Overview Running between the suburbs of Chicago Heights and Joliet, the Old Plank Road Trail runs for 21.6 miles and offers views of oak trees and sugar maples, prairie grasses, and wildflowers...
IL 21.6 mi Asphalt
Indiana’s Panhandle Pathway follows a former Pennsylvania Railroad corridor out of Winamac south to Kenneth. Along the way, the trail links the communities of Star City, Thornhope, and Royal Center...
IN 22 mi Asphalt
The Pennsy Greenway stretches between Calumet City, Illinois, and Schererville, Indiana. The trail begins at the southern end of the Burnham Greenway on the eastern edge of the Forest Preserve...
IL, IN 14.5 mi Asphalt
Overview Prairies and dunes are just two of the natural features trail users will experience on the Prairie Duneland Trail, located just a few miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the...
IN 10.3 mi Asphalt
The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails, some of which have their own unique identity. The trail also passes...
IN 3.4 mi Asphalt
Leave the cars at home: the Route 30 Bike Path gives users an alternative way to travel from the Village of Frankfort in the east, through Mokena to New Lenox in the west, a distance of over 7.5...
IL 7.6 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: Starting 05/01/2023 through 12/31/2026, there will be intermittent trail closures under the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) bridge, spanning from Ogden Ave to 31st St due to ongoing...
IL 28.6 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Woodchips
The Skokie Valley Trail in Cook County parallels active train tracks in the Village of Skokie, providing easy access to both the Oakton–Skokie and Dempster–Skokie stations on the CTA’s Yellow Line....
IL 2 mi Asphalt
The Thorn Creek Trail offers a paved route traversing woodlands abundant with wildlife through several communities on the southern outskirts of Chicago.  The trail travels from Brownwell Woods in...
IL 17.2 mi Asphalt
The northern section of the Tinley Creek Trail is a series of color-coded connected loops and spurs that weave through several forest preserves in Cook County. The 24-mile trail system is paved,...
IL 24 mi Asphalt
The Tinley Creek Trail is currently in two segments. This southern segment is within the South Green Belt Forest Preserve between Flossmor and Matteson, just west of I-57. The trail traverses wooded...
IL 3.6 mi Asphalt
Just 1 mile long, the Valley Line Trail—also known as the Sauganash Trail—extends between Bryn Mawr Avenue and Devon Avenue in the Chicago neighborhood of Sauganash. Two bridges allow for safe...
IL 1.1 mi Asphalt
When complete, the Veterans Memorial Trail will stretch close to 12 miles, connecting a series of memorials honoring US veterans from every era. At present, 1.9 miles are complete and usable, located...
IN 1.9 mi Asphalt
The Burnham Greenway is composed of two distinct portions that both run along a former railroad corridor between Chicago and Lansing, Illinois. There are plans to extend and connect these short...
IL 5.3 mi Asphalt
The Coal Line Trail runs along the abandoned Notre Dame & Western Railroad coal line, which used to deliver coal to the Notre Dame Power Plant. Developing in stages, the route primarily uses the old...
IN 1.5 mi Concrete
The Dunes Kankakee Trail is a 1.8-mile walking and bike path that carries trail users throughout Indiana Dunes National Park.  Starting at the trail's southern endpoint just outside the park at the...
IN 1.8 mi Asphalt
The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails, some of which have their own unique identity. The trail also passes...
IN 1.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Gary Green Link Trail is part of the Buchanan Street Green Gateway project and follows the Grand Calumet River starting at Bridge Street on its way to Broadway at City Hall. It is about 4.4 miles...
IN 2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The 6.5-mile Green Bay Trail runs parallel to Chicago's Metra commuter rail line north of the Chicago city limits. Stretching through North Shore towns such as Kenilworth, Winnetka, Highland Park, and...
IL 6.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails, some of which have their own unique identity. The trail also passes...
IN 3.5 mi Asphalt
The Little Calumet River Levee Trail zig-zags east-west between Gary and Munster in Lake County, bringing residents to the river and its wetlands, and offering ample opportunities for birding and...
IN 13 mi Asphalt
