The trail follows the South Shore Railroad tracks and NIPSCO power lines. There is no shade. The trail can be impassible (i.e. wet shoes) due to standing water along much of the trail that can be 4-6" deep in spots. The trail is not suitable for road bikes.

The Calumet Trail connects to many trail systems. The west trailhead parking lot connects to the Porter Brickyard Trail and the Cowles Bog Trail System (no bikes allowed). There is access to the Dunes Kankakee Trail and Indiana Dunes State Park trail system at the South Shore Dunes Park train station. At East State Park Road (Kemil Road or 300E), there is access across U.S. Highway 12 to the Glenwood Dunes Trail System (no bikes allowed) and the Calumet Dunes Trail (no bikes allowed). At Broadway Avenue (Beverly Shores), there is access to the Great Marsh Trail (no bikes allowed) and the Dunewood Campground. At the east trailhead, the parking lot on U.S. Highway 12 is close to the Mount Baldy Trail System.