The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently moved approximately 27,000 tons of sand at Mount Baldy as part of ongoing shoreline management at Indiana Dunes National Park in northwest Indiana. The work prompted the National Park Service to reopen the Mount Baldy access site to the public Monday, June 15th.
The sand relocation effort addressed accumulation near visitor infrastructure while returning material to the Lake Michigan beach system. The Mount Baldy summit and dune face remain closed due to unstable sand conditions and the continued risk of sand collapse. Visitors must stay on designated routes and follow posted closures.
Park staff will continue monitoring slope stability and dune face response following the removal work, with findings expected to shape future management decisions at the site, including potential changes to access and visitor safety measures.
Mount Baldy is one of the most active dunes in the Great Lakes region. It continues to migrate inland and has already encroached on visitor infrastructure, including the historic parking area and utilities. The NPS describes it as one of the park’s most visible examples of ongoing landscape change.
The reopening covers the parking area and beach access route only. The park says visitors should check current conditions before making the trip. More information is available at nps.gov/indu.
