Trails, lakes, and the
nature you forgot was here
People don't always think of Northwest Indiana when they think "outdoors," but they should. From the 800-acre Cedar Lake to tallgrass prairies to 30 miles of paved trails, Lake County has more green space than you'd expect.
Parks, trails, and preserves
Every town in Lake County has at least one park worth knowing. Here are the ones I go back to.
Centennial Park
Munster's crown jewel. A 200-acre park built on a former landfill with a 9-hole golf course, a 2,000-seat amphitheater, 3-acre dog park, formal gardens, walking and bike paths around Maynard Lake, fishing, playground, and soccer fields.
Lemon Lake County Park
Five disc golf championship courses, hiking trails, a creative playground, fishing lake, and picnic areas. A disc golfer's paradise.
Bulldog Park
Year-round family attraction with a splash pad in summer and an NHL-size hockey rink in winter. Right in downtown.
Erie-Lackawanna Trail
The longest off-road trail in Northwest Indiana, stretching from Crown Point to Hammond. Perfect for biking, running, and walking.
Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve
A nationally designated nature preserve protecting native tallgrass prairie. One of the best examples of original Indiana prairie ecosystem left.
Cressmoor Prairie Nature Preserve
A hidden gem of the Indiana Dunes ecosystem. Rare prairie grasses, wildflowers, and birds in a quiet, uncrowded setting.
Teibel Nature Park
A serene nature preserve in Schererville with walking trails through wooded areas and wetlands.
Cedar Lake
The largest natural lake in Northwest Indiana. Boating, fishing (bass, bluegill, catfish, walleye), swimming, and over 10 miles of surrounding hiking trails.
Outdoor activities, season by season
Boating & Fishing on Cedar Lake
Spring through FallCedar Lake
Launch from any of the public boat ramps and spend the day on the water. Cedar Lake is home to bass, bluegill, catfish, and walleye.
Disc Golf at Lemon Lake
Year-roundCrown Point
Five championship courses make this one of the top disc golf destinations in the Midwest. Courses range from beginner-friendly to seriously challenging.
Hiking the Erie-Lackawanna Trail
Year-roundMulti-town
30+ miles of paved trail connecting Crown Point to Hammond. Bike, run, or walk through multiple towns and landscapes.
Golf at Centennial Park
Spring through FallMunster
A 9-hole municipal course in Munster's Centennial Park. Affordable, walkable, and scenic.
Swimming at Cedar Lake Beaches
SummerCedar Lake
Public beaches along Cedar Lake with sandy shores, picnic areas, and that perfect summer-day feeling.
Nature Walk at Hoosier Prairie
Spring through FallHighland / Schererville
Walk through one of the last remaining tallgrass prairies in Indiana. Wildflowers in spring and fall migration make this a quiet, contemplative escape.
Thinking about living near all this?
If easy access to parks, trails, and lakes sounds like your kind of life, Lake County delivers. I can help you find the right neighborhood to call home.