Chimney Bluffs State Park is a hidden gem of New York, and many nature lovers don’t even know that it exists. Sure, if you live in Central New York near Lake Ontario, you’ve probably heard of it and perhaps have even visited it, but many of our state’s nearly 20 million residents aren’t even aware of it. That’s a shame because this spot is unique and very special and it’s not like anyplace else in New York. In fact, most people, when shown a picture of these interesting rock formations, would likely guess that they’re somewhere else in the United States entirely. Read on to learn more about this unique natural wonder in New York.

Chimney Bluffs State Park is a 597-acre park on the shore of Lake Ontario. It's about halfway between Rochester and Syracuse in Wayne County in the town of Huron.
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The park includes forest and trails, but the big draw here are the rock formations along the shore.
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The bluffs here were created by glaciers during the most recent ice age. They've further developed their interesting shapes due to erosion from wind, snow, rain, and waves. They're still changing all the time today.
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As visitors walk along the beach, they can view and explore the pinnacles made by these erosive forces over thousands of years.
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Some of them rise as high as 150 feet tall above the lake shore. That's the equivalent of a 14-story building!
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There are four miles of trails in the park, but the most popular trail is the one-mile long trail that goes along the beach and bluffs from the park's east to west entrances.
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This park was undeveloped until 1999 when the trails were added. There are also heated restrooms and picnic areas with grills if you'd like to spend the whole day visiting.
Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This park is open all year and is popular even in the wintertime. It's a great place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
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In the warmer months, many people enjoy canoeing and kayaking here. The rock formations look especially impressive from the water. However, swimming is not allowed at Chimney Bluffs State Park.
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You'll love this hidden gem. This park is truly unique. It's not like anything else in New York, and everyone should make an effort to visit it to check it out for themselves.
Cindy G/Google Local

Chimney Bluffs State Park is an excellent and easy day trip from Syracuse or Rochester. Even if you’re from some other part of our great state, it’s worth the journey! Plan a visit to this unique and relatively unknown New York State natural wonder soon.

Looking for more interesting natural wonders in New York? Check out this list for more: The 14 Most Incredible Natural Wonders In New York Everyone Should Visit

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Chimney Bluffs State Park, 7700 Garner Rd, Wolcott, NY 14590, USA