Great Marsh Trail

This is one of those trails where the walking is almost beside the point — you're here for what's happening off the path. The paved route rolls flat through the edge of the Great Marsh, a sprawling wetland complex that stretches across the heart of Indiana Dunes like a hidden inland sea. The surface is smooth and level, making this less of a hike and more of a guided stroll through one of the Midwest's most productive birding corridors. You'll reach an observation deck overlooking the marsh, where the real show begins: herons stalking through the shallows, red-winged blackbirds claiming territory from every cattail, and — if your timing is right — migrating warblers passing through by the dozens. Birders, photographers, and anyone who finds peace in wetland stillness will feel right at home here.