Chimney Bluff State Park

Location - Huron, Wayne County Maps - Google Map, Google Earth, Topo GPS - N 43.28848 / W 76.91065 Directions - From Rt. 104 take County Hwy 254 north, which soon becomes Garner Rd. After 4.5 miles it will bend sharply to the right and shortly thereafter, on the left, will be the main entrance to the park. An alternative entrance can be found by continuing past this entrance and making a left on East Bay Rd. Follow this road until it reaches the lake.

Description Less than an hour east of Rochester, this beautiful landscape is now a well developed state park. With 4 miles of hiking trails and many spectacular views of the jagged cliffs with Lake Ontario as a backdrop,  it has become a popular summer destination. The Bluff Trail offers visitors a hike along the edge of the clay cliffs, giving a exhilarating and somewhat dangerous experience. The bluffs were formed by a glacial Drumlin, which has been eroded away by wind, lake waters, rain and ice, forming razor-like edges. This is not rock, but a clay-like dirt, making these cliffs very unstable. The formations will change drastically from year to year. Best time to visit: Spring through fall. Time: Plan on spending a few hours.

Accessibility Seasons/Hours: Spring through fall. Park closes at dusk. Parking: a parking lot at each entrance. Admission: Free. Handicap accessibility: yes, but not for trails or beach. Accommodations: Restrooms, picnic areas, drinking fountains, beach access, grills. Swimming is not allowed, but people do it anyways.

Trails - Difficult Markings - None The Bluff Trail is the "must see" trail in this park, offering excellent views from atop the bluffs. There are steep climbs, wet areas and portions of the trail that come so close to the edge, vertigo may set in. The trail starts at one entrance and ends at the other. Although climbing the bluffs is prohibited, it is not uncommon to see it being done. It is a favorite pastime of locals.

Do not miss... The pebble beach in this area is characteristic of its proximity to glacial geological features. Both the power of grinding glaciers and the continual movement of lake waters have polished rock fragments into round pebbles or varying sizes. As the Bluffs dip in elevation towards the west, an exposed section of the cliff along the beach reveals grey clay, similar to modeling clay. Visitor will usually carve their names into the cliff and create models, leaving them for others to discover. In summer the sun sets over the lake offering a spectacular waterscape.

Contact Chimney Bluffs State Park 7700 Garner Road Wolcott, NY 14590 Phone: (315) 947-5205

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