The MapleHeart Trail travels nearly 5 miles from the city of Elkhart south to the outskirts of Goshen. The trail parallels County Road 45 and a Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor through residential...
IN 4.8 mi Asphalt
The Monon Trail in Lake County, Indiana—not to be confused with the trail of the same name in Indianapolis—links the two Chicago suburbs of Hammond and Munster. The paved trail occupies an abandoned...
IN 4.4 mi Asphalt
The Orland Park Bikeway provides a great connector across the Chicago suburb of Orland Park. On its southern end, the trail begins at W 159th Street and winds its way through Centennial Park, which...
IL 6.7 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete, Gravel
The Singing Sands Trail stretches over 4 miles across Michigan City. The paved trail picks up from the eastern end of the Calumet Trail at US/12 at the border of Porter and LaPorte Counties. The trail...
IN 3.6 mi Asphalt
The Union Pacific Recreation Path offers a short route through the Village of Lincolnwood's east side between Devon and Touhy avenues. Following the former Union Pacific Railroad, the rail-trail...
IL 1.2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Calumet Trail traverses the south side of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a unique ecosystem of forest, marsh, dunes, and beach along Lake Michigan. About the Route The...
IN 9.1 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Although its current length is just over a mile, the small-but-mighty Chessie Trail will connect several parks in the northwestern Indiana city of La Porte. At its northern end, the paved pathway...
IN 1.45 mi Asphalt, Concrete
El Paseo runs through the vibrant Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, once home to a large Czech population but now the center of the Lower West Side’s Latino community. The neighborhood is filled with...
IL 0.1 mi Asphalt
Following the Elkhart River through a 120-acre greenway, this multiuse trail provides a green oasis in the middle of the city. The greenway is home to deer, river otter, muskrat, beaver, coyote, fox,...
IN 1.9 mi Asphalt
The community of Granger is tucked into the north end of Indiana, bordering Michigan. The community itself, through the Friends of Granger Paths recognized the need for safe, separate areas for...
IN 5 mi Concrete
The Vale Park West Pathway is a multiuse trail in the Chicago suburb of Valparaiso. At 0.7 mile long, the trail passes through a mix of woodland and prairie, as well as over a creek on a 220-foot...
IN 0.7 mi Concrete
Just shy of a mile, Elkhart's Riverwalk offers a pleasant, paved connector through town. It begins downtown, across from City Center Park, and heads north paralleling Waterfall Drive and later Main...
IN 0.7 mi Asphalt
Following a former rail corridor for less than a mile through Lake Station, the Fairview Walking Trail is a flat and paved multiuse path. The rail-trail runs through a small linear park in a...
IN 0.7 mi Asphalt
The Lake Max Trail follows a former rail corridor south through Culver and provides new community connections. Eight- to ten-feet-wide with a surface of concrete and asphalt, the multi-use trail is...
IN 1.63 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Lincoln Memorial Trail is a 1.8-mile multiuse path in the community of Westville, which is located just 15 minutes from Lake Michigan in Indiana's La Porte County.  The southwest trailhead on...
IN 1.8 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Palos Heights Bike Trail offers a north-south route through residential and commercial areas on the west side of the community. It's also a key connector between two regionally important...
IL 2 mi Asphalt
Overview The Plum Creek Greenway Trail meanders for 3.15 miles through the Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, with an unconnected 1-mile section in Plum Valley Preserve. About the Route The Plum...
IL 4.15 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Preservation Path is a two-mile paved trail in the community of Matteson, Illinois. The path begins on Vollmer Road and terminates at the Old Plank Road Trail. The trail is paved with center...
IL 2.1 mi Asphalt
Turkey Creek Trail is a short but sweet walk or ride through the beautiful Ivan Gatlin Nature Preserve in the northwestern Indiana community of Schererville. This wetland area provides the opportunity...
IN 0.8 mi Asphalt
The Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail connects the towns of Niles, MI and Mishawaka, IN via. 17 miles of paved multi-use trails, some of which have their own unique identity. The trail also passes...
IN 0.6 mi Concrete

