Chimney Bluffs State Park

Chimney Bluffs State Park is a nature reserve on the shore of Lake Ontario in Wayne County, where clay and silt formations rise up to 45 meters above the water. The area features about 7 kilometers of trails along the coast, where sharp ridges and tapered rock spires form the ridgeline in pale earth layers.

The drumlin formations originated in the last ice age, when glaciers deposited large amounts of sediment. Since then, wind and waves from Lake Ontario have shaped these deposits into the steep cliffs visible today.

The name comes from chimney-like rock formations that hikers observe from the shore. These structures developed through uneven erosion, with softer layers wearing away faster than harder ones.

The free parking lot at East Bay Road provides direct access to the cliffs and the trail system. The path along the bluffs is narrow and uneven, so sturdy footwear and caution in wet weather are essential.

Some rock spires have developed into freestanding columns through ongoing erosion, connected to the mainland only by narrow bases. These formations change constantly through wave and wind erosion, making the location an example of continuous geological change.

Location: New York

Operator: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Opening Hours: sunrise-sunset

Phone: +13159475205

Website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/chimneybluffs/details.aspx

GPS coordinates: 43.28000,-76.92000

Latest update: December 18, 2025 15:40