Chimney Rock Scientific and Natural Area, Protected natural area in Dakota County, Minnesota.

Chimney Rock Scientific and Natural Area is a protected scientific and natural area in rural Dakota County, Minnesota. It features a 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) sandstone rock pillar, the last remaining in the county. The pillar is a product of columnar rock weathering, described in 1905 as "the most picturesque and perfect example of columnar rock weathering in Minnesota." The surrounding 76 acres were acquired by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2011.

Chimney Rock was a landmark for settlers moving into Dakota County in the 1800s, and in 1905 it was called "the most picturesque and perfect example of columnar rock weathering in Minnesota." Preservation began in 2002 with a county bond issue for natural areas, and in 2011 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bought 76 acres around the pillar, creating the Scientific and Natural Area.

Chimney Rock was a landmark for settlers moving into Dakota County in the 1800s. In 1905 it was described as "the most picturesque and perfect example of columnar rock weathering in Minnesota". The Hastings Environmental Protectors, a local group of DNR volunteers, maintain the Scientific and Natural Area today.

The site is best visited during dry weather since the ground becomes muddy after rainfall. Walking is straightforward on natural terrain, though visitors should watch their footing on uneven surfaces.

Chimney Rock was called "the most picturesque and perfect example of columnar rock weathering in Minnesota" in 1905. Two other sandstone pillars once stood in Dakota County: the Castle Rock formation, which collapsed, and Lone Rock in Empire Township, noted by Zebulon Pike in the early 1800s and since heavily eroded.