The National Park Service has announced that the trail to the beach at Mount Baldy was been reopened in 2017 after the tragic accident that happened in 2013. (see 2026 article below). The trail had been closed for several weeks after storm waves washed out a portion of it leaving a dangerous, 50-foot drop off. Park crews have now completed a rerouted trail and have reopened the area.
Visitors are urged to use caution when hiking the Mount Baldy Trail and beach area. The dune and shoreline are in a constant state of change from weather and changing lake levels. Obey all markers and warning signs along the ยฝ mile trail to the beach to be safe.
Even with the trail, the Mount Baldy Dune itself remains closed for public safety and dune protection. While visitors can no longer climb the Mount Baldy dune on their own, they can attend ranger-led programs that will safely guide them to the top.
Hikes are offered on various Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. click on the PanoramaNOW Calendar to find the next hike! You’ll meet the ranger at the Mount Baldy parking lot for a winter adventure to the top of dune. www.nps.gov/indu
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 417 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. Located in Northwest Indiana, the park includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 15,000 acres of biodiverse beaches, woods, prairies, and marshes. Up to 2 million visitors come to the Indiana Dunes each year.
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Discover Northwest Indianaโs Fun Things To DO Including Indoor Fun, Lake Michigan Beaches, Biking, Local Splash Pads, Miniature Golf, Local Festivals, Parks and Recreation and Indiana Dunes.
If You Are Visiting Northwest Indiana you might be interested in our Sunday Brunch, Local Farmerโs Markets, Summer Festivals, Fall Festivals, July 4th Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Labor day Weekend, local Steakhouses, and local Dining.
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We all know how valuable in awesome the Indiana Dunes National park is to all of us that live here in Northwest Indiana. And now, so do a lot of other people. The Indiana Dunes was just listed on the Tripmemos Website as one of the Five Popular places to go this Summerโฆ
New Aviary Exhibit Coming to Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City Indiana
| As spring approaches and temperatures rise, Washington Park Zoo is set to welcome back visitors for a dynamic new season. The zoo is preparing an array of engaging experiences for families and wildlife enthusiasts alike. |
Indiana Duneโs Mount Baldy Closed Thru Mid โ June 2026
The Mount Baldy Access Site will be closed from late March to mid-June 2026 as the Indiana Dunes National Park Service undertakes a key project to manage sand movement and stabilize the shoreline. Over the years, windblown sand has covered parts of the parking area and sanitation facilities. This effort is designed toโฆ
Mount Baldy is No Longer Bald
Mount Baldy is a 126-foot-tall sand dune located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, lying near the eastern end of Indiana Dunes National Park and just west of Crescent Dune (covered in last weekโs WBW post). This parabolic dune began forming some 4,000 years ago and is continually changing because of natural and man-madeโฆ
To Find out More thatโs
Happening in
Chesterton, Indiana
Click HERE!
National Park Announces Project 1966 โ Hike Every Trail
Join a ranger and hike all the trails in Indiana Dunes National Park. This hiking challenge will take place over the course of the summer with each week featuring a ranger-led hike on a different trail. There will be a total of 19 hikes covering 66 miles to honor the year, 1966, when the park was established. Canโt make them all or want to do some self-guided hikes instead? Then ask for information about the hikes at the Visitor Center, the Paul H. Douglas Center, or look on our website
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See Our Indiana Dunes Video,
narrated by indiana Dunes Naturalist Ron Seman talking about: about His Hiking Adventures at the Indiana Dunes! #Beachesandbeyond Learn about #ShirleyHeinze Land Trust #BioBlitz; Indiana Dunes National Park; #Monarch Butterflies #Migration; Salamanders; Wolf Lake Hammond In; Heron Rookery; Native Plant Sale at Friends of Indiana Dunes, Inc. Office (New Location) Porter County Parks and Recreation; Great Lakes Marsh Marsh in Miller Beach; Ambler Flatwoods Hiking Trail and Sandhill Cranes at Miller Beach, Gary, IN
Tallest Sand Dune In Indiana Discovered
As an Indiana Master Naturalist, scientist, inventor, historian, and photographer local resident Ron Seman has hiked the Indiana Dunes for over fifty (50) years. He leads FREE adventures everyday of the year in all weather with individuals, veterans, active military, first responders, those in recovery via school groups, organizations, Artistic Recovery and corporations for team building and he is always on the lookout for standout nature.
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National Parkโs Cypress Log Cabin Available for Lodging
The Cypress Log Cabin is a significant piece of American history. Originally built for the 1933 Chicago Worldโs Fair, at the Fairโs end in 1935, the home was transported to Beverly Shores and has stood as a testament to the eraโs rustic aesthetic ever since. After serving as a private home for several decades, itโฆ
Watch Our Indiana Dunes Hiking Video, Click HERE
Read More About Our Northwest Indiana Beaches, Click here
Environmental Activism is PanoramaNOW’s Major “Cause” – You can read more about these following Subjects Below:
โข Birding Articles
โข Nature Articles
โข Indiana Dunes Articles
โข Parks and Recreation Articles
โข Recreation Articles
โข Gardening and Landscaping Articles
โข Lake Michigan Articles
Read More About Michigan City, Indiana – CLICK HERE!
Find More Events in Michigan City, Indiana – CLICK HERE!
Angry Crowd Attends Hobart City Council Meeting Regarding Data Centers
The November 5th, 2025 City of Hobart Lake County Indiana Common Council Meeting was called to order by Mayor Huddlestun at 6pm. The Correspondence was then announced after the Minutes were approved. Chief of Staff and Department reports were submitted by City Engineer, Alex Metz, Public Works Director Kent Moore, and Boardโฆ
The Hub NWI Receives an Artโs Kiln from Porter County Community Foundation
The HUB NWI, a community makerspace housed in a restored former church in Hebron, has received a $7,500 grant from the Porter County Community Foundation to fund its Community Kiln Arts Initiative. The award allows The HUB NWI to bring a new Janus Ovation dual use kiln online, opening hands-on ceramics, glass fusing,โฆ
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Hiking in Northwest Indiana
Fishing Essentials
Wolf Lake Pavilion
Hidden Lake Park
Hike the Moraine Nature Preserve – Valparaiso
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Wicker Park โ Golf
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Gabis Arboretum
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Whoa Zone Water Park
Northwest Indiana Fall Colors
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
