Prime Birding Location

Complete Customization

Ideal for Photographers

Explore Indiana’s #1 Birding Destination With An Expert Guide

Join us on this exclusive day trip to the heart of Indiana’s #1 birding hotspot – the Indiana Dunes. This spectacular destination seamlessly blends a national park, state park, land trust properties, and nature preserves amid urban development and steel mills, creating a unique haven for a huge array of birds throughout the year. Our passionate and knowledgeable guide David Rupp is committed to tailoring the tour to suit your interests and physical abilities, so don’t hesitate to chat with us beforehand. We welcome bird enthusiasts of all skill levels. Our aim is to ensure an inspiring and informative birding experience for all with leisurely strolls and brief hikes through breathtaking landscapes. Each season offers a distinct variety of bird species to admire, so please inquire ahead of your booking if you have specific target species in mind. The concentration of birds in the area during migration can be astounding and the opportunities are almost endless! Just remember to bring the right footwear!

Tour Highlights

Tailor a tour to your needs- ideal for photographers or guests with limited mobility

Learn many of the best birding locations at Indiana’s only National Park

Go birding in a variety of habitats: lakefront, dunes, oak savannah, forest, marsh, grasslands, etc.

Observe how the dunes serve as a stopover spot for many migrating birds, so you’ll get a chance to see species that might only be in the area for a short time

Find both nesting and migrating warblers in the Dunes

Possibly discover rare birds in the area (thanks to Lake Michigan)

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Trip Details

Trip Details

Price

  • $300/group for morning tour
  • Inquire about the full-day tour – RECOMMENDED

Meeting Point

Indiana Dunes National Park Visitors Center


Seasons

Mid-August through May


Duration

Approximately 4-5 hours for a morning tour. The tour can be extended to a longer day (recommended) and include other destinations for an additional $100


Group size

1 to 8. Ideally 5 or fewer


Included

  • Binoculars
  • Use of spotting scope

Not included

  • Entrance fees to the National Park if driving separately, which should be purchased online prior to the tour
  • Food and drinks, so be sure to bring what you might need
  • Lunch on full-day tours

What to bring

  • Water bottle
  • Appropriate clothing for the season
  • Jacket
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Your own binoculars or scope
  • Phone/camera

About your guide

David Rupp, owner of IndiGo Birding, will lead this trip. David has over 25 years of birding experience and loves to share his joy for birding.

What to Expect

You’ll start the day by meeting me at the Visitors Center together with your exclusive group, where you can ride with me (groups of 5 or fewer) or caravan behind as we visit the best birding spots in the area for the season. I will ask beforehand if you have any wishes regarding particular species, habitats, or hikes.

Provided the weather is nice, we will walk some of the trails (Cowles Bog, Grand Marsh, Heron Rookery) in the National Park or check out Trail 2 in the State Park. We then may hike the dunes or watch the lake for seabirds – the choice is yours! If you wish to extend your time and do a full-day tour then we can do both and much more. Please let me know in advance.

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