MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – This afternoon the National Park Service announced that the beach at Mount Baldy, located in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, will reopen at noon on July 14th.

This area has been closed since the summer of 2013 when holes started opening up on the dune’s surface in place of rotted trees.

Authorities say even with the beach open, the dune will remain closed for public safety and conservation reasons.

Access to the beach is available from the Mount Baldy parking lot which is accessed via its own trail directly west of the dune.

Officials say the trail is roughly a half mile long but is somewhat strenuous and advise visitors use the newly marked trail guides to navigate the wooded trail to the beach.

The beach area is popular and is expected to fill quickly, so guests are also advised to arrive early to get a parking spot.

The beach is open during the regular hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

This is a limited beach area that is not overseen by lifeguards so officials also ask visitors to follow all safe swimming precautions, and strongly discourage swimming in the rough conditions of Lake Michigan.

Though there is no climbing of the Mount Baldy dune allowed, weekly ranger guided hikes are offered to the top of the dune on Sundays at 10 a.m.

For more information please contact the park visitor center or check out the National Park Service website.