Discover waterways crossing Indiana Dunes

East Arm Little Calumet River, located near the Bailly Homestead. NPS photo.

Only one river flows through Indiana Dunes National Park, but a couple of streams do make their way across the park, one as a tributary to the East Arm Little Calumet River and the other flowing directly into Lake Michigan.

Here are some great day trails to discover those waterways:
• Dunes Creek – The 4.3-mile stream drains the Great Marsh and then West Branch (which in turn drains Cowles Bog) passes through coastal sand dunes and flows into Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park. Good trails to experience the creek are the Calumet Bike Trail (between Tremont Road and East State Park Boundary Road) and Trail 2 in the state park.
• East Arm Little Calumet River – The 22.1-mile long waterway has greatly changed since the arrival of Euro-Americans. Before 1926, the stream used to connect to the Little Calumet River in Illinois, but that year construction of the Burns Waterway diverted the route so it drained into Lake Michigan at Burns Harbor in Indiana (which can explored at the Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk). One of the few undisturbed portions runs alongside the Little River Calumet Trail. Park in the lot at the end of Howe Road south of Oak Hill Road/County Road 1350 N. Take the trail 0.9-miles one way west to a bridge crossing the river as well as 0.3-miles east toward the Bailly Homestead.
• Salt Creek – This 24-mile tributary of the East Arm Little Calumet River flows north from Valparaiso, Ind. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources regularly stocks the creek with steelhead trout, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon. No park trails cross Salt Creek, but both the Iron Horse Heritage and the Prairie Duneland trails just south of the park do.

How to select the best trails for seeing autumn colors

Tree leaves along bodies of water change color earliest in the season.

Knowing a little about how tree leaves change color in fall can ensure you won’t be disappointed on an autumn hike. It’ll also mean you can avoid crowds by taking trails that others haven’t thought of, as they stick to the tried-and-true routes listed in travel articles.

When selecting a good day hike to enjoy fall foliage, consider four factors.

Streams/river valleys
Early in the season, trees along streams and river valleys will change color first. That’s because the area near waterways is cooler in temperature than land at the same altitude that is away from water. Railroad beds converted into trails make for great early autumn hikes as rail lines tended to run along river shores and through wetlands, which in the past were deemed land of little value.

Apple orchards
Apples trees usually only grow on soils that drain well and can take deep roots, so there likely are a greater variety of trees nearby than there would be in low-lying wet areas. Trails passing orchards mean a greater palette of color, and apples hanging from the branches only add more hues.

Lots of vertical gain
Hike from the bottom of a mountain or a hill to its summit, and you’ll pass through a variety of ecosystems, each with its own set of trees that prefer the temperature, soils and amount of sunlight available at specific altitudes. Trails leading to observation or fire towers are perfect for gaining altitude, especially at midseason.

North sides
Sometimes trees on the side of a hill facing away from the sun will produce more brilliant colors than those with a southern face. That’s because daytime temperatures that are too warm for an extended period tend to result in a flatter coloration. Trails that head around the northern base of a hill or bluff before nighttime freezes begin usually offer better autumn colors.

A final note: If spring was wet and the summer temperate, expect good autumn colors.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Avoid flashfloods when hiking with children

Flashflood in Rochester, Minn. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Downpours several miles away can quickly fill sandy washes near where you’re hiking with fast-moving water as the rain flows into the intermittent stream. Streams flowing off mountains also can quickly flood from rain at higher altitudes while the mountain base sees no precipitation.

Don’t hike through and never rest in sandy washes unless you’re certain that no rain is forecast for about 100 miles distant. If you see water levels rising or the current picking up in a stream or river, immediately seek higher ground.

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