Place

Mt. Baldy Beach Trail

Sand drifts across the crest of Mt. Baldy.
Sand drifts across the crest of Mt. Baldy

NPS Photo / J. Manuszak

Quick Facts
Location:
Michigan City, IN

Beach/Water Access, Benches/Seating, Information, Parking - Auto, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Toilet - Flush, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Bottle-Filling Station, Water - Drinking/Potable

Mount Baldy Beach Trail

0.75 miles, 75 feet of elevation gain, 4% average grade, 13% maximum grade
Hike time: 1 hour

 

The Beach Trail hike (unrestricted access) is short hike with a steep climb down loose sand to the beach. Be sure to plan accordingly as the only way out is up the steep trail. Do not bring large cooler and other beach items as the climb up from the beach is difficult.

The featured hike is an out and back trail. Starting at the parking lot trail head, Hike to the staircase along the entrance road. At the top of the stairs the trail will turn right and go around the west side of Mount Baldy. At the trail junction, stay straight and follow the trail to the edge of the dune. Enjoys the sweeping views of Lake Michigan. The trail down to the beach is a scramble down loose sand. Please make sure that you able to climb back up as it is the only way out. Once to the beach, hike in either direction. Please stay on the beach.To get back to the parking lot, follow the trail you used to get down to the beach and retrace the trail.

Trail Features: Views, Lake Michigan
Must See Gems: Views from the top of Mount Baldy

History and Background

Mount Baldy is 126 feet above the water level of Lake Michigan and is moving inland at about 4 feet per year. Beach sand on the dune moves when the prevailing northwest wind exceeds 7 mph. The movement of Mount Baldy is made worse because there is no longer sand collecting at the water's edge to bolster the dune. Beach erosion is taking away more sand from Mount Baldy than the waves are bringing in due to the breakwall that was built for the Michigan City Harbor. To try and correct the effect of the breakwall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began feeding the beach in 1974.

 

Thus far there have been four replenishments of sand to Mount Baldy:

1974, fine sand trucked in.
1983, coarse sand trucked in.
1996, early summer, 35,000 cubic yards of sand slurried in by pipe from the harbor.
1996, late summer, 50,000 cubic yards of sand trucked in.

Getting There

Trailhead Parking Lot
101 Rice Street (U.S. Highway 12), Michigan City, IN 46360

 

Trailhead GPS Coordinates
41.706852, -86.929907 (Decimal Degrees)

Need to Know

Hours & Information
  • Hours – Open daily from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
  • Hike Length – 0.75 miles.
  • Hike Time – 1 hour.
  • Difficulty – Moderate to rugged with the approach to the beach being very steep loose sand.
  • Trail Surface – Packed dirt with sections of loose sand. Use caution when hiking the beach trail to Mount Baldy Beach. The dune and shoreline are in a constant state of change from the weather and lake levels. Obey all trail markers and warning signs to be safe. The summit of Mount Baldy remains closed except during ranger-led programs.
  • Facilities – Year-round restrooms and potable water.
  • Pets – Permitted on a leash (6' or shorter).
  • Prohibited – Littering and hunting.
  • Prohibited – Bicycles and motorized vehicles.
  • Prohibited – Removing plants, rocks, shells, and fossils.
  • Prohibited – Glass and fires on the beach.
  • The parking lot is paved.
  • There is a picnic shelter and two additional picnic tables at the parking lot. First come, first served. No advance reservations.
  • Restricted Access. The Summit Trail hike is short with a steep climb up loose sand to reach the top of Mount Baldy. Access to the Mount Baldy Summit Trail requires accompaniment by authorized staff. There are ranger-led daytime and sunset hikes on weekends throughout the summer and at other times of the year. Hike dates and times are available on the park's website calendar, Facebook page, or by contacting the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center.
Safety
  • Please stay on the trail and respect closed area signs. Going off trail damages fragile habitat.
  • Ticks are present year-round. Take precautionary measures to prevent bites.
  • Poison ivy can be present on the edges of the trail.
  • Be prepared for changing weather conditions.
  • In case of an emergency or to report a crime, call 1-800-PARK-TIP.
Accessibility
  • Trails and picnic shelter are not wheelchair accessible. Restrooms and picnic tables are accessible.

Trail Map

View a detailed map of the Mt. Baldy trail to the beach.

All hiking trail maps of the Indiana Dunes National Park are available online on our website or in paper at the trailhead kiosk or the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center.

Nearby Hikes

Dune Ridge
Great Marsh
Glenwood Dunes

 

Indiana Dunes National Park

Tags

  • Mount Baldy Virtual Ranger Tour

    Mount Baldy Virtual Ranger Tour

    Join Ranger Rafi Wilkinson as he discusses intriguing aspects about Mount Baldy while hiking along the trail.

    Duration:
    13 minutes, 6 seconds

Last updated: April 29, 2024