Great Marsh Trail

Basics

The Great Marsh trail is located in the eastern part of the Indiana Dunes National Park. At 1.5 miles out and back it is one of the shorter trails in the park. It is also very flat, making for an easy hike. There is a handicap accessible overlook with a very nice view of the marsh. The trail traverses a marsh habitat which is undergoing extensive restoration from its former use as a residential area.

Why I like It

Although it is a short trail, it is easy to spend a lot of time there if you go slow and pay attention to the little details. Being a marsh it has a great variety of wild flowers and is home to many interesting birds and insects. The area used to be residential and the trails follow the old road beds, occasionally you come across evidence of its past use. I also enjoy the fact that there is currently a lot of restoration work being done here. Over just the past couple of years there have been significant changes as what was once a swamp is being transformed back into a vibrant marsh and it has been fascinating to observe. If you are in the mood for a longer hike there is a nearby set of trails maintained by the Beverly Shores community which connect with the Dune Ridge trail. So it is very easy to make the Great Marsh trail the first (or last) leg of an extended, three trail afternoon hike.

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