Trail offers beach, breakwater, fishing pier

Lake Michigan and a breakwater stretch beyond the Portage Lakefront and
Riverwalk at Indiana Dunes National Park. NPS photo.

Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk map.
Click for larger version.

Ah, the beach – sunbathing and swimming, flying kites and building sand castles, enjoying a summer sunset or taking in the dramatic approach of a storm. All of that and more is possible for those visiting the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk at the new Indiana Dunes National Park.

A 0.9-mile loop allows hikers to explore the beaches, dunes and a waterfront at the facility. There’s also a fishing pier and 900-foot breakwater leading to a lighthouse that can be added to the walk.

To reach the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, from Chicago head east on U.S. Hwy. 12 or from Portage, Ind., go north to the highway. Then take Hillcrest Road north and turn right/east onto Midwest Steele. At the roundabout, go right/east onto Riverwalk Drive. Park in the second lot, which is on the road’s left/west side.

Dunes and beach
At the lot’s northwest corner, walk north on the paved, wheelchair accessible trail. You’ll pass some small, reclaimed dunes on a brownfield reclamation site. Believe it or not, as recently as 2008, this was the site of a steel corporation’s settling ponds for industrial byproduct and a sewage treatment facility.

Today, the dune habitat and Lake Michigan beach is a major stopover for migrating birds. Throughout the summer, you’ll spot surfers taking on the waves while others catch a tan on the beach sand. In winter, shelf ice forms along the beach’s edge, attracting sightseers.

You can swim Lake Michigan, even when no lifeguards are on duty, but be aware that rip currents and waves can make the water hazardous. You also can cook on the beach but must use one of the provided grills at a picnic shelter or an an approved carry-in grill (which must have a noncombustible container with an enclosed bottom and enclosed sides with a minimum depth of 2 inches); any charcoal must be cooled and disposed of in a noncombustible container or removed from the area. Glass containers cannot be used on the beach. Also, rocks and shells may not be taken from the beach.

Pavilion and fishing pier
On the beach’s east side is a 3,500 square foot public pavilion seasonal snack bar, restrooms, and a glass wall where migrating birds can be watched from the warmth of the indoors. There’s also a breakwater that heads to a modern beacon light marking the Burns Waterway, which is the East Arm of the Little Calumet River. The lighthouse marking the other side of the entry is a pretty sight.

The trail next curls past the pavilion and offers a spur to a fishing pier. With a permit, you can fish after hours.

Next the paved route heads north along the waterway. Part of the trail is a wooden walkway along the river.

At your parking lot, the trail crosses Riverwalk Drive to it. The pavement also continues south to another lot on the road’s east side. The breakwater and riverwalk portion of the hike are closed from the last Monday of November through March 1 and at any other time if ice or snow are present.

Fun game for hiking kids: Survive the Tide

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is Survive the Tide.

If hiking on a beach with the tide coming in, during a rest stop have children collect stones of various sizes. At the limit of the tide’s reach on the shoreline, stack the stones into piles – with only one stone atop another – about four or five high. See if the stack survives the tide. Have children create a couple of stacks of stones at a time to see which one does better when the waves wash over them.

Materials: Stones collected on the trail

Ages: 4-14

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Clothe beach-hiking kids in outerwear to prevent sunburn

If hiking shorelines or beaches this summer, be sure to don children in the following outerwear to prevent sunburn:
g Hat with wide brim – The cover and wide brim keeps sun off most of the face. A hat for young children with very little hair is vital. Hats with flaps that can cover the neck also can be useful.
g Sunglasses – Children’s eyes are just as sensitive to bright, harsh sunlight adults’ eyes. Ensure that the sunglasses actually provide UV protection.
g Lycra shirt and swim trunks – This fabric protects children from the sun as well as keeps them warm in water. And since you’re going to the beach, they probably will go into the water.
g Sunscreen – No more than SPF 30 needed. Liberally apply it to any exposed skin, including backs of ears, tops of feet and ankles. Remember that sunscreen will sweat off, so it probably will need to be reapplied.
g Sandals – Sand can get hot, so the soft soles of children’s feet need protection. Rocks, twigs and seashells washed ashore and covered by sand also can hurt little feet.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

How to best cross water with hiking kids

When hiking with children, you want to avoid crossing water. Still, sometimes to reach a destination you’ll have to go through small streams, or in the case of a tide or a recent flashflood you may be cut off from your vehicle. With children, it’s usually best to avoid a water crossing by properly timing your hike – don’t walk a beach at high tide, for example – or simply turning back when the trail ends at a waterway, such as when a bridge is washed out.

If you must cross, do so where the water is calm and no higher than hip deep, which probably will be too deep for young children, meaning you’ll need to put them in a baby carrier. You’ll typically find calm spots at a bend in the river or stream, mainly because the waterway widens and slows at the turn. Look ahead for any deep water. It will appear dark or greener than the rest of the waterway. Before crossing, check the far bank to make sure it isn’t undercut or steep, as climbing out of the water will be difficult for children or for you if they’re on your back.

One kind of water crossing you may face is rock hopping across a stream that at worst runs only a few inches deep. Approach any rock hopping cautiously, for the stones will be slippery. You want to keep your feet dry and don’t to want to risk falling – children can drown in just three inches of water. First, select your rock, looking for those that are wide enough to support one of your feet and that can be reached with steps rather than jumps. Always test each rock’s stability with your trekking pole before committing to it.

If you lose your balance, don’t fret about stepping into the water to stay upright. It’s almost always better to have one wet foot than to fall.

Waterlogged ground, such as marshland and swamps, ought to be avoided. More than your feet will get wet as you sink into mud, which makes stepping very difficult if not impossible for children. Should children fall, they might land in pockets of deep water. In addition, snakes and insects can abound in such environments.

Read more about cross dangerous terrain when day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.