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State Park · Lake Ontario
Chimney Bluffs State Park
Sculpted earthen bluffs above New York's Lake Ontario shore.
Photo: Antepenultimate · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chimney Bluffs State Park 2009.JPG by Antepenultimate · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.
On the coast
About Chimney Bluffs State Park
Chimney Bluffs showcases a striking, changing landscape formed by erosion along the lake. View the formations from designated paths and respect closures and setbacks from the edge. This is a walking and scenery stop, not a managed swimming beach or campground; conditions can differ sharply from older trail reports.
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Visiting Chimney Bluffs State Park
Best time
June and September for comfortable hiking; October for fall color framing the spires above the lake.
Time needed
1–2 hours
Best months
January: off-season
February: off-season
March: off-season
April: off-season
May: off-season
June: best
July: best
August: best
September: best
October: best
November: off-season
December: off-season
Don't miss
Highlights of Chimney Bluffs State Park.
- Walk the Bluff Trail along the rim for views down onto knife-edged spires and pinnacles.
- See how waves, rain and wind are carving a glacial drumlin into these ever-changing formations.
- On calm days, experienced paddlers can take in the spires from the water of Lake Ontario.
- Pair the visit with Sodus Point to the west and its historic lighthouse, now a museum.
Know before you go
Tips for visiting Chimney Bluffs State Park.
- Wear boots after rain — the clay paths turn slick and muddy, and parts of the rim trail are steep.
- Keep well back from the edge and off the spires; the bluffs are unstable and climbing them is prohibited.
- Parking areas sit at the park's east and west ends, so plan an out-and-back walk or arrange a pickup.
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No verified point location is available. This is a lake overview, not this place's exact position. Precise shipwreck sites are not plotted.
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Questions about Chimney Bluffs State Park
- Where is Chimney Bluffs State Park?
- Chimney Bluffs State Park is on the Lake Ontario shore of New York.
- When is the best time to visit Chimney Bluffs State Park?
- June and September for comfortable hiking; October for fall color framing the spires above the lake.
- How much time do you need at Chimney Bluffs State Park?
- Allow 1–2 hours to explore Chimney Bluffs State Park.
Travel well
Make it a good visit.
Give the shoreline time.
Leave room for weather delays and a quieter side trail. Stay on marked paths, respect closures and support the local communities that make the coast special.
Travel thoughtfullyLook beyond the air forecast.
Waves and water temperatures can tell a very different story. Use marine forecasts and local beach advisories before any water activity.
Official weather resourcesRoad trips
Put this place on a longer route.
3-4 days
New York's Lake Ontario Shore
Rochester's harbor district, eroded bluffs and eastward beach-country stops.
View the itinerary