 |
| Fall colors brighten the Glenwood Dunes Trail. NPS photo. |
 |
| Glenwood Dunes Trail map. Click for larger version. NPS map. |
The lollipop trail described here runs 2.8-miles round trip through Indiana Dunes National Park. Some guidebooks and maps call the route by its old name, the Ly-co-ki-we Trail.
To reach the trailhead, from Chicago take U.S. Hwy. 12 east or from Michigan City, Ind., take that road west. At Ind. Hwy. 49, turn south then at U.S. Hwy. 20 go left/east. Upon reaching North Brummit Road/ School House Road, turn left/north. The parking lot is the first left.
Look for the trailhead at the lot’s western side. When the trail splits, go right/northwest. Much of the trail’s surface is packed dirt or loose sand.
Almost all of the trail passes through a hardwood forest, known for its colorful fall foliage. Among the dominant trees are eastern black oak, white oak, sugar maple, dogwood, and yellow poplar.
The first section of the trail, like the rest of Indiana, is fairly flat terrain. Typical of hardwood forests across the Midwest and New England, the woods contains scattered deadfall and shrubs.
In 0.5 miles, the trail reaches a junction. Go right/north to begin the loop.
Black oaks
The landscape turns to gently rolling, low, wooded dunes. Among the trees that love the sandier soil is eastern black oak. It can reach a height of 82 feet and a diameter of 35 inches. Black oak sometimes can be difficult to identify as it hybridizes with red oak; in fact, more than a dozen oak species are combinations of black and red oaks.
This section of the trail includes a couple of short boardwalks over swampy areas. It also crosses Furnessville Road. Though the road is lightly traveled, always be careful when crossing it and other highways along the way.
North of the road, you’ll find American holly. It’s a very rare conifer in this part of the Midwest. The holly tree usually grows about 66 feet tall with a trunk 20 inches in diameter, and its light gray bark sports small lumps. Birds love the holly’s red berries.
At 0.9 miles in, the trail comes upon another junction. Go right/north on it.
White oaks
This segment cuts through the edge of a wetlands while a forested sand dune rises on left. After leaving the wetlands, part of the trail loops through the dune.
Among the trees you’ll spot here is the white oak. The tree’s name comes from the color of its wood; its bark actually is a light gray. It usually grows up to 100 feet high with a massive canopy supported by large branches. Mature oaks drop massive amounts of acorns, so don’t be surprised to see squirrels and chipmunks scampering beneath them. White oaks can live 200 to 300 years, though some are known to around 600 years old.
About 1.45 miles from the trailhead, the path reaches another junction with a cut-off that heads to the other side of the loop and was previously passed on the hike. Avoid the cut-off and go right/southwest.
White-tailed deer are common in hardwood forests, and sightings of them often have occurred on this segment of the trail. They can grow around three-feet high at the shoulder and weigh up to 200 pounds. Should you spot a deer, unless it is in the distance or freezes, don’t expect to see it for long. Despite long skinny legs, they can run up to 40 miles per hour, jump nine feet high (allowing them to clear almost any fence), and can swim about 13 miles per hour. When broad jumping, they can leap up to 30 feet in a single bound.
Fall colors
After crossing the road E 1500 N, you’ll arrive at another junction, about 1.75 miles in. Go straight-left/south.
The trail curls back toward the parking lot, crossing the road N 200 E along the way. This entire segment is forested.
Especially if walking in autumn, you’re sure to notice the sugar maple, popular first for its seasonal leaf color – which changes from summer’s deep green to fall’s yellow, orange, red and then a dark burgundy – and of course, for its sweet maple syrup that tastes perfect on pancakes, waffles and French toast. The tree reaches heights of 80-115 feet and is easily identifiable by its distinctive leaf, seen on the Canadian flag. Sugar maples can live up to 400 years.
In spring, you’re likely to spot the dogwood tree thanks to its showy white flowers. It’s a popular ornamental tree because of those blossoms and its fascinating bark patterns. Dogwoods grow about 33 feet high with a trunk diameter of up to a foot.
Tulip tree
Another interesting tree along this segment is the yellow poplar, also known as a tulip tree. It’s so nicknamed because its flowers resemble that of the tulip but actually is a type of a magnolia. Yellow poplars grow to an immense size, sometimes exceeding 164 feet in height and more than five feet around, dwarfing the mature white oaks and sugar maples around them.
At 2.3 miles, the loop reaches the stem trail. Go right/east onto it and retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
The hike easily can be extended as a number of trails connect to the route described here. The connecting Calumet Dunes Paved Trail, Dunewood Trace Campground Trail, and Glenwood Dunes Extension Trail provide for nearly 15 miles of hiking.
In addition, the trail is equestrian friendly. Always step aside for passing horses and keep an eye out for their occasional gift left on the trail.
