West Beach Picnic Shelters
Closed — Open daily year-round from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time. Picnic shelters are reservable through Recreation.gov up to six months in advance for day use.
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:24PM CDT until April 12 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois...Indiana... Fox River at Algonquin Lock & Dam tailwater affecting Lake IL, McHenry and Kane Counties. Kankakee River at Dunns Bridge affecting Jasper and Porter Counties. Kankakee River at Shelby affecting Newton and Lake IN Counties. ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Illinois... Des Plaines River near Gurnee affecting Lake IL County. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Kankakee River from US-421 south of La Crosse downstream to IN-49 south of Kouts, including the Dunns Bridge gauge. * WHEN...Until late Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...At 10.0 feet, Low-lying agricultural land is inundated near the river. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:00 PM CDT Saturday the stage was 10.6 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 9:00 PM CDT Saturday was 11.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage Sunday afternoon. - Flood stage is 10.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
About
West Beach Picnic Shelters provides an exceptional day-use picnic experience at Indiana Dunes National Park along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The facility features 8 covered picnic shelters that are wheelchair accessible and reservable up to six months in advance through Recreation.gov. Each reservation allows day use from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Central Time. The shelters are equipped with grills for cooking, and visitors may also bring approved portable grills. The West Beach area offers extensive amenities including year-round restrooms and potable water at the main parking lot, with seasonal restrooms, potable water, showers, and lockers available at the bath house. The large paved parking lot accommodates 600 cars and 20 buses or RVs. Visitors can enjoy beach access, swim in Lake Michigan during summer months, and explore the West Beach Trails including the popular Dunes Succession Trail with its 250 stairs offering sweeping lake views. The facility is located at 376 North County Line Road in Gary, Indiana, within the diverse 16,000-acre national park that features 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 50 miles of hiking trails through dunes, wetlands, prairies, and forests. Pets are permitted on leash throughout the area except the lifeguarded swimming zone during summer.
Directions
376 North County Line Road, Gary, IN 46403. The facility is located within Indiana Dunes National Park at West Beach.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | Yes |
| Price | $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | Yes |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| INDU_Communications@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (219) 395-1882 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | Yes |
Useful Links
| View on Recreation.gov |
Availability
Photos
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