Mount Baldy Beach at the Indiana Dunes National Park will close for several months while the National Park Service moves sand and conducts shoreline stabilization work.
Here’s what to know.
Mount Baldy will be closed for sand removal
The Mount Baldy access site is closing this week as officials plan to move sand that in recent years has buried parts of the Mount Baldy parking area and sanitary infrastructure, a news release says.
No impacts to the dune habitat or archaeological resources are expected as crews will move approximately 40,000 cubic yards of sand that has accumulated on and around the existing — now buried — parking lot.
“The sand will be relocated to Crescent Beach in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ongoing shoreline stabilization beach nourishment efforts,” the NPS said in a news release.
Mount Baldy Access Site will remain closed to the public throughout the project. Crescent Beach may also experience periodic truck traffic and access limitations during sand placement.
When will work at Mount Baldy Beach be complete?
The work is expected to wrap up by mid-June 2026, according to the news release.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Where is Indiana Dunes National Park?
The national park spans an area along the southern tip of Lake Michigan across the Indiana lakshore.
Mount Baldy is just off U.S. 12, south of the Michigan border, not far from New Buffalo.
Michigan City, Indiana, is located at the eastern edge of the park and Gary, Indiana, is at the western edge. The park lies north of U.S. 20 and along both sides of U.S. 12.
What can I do at the Indiana Dunes?
The Dunes, now a national park, has a diverse range of wildlife over its 15,000 acres. According to the National Park Service website, among other activities, visitors can:
Indiana Dunes National Park admission
An entrance pass is required to enter the state park or national park area at the Indiana Dunes. It’s $15 per person; $20 for a motorcycle; or $25 for a private vehicle, and can be purchased on site or online. There’s also an annual national park pass for $45 and a National Park Service pass for $80.
Find more information about fees and passes at nps.gov.
Jenny Porter Tilley and Joe Mutascio contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@indystar.com. Follow her on Bluesky, Twitter and Instagram.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mount Baldy Beach access site to close for project at the Indiana Dunes
Reporting by Katie Wiseman and Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
