Trail #5 of our Indiana Dunes National Park 1966 Hiking Challenge is the Mount Baldy Beach/Kintzle Ditch Trail in Michigan City, Indiana. The Mount Baldy trail is a short hike with a steep climb down loose sand on Indiana’s largest dune down to the beach. The dune and shoreline are in a constant state of change due to the erosion from the lake levels and weather. This “living” dune covers whatever lies in its path; burying trees and structures alike as it moves inland approximately 4 feet per year.

The trail to the beach is an easy hike just over a quarter mile through the forest. The sounds of swaying trees and thunderous waves fill the air! Many beach-goers joined us on this path to the water. If we had hiked Mount Baldy on the ranger-led hike, we would have been able to access the summit, but it is closed to visitors outside of special tours to protect the habitat.

It wasn’t long before we were sliding down Mount Baldy’s sand dune from a hilltop view of Lake Michigan with a distant Chicago skyline on the other side of the lake. This out-and-back beach hike follows the crashing waves along the shoreline for about a half mile. You could kick off your shoes and walk this section with the sand between your toes if you’d like! We took in the views at a leisurely stroll following the gulls that liked to fly away at the last possible second.

The hike ends at Kintzle Ditch where a stream of water rolls into the lake. In the 1920’s, developers built this man-made ditch to drain the marsh and build hotels on dry ground. The National Park Service has been working to restore this habitat by reconnecting the lake with the marsh. It was neat to see where the water rolled together at the edge of the ditch!

Mount Baldy gets pretty busy, especially on the weekends, and park rangers will be checking to see if you have an updated National Parks pass to visit. This would be a fun place to go for a swim, but always check the weather conditions for rip currents because these waves can be very dangerous and there have been many drownings over the years. Walking down to the beach was a great way for us to take in the sights, but we think this location is more of a beach experience than a hiking trail.

Observations:

Location: Mount Baldy Trailhead Parking Lot- 101 Rice Street (U.S. Highway 12), Michigan City, IN 46360

Trail Length: 2 miles
Difficulty level: Easy hike with one strenuous dune climb

Highlights:

• Beach access
• Easy hike
• Kintzle Ditch is gorgeous

Tips/Suggestions:

• Rangers check for your NPS pass to visit
• Travel light so you are prepared for one last tough hike back to the parking lot
• Be cautious of conditions before swimming

The Mount Baldy Trail has been completed on the 1966 Hiking Challenge!