Swim safety at Washington Park and Mount Baldy
Lake Michigan is beautiful and dangerous. Here's how to read the swim risk, spot rip currents, why to stay off the pier, and what to know before Mount Baldy.
Check the swim risk first
From late spring through early fall, the National Weather Service gives each Lake Michigan beach a daily swim risk. Our Lake Michigan page shows it for Washington Park and the rest of the La Porte County shore:
- Low: dangerous waves and currents aren't expected at the beach, but dangerous currents can exist at any time near piers, breakwalls and river outlets.
- Moderate: breaking waves and currents are expected. Stay away from piers, breakwalls and river outlets.
- High: life-threatening waves and currents are expected. Stay out of the water, and away from piers and breakwalls.
Rip currents
A rip current forms when a sandbar breaks and water rushes back out to the lake, and the National Park Service says they often happen when the wind is out of the north. On July 20, 2025, two people wading at Washington Park stepped into a rip current channel and were pulled into deep water before lifeguards rescued them. If one grabs you, don't fight it: the Park Service says to flip on your back, float, and follow the current or swim parallel to shore until the pull lets up.
Why to stay off the pier
Currents run along piers, breakwalls and river mouths even on calm-looking days, and the Park Service warns that rip conditions also form next to seawalls and erosion-control structures. Michigan City's harbor, where Trail Creek meets the lake beside Washington Park, has all three. When waves are up, stay off the pier and out of the water near it.
Washington Park
Washington Park is Michigan City's lakefront beach, next to the harbor and the lighthouse. It has had lifeguards on staff in summer, and they made the 2025 rescue above, but check what's posted on the beach the day you go, swim only when the swim risk is low, and never swim alone.
Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy beach is part of Indiana Dunes National Park, at 101 Rice Street (U.S. 12) in Michigan City. The beach is a third of a mile from the 92-space lot on a sandy trail, an entrance pass is required, and the climb up the dune itself is only allowed with park staff. There are no lifeguards: the Park Service's only lifeguarded beach is West Beach, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The lake bottom is uneven, with holes and sudden drop-offs that are especially dangerous for children and weak swimmers.
Cold water
The Weather Service treats any water 70°F or colder as cold water. The first shock can knock the breath out of you and cause gasping; within about 10 minutes you can lose muscle control. Check the water temperature on our Lake Michigan page, and wear a life jacket on the water.
Questions
Is it safe to swim at Washington Park today?
Check the National Weather Service swim risk on our Lake Michigan page. When it's moderate or high, stay away from the pier and breakwall; when it's high, stay out of the water.
Are there lifeguards at Mount Baldy?
No. The National Park Service says West Beach is the only lifeguarded beach in Indiana Dunes National Park, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
What should I do if a rip current pulls me out?
Don't fight it. Flip on your back, float, and follow the current or swim parallel to shore until it lets go, then swim back at an angle.
Why are piers and breakwalls dangerous?
Strong currents run along them, even when the beach looks calm, and the Weather Service warns to stay away from them whenever waves and currents are expected.
How cold is too cold to swim in Lake Michigan?
The Weather Service treats water 70°F or colder as cold water that can cause cold shock and gasping. Check the water temperature before you go in.
Sources: NWS: Lake Michigan beach hazards and swim risk · National Park Service: swimming in Lake Michigan · National Park Service: Mount Baldy beach · WSBT: lifeguards rescue two at Washington Park (July 2025) · NWS: cold water hazards