Date: August 6, 2008
The National Park Service has modified some powerless flight (hang gliding) rules at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to protect beach users and recoup permit costs.
Hang gliding, and other powerless flight, has been allowed under permit at Mount Baldy for a number of years. In 2007, to prevent excessive erosion of the dune, the National Park Service limited access to Mount Baldy to an established trail. This trail ends at the west end of Mount Baldy directly beneath the launch site for hang gliders. To prevent the potential danger to beach users from landing hang gliders, powerless flight will no longer be permitted during the busy beach season. Hang gliding will now be permitted from the second Saturday in September until the third Sunday in May.
In addition, there will be a $25 annual fee for the hang gliding permit to recover cost associated with the issuance of the permits for this activity. A permit can be obtained from the Chief Ranger's Office between 8 A.M and 4 P.M., Monday through Friday or by mail by sending the names, address, telephone number, date of birth, photocopy of the pilot's certificate, and a check for $25 to the:
Chief Ranger
Permit Coordinator
1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, Indiana 46304
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 391 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore includes 15 miles of the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan and 15,000 acres of beach, woods, marshes, and prairie in the northwest corner of Indiana. More than 2 million visitors come to this national park each year. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/INDU.
For additional information, contact chief ranger, Mike Bremer, at 219-395-1644.
