The Dune Succession Trail is the easternmost of three interconnecting loop trails in the West Beach area of Indiana Dunes National Park. West Beach is the most developed portion of the park with seasonal amenities that include a bathhouse, gift shop, concession stand, and lifeguard. These amenities are available during the summer season between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. During that same period, parking at West Beach is considered an expanded amenity, so a fee of $6 per passenger vehicle and $30 per bus or RV is collected. Paved parking is available for 600 passenger vehicles including 8 accessible spots and 25 RVs including 2 accessible spots. For the rest of the year, parking is free.
At 0.9 miles, the Dune Succession Trail or Loop 1 is the shortest of the three loops. To hike the trail following the ecological succession of plants from the shore inland requires hiking in a clockwise direction. We chose to hike in the opposite direction as we were told the views were better. To follow our path, walk north from the parking lot toward the bathhouse on West Beach Road to the trailhead. Turn right onto the joint Loop 1 and Loop 2 trails and walk about 500 feet to the base of the stairs. Turn left and begin climbing the stairs to stay on the Dune Succession Trail. The park claims there are 270 stairs in total, but I didn't count them. After climbing to the top of the dune, descend into an oak forest. Continue on the stairs and boardwalk for about 1500 feet. As the trail surface returns to sand, continue north for another 850 feet to the foredune. At this point, the trail turns left to head toward the bathhouse. However, the trail was closed for remediation when we visited in October 2019, so we continued on through a gap in the dune to the beach. Turn left and walk 400 feet to the bathhouse steps. Turn left again and walk through the bathhouse to West Beach Road. Walk 1150 feet south on the road to return to the parking lot.
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