About
Length (round trip)1 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain150 ft up
Typical time15 min
TrailheadMount Baldy, Michigan City
SurfaceDeep sand and forest path
Best seasonYear round. Spring and autumn migration are the birding peaks; summer beaches are busy and winter is bleakly beautiful.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views

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 th

Tips
The dune summit is closed to unaccompanied visitors after a child fell into a sinkhole in the sand in 2013 - the summit is only open on ranger-led walks. The beach route stays open. Do not climb the dune face.
Location

Mount Baldy, Michigan City

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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