Recent Trail Reviews

Great American Rail-Trail

such a beautiful trail!

October, 2024 by sherryschie

We started in Akron and rode about 18 miles north. Loved it!!!

Elkhart River Greenway Trail

No bathrooms but plenty of parking! We'll kept trail. Nice short ride.

October, 2024 by jmjones1009

No bathrooms but plenty of parking! We'll kept trail. Nice short ride.

Bloomingdale Trail (The 606)

606

October, 2024 by noxxid

Short trail especially for cyclists, more so a commuter trail. Expect a slow and someone densely populated ride, but excellent views of the neighborhoods.

Accordion

North Branch Trail

beautiful trail

October, 2024 by given.sandra

We just completed this paved trail. Absolutely beautiful! It’s whining and bikers, walkers, runners n dog walkers use this trail. We didn’t go fast and loved it.

Granger Paths

Nice Path

September, 2024 by mailto:reserve-furlong-0e

The Granger Path is nice for running or walking. It's wide and relatively flat with only 40ft elevation change. The path follows and crosses several busy roads - so be watchful. Also watch for the multitude of golf carts and scooters driven by adolescents (mainly on weekends and after school hours). Additionally, none of the bicycle riders (or golf cart drivers) notify you as they approach from behind so best to run without tunes.

Panhandle Pathway

Good But Not Great

September, 2024 by rma101560

I rode the Panhandle Pathway from the Kenneth trailhead to Winimac and back. Overall, it is a good trail for those who are wanting to get away from the crowds and do some riding. There is nothing specific to to tell about the trail except that the Tippecanoe River bridge is very well done. The trail is flat and easy to ride. The Winimac trailhead area is nice because there are public restrooms directly adjacent to the trail. Conversely, the Panhandle is experiencing the inevitable problem that comes with time. There are several areas that have tree roots heaving and then cracking the trail surface.

Oak Savannah Trail

Nice ride today

September, 2024 by carlbrunning99

Rode the OST today. Well marked, flat and paved. A few tree roots but not significant. The trail goes through neighborhoods, parks and open land. Shaded most of the way. Overall a good 20 mile RT ride.

Marquette Trail

major improvements coming

September, 2024 by davesnyder1622

On 8/27/24, the National Park Service issued a solicitation for bids to improve the Marquette Trail within its boundaries as part of the overall Marquette Greenway project. Approximately 2.5 miles of the existing trail will become a 10-foot wide asphalt multi-use trail with 2-foot gravel shoulders, and include a new bridge. It looks like completion will be in 2026. Other segments of the Marquette Greenway are complete around Burns Harbor and Michigan City, and more will open by Fall 2024.

Oak Savannah Trail

oak Savanna

August, 2024 by cherrycreeknurseryinc

Rough blacktop. Many roots creating bumps

Salt Creek Trail (IL)

Great trail

August, 2024 by xzorikos

Cool trail, watch out for closure under 294 for construction. On the way down the trail we went around… on the way back we snuck through the construction zone given it was a Sunday. (Results may vary) ¿

Great American Rail-Trail

West bound from Ellensburg. August 2024

August, 2024 by tastesbadtobears

We ( recumbent trike & e-bike) headed West from the Kiwanis park. Turned around after 9km as the surface was really tough on the trike. There’s 2 good wheel tracks for bikes, but the trike had to ride partially in the coarse trail ballast. Scenic area with farm views and a huge windmill farm in the distance.

Salt Creek Trail (IL)

Salt Creek Trail north- St. Charles Road to Busse Woods

August, 2024 by jcook1950_tl

Paved trail winds through forested areas along Salt Creek (trail can be flooded at times) with minimal on-street sections until north of Lake Street. From Lake Street to Busse Woods trail is either on-street or adjacent and passes through residential areas and industrial parks with little signage.

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