Mount Baldy Beach Trail

Don't let the short distance fool you — this trail packs a surprising punch into less than a mile. You'll start on a boardwalk path through marram grass and scrubby dune vegetation before the real fun begins: a steep descent down the face of Mount Baldy itself, the tallest living dune on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The sand shifts under every step, turning what looks like a casual beach walk into a legitimate workout. At the bottom, you're rewarded with a wide stretch of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline — no boardwalks, no concession stands, just sand and water stretching to the horizon. The catch? Everything you walk down, you climb back up through ankle-deep loose sand. Hikers who love earning their beach time and don't mind sand in every crevice will find this trail deeply satisfying.