AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Frozen lake and pavilion.jpg
Meaghanjarnecke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Indiana Dunes State Park

Fort Hill–Bird Observation Platform, 5 beaches

2.4 mi · ▲ 31 ft · 49 min

Fort Hill–Bird Observation Platform, 5 beaches is a 2.4-mile out-and-back in Indiana Dunes State Park near Tremont, IN. The route passes Waverly Beach, Fort Hill, Bird Observation Platform and Waverly Beach before reaching Porter Beach at the turnaround, 1.2 miles in. It is mostly level, with 31 ft of elevation gain. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi584 – 656 ft3.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 41.65779, -87.05525
Nearest town Tremont, IN
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fort Hill–Bird Observation Platform, 5 beaches

2.4 mi · ▲ 31 ft · 49 min

Elevation 584–656 ft

Out & Back · Indiana Dunes State Park

Trailhead: 41.65779, -87.05525

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 6:51 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 100 ftTurn right, heading W.
  3. 0.1 miBear left onto Beach Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miTurn left onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading W.
  5. 50 ftPass Waverly Beach.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto North 25 East, heading W.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading W.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto North 25 East, heading W.
  9. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto Wilson Road, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto 3, heading SW.
  14. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  15. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  16. 250 ftPass Bird Observation Platform.
  17. 50 ftPass Waverly Beach.
  18. 50 ftPass Porter Beach.
  19. 250 ftReach Fort Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  20. 500 ftTurn right, heading N.
  21. 0.5 miTurn left onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftBear left onto Wilson Road, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftBear right onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto North 25 East, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SW.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto North 25 East, heading S.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dunes Kankakee Trail, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Beach Trail, heading SE.
  31. 0.3 miBear right, heading N.
  32. 0.1 miTurn left, heading N.
  33. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/fort-hill-bird-observation-platform-out-back-6-beaches-4-km

Trail surface

31% paved12% sand11% boardwalk46% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 6:51 PM

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Tremont, Indiana