Chimney Bluffs State Park, State park along Lake Ontario in Wayne County, New York.
Chimney Bluffs State Park is a nature reserve on the shore of Lake Ontario in Wayne County, New York, where clay and silt formations rise sharply above the water. Sharp ridges and tapered rock spires form the ridgeline in pale earth tones, visible from trails that run close to the edge.
The park's drumlin formations were left behind by glaciers during the last ice age, when large amounts of sediment were deposited along the lakeshore. After the ice retreated, wind and waves from Lake Ontario began carving those deposits into the steep cliffs seen today.
The name of the park refers to the tall, narrow spires that hikers can spot clearly from the trail. Walking along the path, visitors notice how the shapes shift depending on the angle and the light.
Free parking at East Bay Road gives direct access to the bluffs and the trail network. The paths near the edge are narrow and uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea, especially after rain.
Some of the spires have eroded into freestanding columns attached to the mainland only by a narrow base, giving them a fragile appearance up close. Because the material erodes constantly, the shape of the bluffs looks noticeably different from one year to the next.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
